Day 117 – What the hell was I thinking? (aka Neighborhood Association – Part II)

Two weeks into this I have spent over 10 hours on a small volunteer effort.  Problem is, I am kind of getting into it now and want to help “lead” the community in the right direction (even if they don’t want to be lead) or in this case keep a few very vocal people from pissing off the entire county. (If you think a middle school is bad on this location, just keep being unwilling to openly discuss all the options and three years from now the county will make it the new sewer department or landfill sight).  I had planned on doing some volunteer work post retirement, but I was thinking more like a homeless shelter or nursing home!  People can also get really mean via e-mail.  I guess at my old job at least people put on the show of being willing/able to work with you.  In the neighborhood association world, they just tell it like they see it even if it means calling you out for being what they view as stupid, out of touch or unfair.  I read a set of e-mails directed at me, but of course sent out to the 300+ members of the association the other night and I felt a strange yet familiar feeling in my stomach.  Oh it was the same stress that I used to get if I checked my work e-mail before bed and realized there was something not so fun I would have to deal with in the morning. I really don’t need this.