The System Works

[jacobcarson877 2,578]

It’s a new year, we’re a good chunk of the way through the season, and a good chunk of the way through Jillian Woods’ career. School just started back up again for me today. But all at the same time, it’s back to job searching, the provincial college union is pending a strike, and I’m almost at Woods’ max build. Often, a new year is a welcome opportunity for a blank slate. It doesn’t matter how the last year went, because there’s a new one ahead. But this one feels different so far, with so many things already in motion, but so many things unknown.

 

What is my future in the VHL? Woods had a spectacular season last time around, and is having a great campaign this time too. The depreciation math is mathed, the build is made, the TPE is coming in. We’re almost at autopilot season again. There’s not much for a VHLM GM to be excited about these days, with Recruitment turning a new leaf, and competition being tight and unpredictable. There’s been more updates and store purchases than we’ve really seemed to have been able to keep up with the last couple weeks, and some extra Holiday TPE coming in won’t make it any easier. It’s been sluggish to say the least, and the prospect of banking for the next year doesn’t make that any more exciting.

 

But also, it’s been easy. Job Pay covers most of my earnings. I don’t HAVE to handle the queue by myself. I don’t HAVE to hover over the forum, waiting for new creates, and new claims. I don’t HAVE to have Discord, and the VHL open all the time. I can leave for a couple days, and people know where to find me. Of course I’d love some action, but also, it leaves me room to consider what I still want to do here, and what I want to do when I’m not here.

 

I’ve got plenty of points left to score, some championships left to win, and a Hall of Fame nomination to chase. I’ve got great teammates, a competitive draft class, and momentum on my side to try to be the best of the bunch. I’ve still got lots of experience to pass along, opinions to give, and influence to exude. I’ve got words to write, at least I think I do, and there are still plenty of people left that I love to see out and about. The novelty may be missing, but the foundations I’ve built will get me through. It’s not always going to be exciting, especially in a post-COVID (hopefully?) era, a post VHLE era, and well, a post prime-Jacob era. I’ve earned my pension, I’ve paid my dues. And hey, maybe in my next career I’ll actually claim a Pension, just to see how it feels. But who knows, get me a new batch of rookies and maybe we’ll get Jacob back in his prime, which I hope at least a few people remember as fondly as I do.