Last year, I did a really fun three-part-post of how awesome 2008 was. 2008 was the best year of my life, I bet. And while 2009 has been pretty good, it’s definitely been uneventful in comparison.

However, what I did notice was that I did a lot of things for the first time. Not necessarily amazing or fun things, but firsts (or firsts in a very long time).

These firsts can be split into two main categories: Work and Travel.

2009 was the first year that I have ever worked for a huge corporation. In high school I worked at Weis Markets – they only covered a few states. Same with the various convenience stores. A lot of new experiences came with this work. For one, I had a real boss, first time since 1997ish. Also, with corporate work, you have about a week’s worth of training videos and mind-numblingly pointless tests just to ring a cash register.

In 2009 I had my first surgery ever for my first work-related injury ever! YEAH! And after only two days of work! It was also my first time on disability/workman’s comp. Wasn’t the first bone that I broke, but it was the first one that I broke and had treated (the other was a toe and I didn’t bother with a doctor for that – because of being poor – poor people don’t deserve medical care).

It was also the first year since 1997 that did not involve me working at a bookstore. Ironically, I’ve read more books in 2009 than all of those years combined. Probably. Close to it, anyway.

This was also the first year that allowed me to ride to work pretty much every day. I’ve taken advantage of this. I rode to work a bit when I lived in Montandon, PA, but over the winter, I could not. It’s become the highlight of my day. I wish the ride was a bit longer and more eventful, but still, it beats driving.

And speaking of driving, 2009 was my first full year without owning a car since 1991. I’ve ridden pretty much anywhere I had to go (though I do admit to loading on Smartz for a ride or two – but usually only to places she was going to as well).

That brings me to the travel firsts. Or rather, lack-of-travel firsts.

2009 was the first year that I can remember that didn’t involve me leaving my state of residence. That’s right, for possibly the first time in my life, I’ve spent a whole entire year not traveling out of the state. That includes me being a kid. There’s a chance that my parents didn’t take me out of state till I was three or something, but every year after that involved Maryland, Jersey, Florida, etc. Incredible, isn’t it? Makes me want to take a quick trip to Idaho or Oregon for New Years. Honestly though, it really kind of sucks.

The only consolation is that I’ve got a whole new state to live in (2009 was my first full year living on the West Coast). And I’ve definitely explored much of it.

I’ve also done much trip planning for 2010, as I will NOT spend the next year in the same way. As for 2010 and work, we’ll just have to see. It’s not like the job market is anything but dead. Hopefully something comes along over the next year to get me out of this corporate silliness.

Somehow, through all of this, 2009 has been my 21st year in a row without vomiting.