What to do here...

[jcmack13]

I'm a 21 year old college student on summer break, living with a few friends in an apartment in New York. Mostly through my own laziness, I didn't get a job until halfway through the summer, to work as a waiter in a diner that was about to open. But then the diner had problems. The opening date kept getting pushed back and back until we received an e-mail sayiung it wouldn't open until September, when I would be back in school.

No real problem for me.

I've been making enough money playing poker to cover my rent and utilities and other living expenses. My mom was the one who really wanted me to get a job. I just wanted to hang out in my new apartment, play poker, and do whatever I wanted. Which I've been doing, and which is fantastic.

Here's the thing: I got a phone call from the diner. They got everything fixed, and they're opening ahead of schedule. Today, in fact, and they wanted me to come in. Too stunned to say anthing else, I said sure.

I'm fairly confident my hourly rate at poker is more than I can make working as a waiter at the diner. But, I also don't have enough saved *this second* to, say, cover expenses for the next 6 months. So running exceptionally bad right now would be, while not devastating, certainly uncomfortable. Running moderately bad would be fine, though.

My gf doesn't want me to take the job because she works days and I'd work nights at the diner and we wouldn't see each other.

I don't mind restaurant work. I kinda enjoy working with lots of kids my age. And there are other benefits that come from working with people and being on your feet as opposed to sitting on your ass in front of a monitor all day.

On the other hand, I am having the summer of. my. life. I love being my own boss and I'm making money.

But what is the responsible thing to do here? A little bit of sure money in a decent job that would inconvenience my summer and my relationships, or potentially much more money at poker and the summer of unrestricted freedom?

Thanks for reading.