I spent 2010 working for a small firm doing a mix of single family renovations, custom houses, and small commercial work. The principals were a lovely couple, but when you’re the only employee in a three person firm there is a hard ceiling which is impossible to ignore, even for someone who isn’t particularly ambitious.
I wanted to try out life in a larger firm working on bigger projects, so the year was fraught with frustration as I pondered how to make a change in the midst of a recession.
2011 rang in with a sudden opportunity to join a large firm, and I spent the next two years working on a 300 unit apartment complex before heading off to Las Vegas.
I didn’t realize was that 2010 would be my last year as a professional residential architect. In retrospect, I should have savored that moment. I’ve always loved the craft of designing and documenting remodels, even if it is not a particularly well paying niche in the profession.
This past decade has put me on a financially stable path and lead me to to work that I greatly enjoy, so the tradeoff was well worth the price. But even at its kindest, the passage of time is always a touch cruel. You rarely know what you’re losing, until it’s long gone.