Well, THAT didn’t take long

A funny thing happened last Friday while Lori and I were walking Rojo the Llovely Llama around a retirement center. I realized I was smiling huge from ear to ear, probably beaming, face likely full of joy. My “work” passed the Smile Test (see January 30, 2008 post). I think I’ve found my happy.

Yes, this llama gig isn’t technically work since I don’t get paid. But as I was pondering today what sort of paid work I might want to find, I realized I don’t want anything to interfere with my outings with Rojo and Lori. And then I remembered what Rob and I have long said our definition of retirement is: Doing what you want to do, not what you have to do. I want to have the honor of helping Rojo bring such fun and wonder to people. Despite years of training to the contrary, I'm finally coming around to the sincere belief that our value rarely has a dollar sign attached to it. So maybe I’m done looking for "work"?

Lori and I are both amazed by our good luck. She can’t believe she found someone so enthusiastic to help her on her outings. In fact, she’s been trying to find some help for the last year or so. I can’t believe I have been so graciously and generously invited into a world I assumed was out of my reach. I can’t believe I get to spend time with a truly remarkable animal and get fed by the joy he brings people. Lori and I both suspect something much larger than either of us is at work here, and we both feel like we’re getting the better end of the deal. How cool is that?

Because I’m me and I like to be thorough, I will still read the two “find your purpose” books I have on my nightstand and will attend a class series along those lines in a few weeks. Few big questions in my life get answered without careful research, analysis, and dissection. Funny, though. A week ago, the thought of the books and the class scared me. I was deeply afraid I’d get to the end and still not have an answer. But now, now that I have found something that has me smiling like Mel the Drummer, I’m eager to challenge the books and class to find something that even comes close to hangin’ with Rojo and Lori.