I started a new job last week and I've got mixed feelings about it.

I haven't worked in retail since we moved to Florida almost two years ago even though I have nearly 30 years of retail experience. Honestly, I didn't think I would be working as a cashier ever again, but here I am!

^{Too new for my own name badge, I am called New Team Member}

Not including orientation day, I've completed my second shift at Target as a part time temporary cashier and it is kicking my butt! LOL. First of all, I've been working from home for nearly 5 years straight.

Benefits of working from home

• I don't have to get dressed.
  I think it's safe to say that I've spent the last 2 years in my pajamas and really only got dressed when I had to go grocery shopping. In fact, my first year living in Florida, it might be safe to say that I've had a few NO PANTS days because it was too damned hot! Hey, I'm a New York transplant. It took me a while to get acclimated to this weather, okay?

  And add to the fact that I rarely had to wear a bra...or shoes...or nice clothes.

• I can take a breaks whenever I want
  Need coffee? Need lunch? Need a nap? No problemo! I'm my own boss and I set my schedule.

• Full time mommy to my fur babies
  My two-legged babies are grown and all that's left are my four-legged fur babies. We nap together or go for walks. I'm available to them.

• Steemit
  I got to spend a lot of time writing, drawing, reading, and connecting with people here. It's really how I built my rep to 67.5 in five months.
  

  

Drawbacks of working from home

• Limited social interaction
  Sure, I might type up some witty posts and comments, but beyond an occasional Skype message from my kids, I don't really talk to anyone but my fur babies. We often speak in our own language: I use a lot of hand gestures and gobbeldy-gook sounds; they usually bark, wag their tail, and drool. I don't do a lot of talking at home and like anything else, if you don't use it, you tend to lose some skill.

• Unlimited access to the fridge, the microwave, or the bed
  Thankfully I have a little self-control when it comes to snacking, but I have no control over my coffee consumption. And if I'm feeling a little sleepy, I just go to the bedroom to rest my eyes for a bit.

• What day is it?
  I never really know what day it is... except on Wednesday - that's garbage pick-up. In fact, I think I may have "lost" a few months. I still can't believe it's five days 'til Christmas, especially since Thanksgiving was just...last week, right? Yeah... No concept of time.

Being immersed in a new culture

I think it's safe to say that until I worked here, I've been inside of a Target less than five times in my life. They don't call their shoppers "customers" - they're guests. Considering that I've been working in retail since I was 15, they've always been customers! But I keep getting corrected.

"They're guests - not customers, Meredith."

30 years of calling them customers and now I have to resort to singing this to remember:

I've got to wear nice clothes, a bra and real shoes. I have to smile and talk to our guests and I'm working on registers that appear to be throwbacks from the 90s.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not complaining. It's nice to have an excuse to shower and smell good. It's great to have a little income and speak to adults.

But it's cutting into my Steemit time

I don't know if this job thing is gonna work out!

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