At least it doesn’t in money, which is a fairly important consideration in a society founded on capitalism.

But in other compensations the occupation is rich. Any reporter earns a bank of experience walking in the paths of others, stepping through different life views and stories that force the broadening of all they felt was certain in the world.

Last week was my last week as a reporter at The Cary News. Before I left I wanted to look back at a few people who’ve taught me some important lessons during my three years, seven months and two and a half days here.

Kathy Hansinger: The 1950s-themed coffee shop Kathy opened in Morrisville was one of the first stories I did for The Cary News. The shop went kaput, but our friendship continued to blossom throughout my time here.

Fifty-something Kathy became one of the youngest-minded people on my speed dial. I became a member of the lucky, eclectic group of friends she showers with parties celebrating everything from Elvis’ death to St. Patrick’s Day. From Kathy I learned that staying open to new people, new places and a whimsical sense of fun shouldn’t just be the domain of twenty-somethings, but a lifelong task for everyone.

Billy Hartness: Billy Hartness was living his life a little more quietly than Kathy by the time I met him. He was a 77-year-old widower living by one of Morrisville’s busiest intersections in a two-story, 1800s-era home that his wife had “fallen in love with” in the early 1980s.

By 2006 the long white house at N.C. 54 and Morrsiville-Carpenter Road was being swallowed by the town’s booming growth. I had to fight traffic to get to it when I interviewed Billy for a personality profile in March of that year. He had been a town commissioner when Morrisville numbered 400 people. In hearing his soft drawl and listening to his story, I learned — remembered — about all the histories that lay so fragile in the path of this area’s 21st-century growth.

Ben Hitchings: Billy Hartness died a few months ago, but before he did he got a new house swapped for his old one, which the town had deemed historical and worthy of protection.

As part of the Town Center Plan, headed by Planning Director Ben Hitchings, Morrisville is working to create a historical downtown core where older structures, like Hartness’ house, are being moved and protected.

Unchecked, rapid development can often come at the cost of a community’s landscape, history and quality of life. Plans like TCP taught me that new development and preservation can still exist side by side — albeit precariously at times.

Cool Breeze: OK, so this Cary restaurant specializing in Indian snack food isn’t a person. But it’s been like a sweet, sweet friend to me during my time here.

See, don’t think I’m against all growth, because I’m not. I grew up in this area when diversity meant you were either Baptist or Methodist, or maybe Presbyterian. It has been a privilege to watch the Cary area’s population increase and diversify, bringing new people, ideas, job opportunities — and food!

I loved diving into one of Cool Breeze’s — it’s located in Chatham Square — spicy vegetable dishes. From Cool Breeze I have learned that diversity enriches a town in so many ways, and that Indian bread is delicious.

Scott Ramage: Throughout my time at the paper, but especially during my brief takeover for Cary government reporter Adam Arnold, I had to deal with various people in the large and complex world of town government.

Scott, a senior planner with the Town of Cary, was a favorite to deal with because he could take a complex issue and actually help me understand it. And he would do it quickly, answering questions by e-mail or phone as soon as he could. From Scott I learned the benefits of working with a true professional.

The Town of Cary is staffed with several of them.

During my time covering town government I also learned that if a meeting lasted beyond three hours I typically started singing New Edition songs in my head, whether I wanted to or not.

As I begin my next adventure — traveling abroad and hopefully freelance writing — I will remember all these teachers and I will take their lessons with me.

The cubicle’s staying though.