Andrew Schroeder

Over the course of the last 5 or 6 weeks, I have slowly moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin. Now, I know what you may be thinking (because it is the same thing I’ve been thinking a great deal): why the hell would I move to a place like Green Bay. The simple explanation:  my BF found an amazing job here and due to lower costs of living, I am able to open my own letterpress/photo studio called “Pig & Weasel”. Despite how fascinating Green Bay may be as a topic, I’d like to just briefly touch on how it feels to completely change my modes of dwelling.

For the last 10+ years I have been an apartment dweller. In fact, I haven’t lived in a “normal” house since I was wee high school student living with my Mom. When I began my studies, I simultaneously began my movement from dorm room to sprawling two-bedroom 1930′s charmer apartment in Minneapolis. Never in my wildest pipe-fantasies did I see myself living in a house.

A couple quick observations of an apartment dweller now a house dweller:

- It is ridiculously quiet. I’ve lived underneath everyone from a Vietnamese family of 12 (in Lincoln, NE) to a bitchy hipster couple who wore combat boots and had a squawking parrot. I keep waiting to hear… something.
- Houses come with kitchens. Well, apartment’s do too… but the room with the oven, sink, and refrigerator is actually large enough that I can MAKE FOOD. It is a strange, remarkable, beautiful thing to be able to prepare food and not accidentally jam your hand into a blender (my old kitchen was that small-think coffin sized).
- The washer and dryer do not take quarters. No more loading up my pockets with $2.50 in quarters to blow on washing/drying only to go back down and find my clothes aren’t dry. Or, even better… I don’t have the violated feeling that comes with having one’s clothing moved from the washer/dryer because some other jerk can’t wait to use it.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to continue to revel in the glories of a 1950s housewife.

During times of serious decision making, I’m always drawn back to one of the core theories of quantum physics: every time we make a decision, the universe splits into another fragment of possibility. Or, more simply put, there is an infinite number of outcomes possible from any choice we make – serious or not.

A big part of my thought process behind deciding to move to Green Bay and start up Pig & Weasel Press has been weighing all the “what if” scenarios that come from this crazy little idea. In one universe, I stay at my day job. I work there until I retire and my life is the same as it is right now: listless, unsatisfying, and dull.

My point being, simply, sometimes in life, it is better to make a major decision based on knowing which outcomes you definitely do not want to realize.

The Pig & Weasel letterpress identity is starting to take shape. Basically, I’m attempting to meld together the aesthetics of mid-century modern graphic design with a friendly, lets-go-get-a-drink feeling.

After some very careful consideration (and a considerable amount of wine) I’m packing up shop and moving to Green Bay, Wisconsin. I’m forming a small (yet mighty) letterpress studio called Pig & Weasel. Without further ado, I’d like to officially use this post to debut my new logo… soon to be printed on some beautiful brilliant white cardstock from Neenah papers.

At what point does it become acceptable to take on risks and seek out a future in line with one’s values? That is the question I have had on my mind the last few weeks. A new opportunity to engage in work that is more satisfying than sitting in an office for 45 hours a week is appearing on the horizon. I may be able to move to Green Bay, WI (or another similar city) and open a press. Nothing fancy. Think: a press wedged in the garage next to the cat’s litterbox at first. However, eventually there is the opportunity to make something that could actually be a satisfying way to spend my days and nights.

One nagging question keeps me from diving head-first into the world of being a small business owner: can I make it work? Is it worth it to have something to be passionate about and also give up a healthy paycheck from a soul less employer?