#besides animal shelters can be understaffed

[the-whispers-of-death]

what would stone do after retiring?

Good question, Stone doesn't really think about retiring. As we know from "Cold & Stoic Stone" that he very often thinks about how he has no family and thus feels like he can't retire because if he dies as a civilian, then there'd be no one to give him a funeral. But if he did decide to retire despite that, then I can see him volunteering at an animal shelter. We all know he's an animal lover, and I feel like he wouldn't do well with any other civilian job.

Now, he did civilian medical school as well as military medical school since the U.S. Navy paid for it, so he is actually a doctor but I don't think he'd want to be a civilian doctor. Animals are better, anyways, and he'd love to do a job that he loves even if he doesn't get paid for it.

He'd be a hit with the cats, they'd love him more than the other volunteers at the animal shelter. Hell, Stone would be good with the dogs too, once they knew he wasn't a threat. I can imagine his tall self chasing several naughty cats who escaped their cages, running around the shelter to catch them. He certainly doesn't seem like he fits there at an animal shelter, what with his scarred body and his intimidating aura, but he'd thrive in that environment.

Part of the reason he wouldn't be a civilian doctor after retiring is because he'd want to fully leave the life of a soldier behind and being a doctor would not being leaving the life of a soldier behind. But volunteering at an animal shelter? That's the farthest away he can get from the life of a soldier. And I mean, free animal therapy.

[sketchmouse-art]

dumb doodles i made to cope with a job search. the tl;dr version is - my workplace is toxic as hell and understaffed, i wanna leave and try to make part-time job + freelance art work out. i maybe have a chance to do that? but i'm still worried i'm making the wrong decision

longer ramble under cut

i work at an animal shelter, which i really really wanted to like. and i did at first! i love animals and i like helping people, it's very cool to help people find their animal companion. but it's a high-stress job that has been steadily bleeding out employees and not replacing anyone. i work by myself on mondays and most other mornings, basically doing the job of 3 people. other issues besides the staffing include but not limited to: verbal abuse from the public, verbal abuse from management, infighting and power struggles between co-workers, constantly shifting job expectations, and piss-poor communication skills. i'm not sure if it's burnout, compassion fatigue (maybe both) but i can't see myself here long term anymore. when i get home from the shelter, most of the time i don't have the energy or focus for art.

i started applying for part-time jobs at the start of the new year. most of them are jobs i think would cover my half of the rent and car payments, so i don't eat through savings. then i can have more time to push for my art goals.

the whole process has been terrifying. i'm afraid to leave because of the risk. but the idea that i'm trapped here and going through motions until i die is also...scary and sad. and that's kind of the crossroads i find myself at today because HOLY SHIT I GOT AN OFFER. i haven't confirmed 100% yet, they know i have to deal with my current job but they offered an opening that would start march 11th.

i wanna try and play hardball with the shelter - 'hey guess who has a new job? ME UNLESS YOU GIVE ME PART TIME. AND HEALTHCARE, IDEALLY.' i'm not sure they'd go for it; pretty sure all county positions are run by baby boomers with no idea what work-life balance is. but considering i'm the only clerk in the front office on mondays and they have shown no signs of hiring another, i think i have a compelling case.

anyway, that's my scream into the void for now. i'm an anxious mess but the silver lining is i took off the next couple days for katsu (which i have to pack for :p boo i hate packing). so i get to hang out with friends and cosplay before i get back to rearranging my whole life.

if you read this text wall, thank u i love u have a good night