With regards to physical activities, I joined a gym--or rather, a network of gyms. Denver has a number of recreation centers that offer memberships at a reasonable price. My membership allows me to visit any of the centers, but my favorite one is only a mile and a half away in an old building on Twentieth Street with a lot of natural light. I'm hoping that this new routine will motivate me to get back into running... and maybe even swimming!
In addition, after a summer of attending free yoga classes throughout the city, I discovered my favorite one--a Sunday morning class at Prana in Cherry Creek. The instructor is fabulous.
In terms of employment, that changed too. After my pharmacy "hiatus," an interesting opportunity presented itself that encouraged me to finally enter the profession. Omnicare is a large pharmaceutical company owned by CVS that dispenses medication to patients in nursing homes. Longterm care is one pharmacy niche that I received minimal exposure to during school, but I was intrigued by the job description. After a positive interview with the pharmacist in charge, I accepted an offer for a part-time pharmacist position.
To my surprise, Whole Foods Market poses a "conflict of interest" with my new employer, so I left the company with a heavy heart. As the newest member of the Whole Body Team, I had just begun to grasp the realm of herbal and homeopathic remedies. I told my boss that I was optimistic to return someday.
My new job with Omnicare is located in their hub in Golden, CO. Although only 10 miles west of where I live, the commute is over an hour by public transport. So I decided, at 24 years old, that it was finally time to invest in my first car. The second one that I looked at seemed like a good match for what I needed--a 2014 Kia Rio. "Rojitas," or "Little Red," is a basic, small car that will (hopefully) ensure a reliable and safe commute. In my ideal world, my new job would still be within biking distance, but I suppose that there is some benefit in learning the responsibilities that accompany car ownership.
At any rate, I grew up a lot in the matter of weeks--real job, real car. Nevertheless, I will always look back fondly on those six months after graduation when I moved to Denver and spent the long summer days biking to Whole Foods and hiking the Rocky Mountains. A simple and happy time. It was exactly the lifestyle that I sought while I stepped back to catch my breath between the end of school and the start of my career.
