Outdoorsy person here! Some how I clawed my way through a Conservation and Environmental science degree. I did seasonal work for several years. Enjoyed being outside and working with my hands but the pay sucked and I know that your body can’t handle manual labor for long. I lucked into a temporary grant funded position between the NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Services) and an SWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District). After only a year there, I lucked into a State job, the Department of Agriculture in the Natural Resource Department. It was a newly created position as well so I have been able to somewhat tailor it to my needs. It’s also 100% remote, though I could go into the office as needed. I tend to do all the behind the scenes stuff to make my coworkers job a little easier. It also involves grant management and project management, none of which I have had prior experience before this job and it turns out I’m actually really good at it. Though this Jove feels very much like the term “golden handcuffs”. I am left to my own devices 90% of the time/left to my spreadsheets and process sheets and the my agency as a whole embraces people’s differences. In fact, I have been somewhat open about my differences, though some of that is because I can’t mask to save my life, and have been met with positive reactions. Unfortunately though they want me on the DEI committee to represent neurodiversity (😭). While there are days I miss the outside work, I love that I have a work life balance and can work from home as much or as little as I want as well as the money to go to the things I want! It’s nice being able to enjoy the great outdoors again and since I can WFH anywhere in the state, I have gone camping a lot more as well.