Nothing against Publix at all, but my usual store (also a SE smaller-scale US chain) is small and the employees know I’m the wine and cheese and garlic toast and cat treats lady. I just feel welcome.

And proof I was one of those meteorology kids, here’s my first typhoon map, drawn on 4-year-old me’s experience, which I was told to erase and this was the result (I was a military brat and we lived in the Philippines)

How do I know this? I have a meteorology degree and worked in the industry for 10 years before my priorities changed and I moved on.

The career is not a “eh I just fell into it” thing. Meteorologists have worked their asses off and worked overnights, weekends, and holidays. I know wildfire support staff are often away from family for weeks. Their mission is public safety.

And I found out one actually passed away last year.

Good ex was just a fun unserious fling and he found his soulmate after and I wish him the best! But yeah the others…I don’t think I’ve had any contact with any of them in many years.