50 for 50: 1992

YEAR: 1992

AGE: Turned 22 on Nov. 6

LOCATION: Milwaukee/Marquette, Renee Row; Milwaukee, Wisconsin Avenue; Milwaukee's East Side, Royall Place

BULLS' RECORD: 67-15

SONGS I LIKED: "Girlfriend" by Matthew Sweet; "Alive" by Pearl Jam; "Just Another Day" by Jon Secada; "Tennessee" by Arrested Development

MOVIES I SAW: "Singles"; "Aladdin"

TV SHOWS I WATCHED: "Going to Extremes"; "Hanging with Mr. Cooper"

CONCERTS I SAW: Bruce Springsteen, U2/Public Enemy, Genesis

MUSIC VIDEOS I ENJOYED: "In Bloom" by Nirvana; "Deeper and Deeper" by Madonna

VIDEO GAMES I PLAYED: Final Fantasy, Dragon Warrior

I graduated college in 1992. The real world -- and not the MTV "Real World" -- awaited.

I was working part-time and stringing at the newspaper (and was about to be promoted), so I was staying in Milwaukee. I subletted with a friend during the summer, and after a couple months, I started looking for my own apartment. Many of my college friends either had went home after graduation, were working in some small town (which wasn't unusual for journalism grads -- their first jobs take them to a little town), or were still in school. I couldn't afford something too fancy, but I found a nice little efficiency on Prospect Avenue near the lakefront.

I let the landlord know I was interested, but then my friend Rey, who had returned to Puerto Rico, called me and said he was coming back to Milwaukee and that I should look for an apartment for the two of us. For about the same amount of rent -- each, of course -- much bigger apartments were available. We lucked into a good-sized place on the East Side with hardwood floors, our own rooms, and within walking distance of plenty of bars.

The first year out of college was, if I may use a cliche, a weekly whirlwind. I didn't have a car, so I walked about two miles to work (though occasionally I took the bus home). Besides hanging out with the few graduated friends still in town, I spent much time with the group still at Marquette -- to the point I'd occasionally crash with those friends on campus. Rey eventually had his car shipped from Puerto Rico, and a few of the student friends were driving, so we were able to get to campus ... or the Walker's Point bars, or the downtown bars, or wherever we wanted to go.

With no studies to worry about and me working continually all-over-the-place hours, going out four or even five nights a week wasn't that rare. We threw a couple parties at the Royall Place apartment (that's the street name, not the apartment complex), and often started our Saturdays with a few drinks at our place before heading out. We discovered how great Fritz's on Second was, and that became our official home bar -- we would go there first, then head over to Timer's, which was always filled with girls but the beer was more expensive.

The partying of the first year couldn't last. Many of the friends who graduated that spring would get full-time jobs right away, and I had met Lori the next May and naturally preferred spending most of my free time with her instead of the goons. We all still hung out and lived our 20s the way your 20s should be lived -- we just stopped acting like college students, drinking five nights a week, eating like crap, and sleeping until noon. 

I miss the goons (and the girls who hung out with us that year). We're all over the country and keep up basically by Facebook feeds. I tried setting up a virtual happy hour during the pandemic, but it never materialized. 

You've likely heard about the "gap year" concept -- kids taking a year off after graduating high school but before starting college. I kind of felt like I got one after I graduated. I lived like I was still in college and as a working adult ... at the same time. It was exhausting, nonstop, experiential, valuable, fun, and occasionally irresponsible. My professional skills grew. I never was bored. The beer was cheap (a lot of Miller Lite). There was always someone to hang out with. Knowing I would never go to grad school, that year was just enough transition from being a kid to being a fully functional adult. 

Furthermore, all that happened when being in your 20s was, frankly, awesome. The world seemed to be aligned just for us.

My only kind of regret is that I didn't end up in the efficiency apartment. That's nothing against rooming with Rey -- I just think I might have benefited from a little time truly on my own. The friends would still be in town, so I wouldn't have been alone alone, but except for the one year I lived in a dorm single room, I've never lived by myself. At 22, that would have been the best year to try being in the real world, just me. 

But that's a minor quibble. The first year out of school was a bit brilliant and a bit stupid at times, but I did achieve something that my friend Tim from high school once reminded me of that I hadn't even considered: Most of the group moved home and back in with their parents after graduating, but I didn't. Being in a big city and already employed helped for sure, but I'm still somewhat proud that I was ready for the next step the day after I graduated -- and then took it.