I'm really not sure what to do with my life. On the one hand, I've landed this job in a field I may potentially be entering some day. It sets me up to easily get into a school program. On the other hand, when I went in on Monday for training there was: no mention of salary or benefits; unstable work hours (when the doctors go on vacation or there aren't enough patients scheduled, I have to take off as well, and it's likely unpaid leave); no I9 or HIPAA to sign/fill out, so technically I'm not even employed yet. This lack of structure and information suggests a high level of disorganization. My only discussions about the job have so far been with the girl I will be taking over from. The owner of the business, my boss, has not discussed anything with me yet.

Even with all the above, it is still a great opportunity. I would learn a lot, both about running a small business and about natural medicine. I would probably have the opportunity to do a wide variety of tasks. The question is, is the lack of healthcare and other benefits worth it?

I wouldn't even be asking these questions if I hadn't received a phone call yesterday from a scientist at CPMC's Longevity Consortium Institute. They would like to meet with me for the role of Admin Coordinator. There I would have contact with longevity researchers all over the US. NIH will be increasing funding for their research, so there would be high job security. I would be well paid, with benefits. Now of course, I don't have the job. I might not get it. But how far should I pursue it? I am interested in aging research, but perhaps not for life (heheh). I decided to set up an interview anyway, because what's the harm? It's hard to know what direction to go in. I am obviously interested both in alternative healthcare AND in health research. I imagine someday I will unite the two and be involved in natural health / alternative medical research, or perhaps natural medicine policy. Who can predict, really. I can't really tell what my actions today will do to my future. How important is job stability and benefits? It's like asking, how likely am I to get cancer or have a terrible accident in the next 10 years? I don't know. Longevity research is perhaps the ultimate ironic answer.

The fact that I have the ability to ask these questions is deeply satisfying. I am very happy with how my life is going. I am glad job opportunities are coming my way, and that the temp world and I are finally parting ways. From now on I will only be involved in things that matter to me. This is my only life, it's time to grab it by the balls.