Friends have told me they would go crazy spending all day in an office. Perhaps this is because the only hope for a tan is your CRT monitor or the fluorescents above. Or maybe it’s the cooped-up feeling of the office cubical, with nothing more than org charts and build schedules for scenery. Whatever the reason, I understand why a job outside the office is appealing.

Yet, I don’t mind it. The office is bearable for me because of several factors. For one, I share my cube with a small ficus plant named “George.” I haven’t decided if his name is honoring the late Beatle, the curious monkey, or the balding Seinfeld character. All silliness aside, George reminds me of one of my great life passions: the outdoors. Knowing that the weekend warrior in me will soon be unleashed keeps me in balance. Assuming it’s not a huge distraction, whatever reminds a cube-dweller of his or her passions is worth having around, whether it’s a picture of loved-ones, a Halo II desktop image, or George the friendly ficus.

Secondly, the work here is rewarding. There’s a quantifiable end result from my efforts, and that’s satisfying. When the work is more challenging, the reward is greater. I’m oversimplifying this point, but you get it.

Interacting with the quality people here is the best way for me to stay sane in the office. Aside from their skills at implementing a statewide child support system, these people are runners, hikers, car-mechanics, gardeners, movie-buffs, and more. There’s always an interesting conversation to be had about work or life with a fellow office dweller.