Ringing the gong

Three years ago this month I moved to Austin and took my job with me. I have always worked in an office or team environment. I now work out of my home office. Don't get me wrong, I don't miss rushing out at 7am in the morning to drive for 30 minutes to the office. There is something to be said about working in flip flops and shorts most of the time. OK, I wear sweat pants in the winter. So now my commute involves walking up the stairs. No more oh crap, I made my lunch and left it at the counter knowing it would have been eaten by the dogs by the time I got home.Now lunch is always in the fridge downstairs. What I miss most in the camaraderie, the high fives and crude humor. The competition and breaking out of beer on Friday afternoon after a very good week. These things are gone. My co workers consist of instant messages to Buenes Aries and San Francisco. No high fives or slaps on the back. So what have I done? I have a gong in my office on an alter with a large stature of Ganesha, remover of all obstacle. When I get a new client I ring my gong. The dogs do a happy dance and they get a treat. Maybe that's silly but it's all I got. The dogs have become my co workers. We adjust and I haven't gotten any complaints from the dogs. Thursday I got to ring the gong twice and once rather repetitively. I closed our 1700th client. We are a small company that never had any venture capital We did it on our own. My son was home for winter break and I did get a high five at lucky number 1700,but for the most part my high fives come from a pack of hot dogs and a couple silly dogs willing to dance the happy dance with me.