Date: 2008-05-31
From: Graymoor Shelter

To: ??????
Miles today: 0.0

I received a call from Trail Boss mid-morning. It involved a potential job contract that I am being considered for. Should it pan out as it sounds, I need to at least give it some consideration. As a result, I'm going to be off the trail for most of this coming week, following up on the job possibility. I'll then have to make a decision how to proceed (assuming the company still remains interested in me).I'm not sure if I mentioned it in an earlier journal entry, but I'm a technical writer by occupation. I typically will work on either 6 or 12-month contracts for federal agencies in the Washington, DC area (where I live). That's how I have the time to do a thru-hike - when a contract ends I can opt for a new contract or take time off. But of course taking time off means no money coming in.In the case of this potential job contract, the opportunity would involve working overseas, probably for 12 months. Because the country is considered a "at-risk" location, salary is adjusted by a pre-determined multiple - something like 3x standard rate. That would be (for me) a sizeable amount of income. That's what makes this opportunity so tempting.On the other hand, there are several drawbacks (that I have thought of so far): first, I'd be away from home for probably a year. It's my understanding that they will fly you home for a "vacation" during that period - but a year is still a year. Second, I'd have to end the thru-hike shortly. That would really suck - I've come quite a way so far. And, I haven't achieved my "30-mile day" yet!I'm going to be busy next week following up on the possible offer. I still have a face-to-face interview(s) - no one is saying yet they are sure they even want me. And I need to find out some more details. Then I have to decide quickly what to do.So why am I even telling all of you this? Good question. I guess it's because I've put a lot of effort into this journal and a lot of you have responded in kind. That means I'd like to keep everyone informed of the situation, how things shake out, and what I decide to do. If I'm back on the Trail in a week, everything here continues as before - daily entries and pics as often as I can get them posted. But if I decide for the position, everyone will know what is happening.In the past I've learned that it works well to keep two journals when thru-hiking. One is this journal that you are reading here. The other journal is one I write daily for my own reading/recording of events. My journal is more private and contains content I would not include on Trail Journals. I'm sure there are many other hikers who do the same. Having said that, as much as is possible I've tried to share in Trail Journals my personal thoughts, feelings, opinions, etc. Some readers enjoy reading that; others don't. Some readers are critical about some things; others are fine about them. The important thing to me is that I have had the chance to post entries and do so on a daily basis. I believe I've made some form or fashion of an entry every day since I started the hike on January 23rd. I think doing that adds some continuity to the events I experience.All right - enough with the "deep" stuff. I'll post some updates throughout this coming week and "we shall see what we shall see" . . .