I did a job search after graduation, and I was willing to relocate to Alaska. Run a security check of the reading room and stack area, then check e-mail and voice mail. I'm very lucky to get a full hour for lunch. Finishing a collection is always satisfying. It means another piece of history is available for study and interpretation.
Nothing leaves the archives, so taking a collection home to work on it is out of the question.
However, the more complicated processing problems and our Web site are always on my mind. I just remind myself of why I love my job, and remember that my building has a very nice espresso stand. The preservation of historical documents provides the basis for the writing of history. I hope so. Archeologist and forensic pathologist.