Balancing Between Worlds

Just moved out of the room that I have lived in for the last two years. Since leaving home, it is the longest that I have stayed in any one place, as evidenced by the mountain of belongings that had to be moved. But I am now officially a nomad. For the next month I will be living in a friend's room, sharing a bathroom with several other people and surviving out of a suitcase. After two years of living in a dorm, it now finally feels like it. Unlike my previous room which was a very self-contained studio, where I could go for days without seeing anyone.

So now I find myself in between worlds. In four days I will enter the dreaded 'real world' with a daily 9-5 schedule that I have always abhorred. No longer can I play at night, crawling into bed at 2 or 3 am and dragging myself out to face the next day at noon. No more going for a drink at midnight on a Tuesday or Wednesday, or a midnight movie on opening night in the middle of the week. I will lose the opportunity to go to malls on a weekday morning, taking advantange of deserted stores and empty fitting rooms, without having to elbow people out of the way to get to the clothes I want. Now I will be part of the city's routine, scrambling to get place on the subway during rush hour, trying to squeeze in errands and chores between getting out of work and when everything closes, shopping and partying on weekends with the rest of the masses. Sigh.

Yet, I had always anticipated that the start of my work life would also coincide with getting an apartment and being somewhat settled. But instead, I will be living out of a suitcase, being a nomad by night and a professional by day. Almost feels like I will be assuming different identities when I leave for work and when I return. Living a double life of a college student and corporate employee. Might prove tricky. Especially when I will have to refuse to join my friends for a mid-week night on the town.