He rolled up one of his pant legs and unhooked his blue bicycle that he bought for $60 at a yard sale in Livingston, NJ, his hometown. “At least I’ve gotten to grow my beard back,” said Michael Auerbach, running his fingers through the stubble that’s a shade redder than the hair on his head.

“I don’t think I’d be happy at just any ABC job,” said the 26-year-old out-of-work environmental lawyer.

While the White House is grappling with record-breaking unemployment rates, for some, a job per se has never been in the cards. As certain 20somethings will attest, it’s a fulfilling career they’re after, even in the midst of recession.

“A lot of my friends have kind of settled and taken jobs that they probably didn’t really want, but they’re earning money, they’re living life. But I don’t think that’s it for me,” said Auerbach.

A nearly six-month employment search has been futile, partially because Auerbach refuses to settle on a career opportunity that’s anything short of what he wants. His everyday responsibilities now include walking his and his girlfriend’s two dogs and taking photos of feet (more on that later), but Auerbach is also working on finding his purpose (and building his CV) in environmental advocacy.

Representing his neighborhood on the Upper East Side, Auerbach joined Community Board 8 earlier this year in part to push his environmental agenda. Recently he’s had some success in trying to change the old guard’s thoughts about transportation and sustainability. In October, he drafted a motion that detailed the community board’s support for the Department of Transportation to conduct a study on the feasibility of installing protected bike lanes on the Upper East Side. He’s excited about the local press he’s been getting now that the motion passed 38-1.

“I think after I proposed that bike resolution – that was kind of like my coming out party,” said Auerbach. He finds that the veteran board members respect him more now that he’s contributing to the conversation. Last Wednesday they were receptive to his new idea involving the Department of Education and Department of Motor Vehicles joining forces to help teach kids the biking rules of the road.

But serving the Upper East Side, an area known for its affluence and traditionalists, offers a unique set of obstacles for a guy who rides a bike and eats organic. “You’ve got to make that connection and show them if you do this little bit now, you’ll reap these benefits later,” explained Auerbach of his relationship with members of the community. “It’s a harder road to climb, but I think that makes it more worthwhile.”

At a full board meeting of Community Board 8 last month, Auerbach fidgeted in his seat, walked out of the auditorium, then came back in. The board was arguing about the wording he used in a motion he drafted, and he didn’t understand their objections. In order to implement biking education, Auerbach wanted the board to partner with Transportation Alternatives – a group committed to advocating for the interests of pedestrians, cyclists and mass transit riders. Problem was, Auerbach is an extremely active member of Transportation Alternatives (in fact, he was just voted volunteer of the year) and his fellow board members knew it. They argued that the word “partner” was too strong and suggestive of a relationship that shouldn’t and couldn’t exist.

So, after muttering his disappointment to a colleague, Community Board 8’s youngest board member abstained when the vote was called. Auerbach later maintained that he learned a valuable lesson about compromise after that night, but at the meeting, he wouldn’t budge. “I can’t vote for a motion that’s not my motion,” he said.

Auerbach’s 23-year old brother, Matt, isn’t surprised at Michael’s reaction. “Michael likes to get his way. He doesn’t really acquiesce to the other party that much,” said Matt.

Matt recalled a time when his older brother actually pleaded with his parents to get a blue Chevy Trail Blazer with black interior. (Michael hadn’t yet made the switch to two wheel transportation.) He just had to have that specific make and model. “Once he believes in something he really believes in it, and it’s hard to change that,” said Matt.

But Michael believes in such a myriad of unrelated things, that in a niche market, he refuses to settle on any one specialty. The New York Law alum double majored in international business and sports management while at George Washington University. At one point he seriously considered a career in journalism, and he now co-authors a blog, www.streetsneak.com., dedicated to increasing sneaker visibility by showcasing the Converses and high-tops in the city. (Auerbach himself owns 25 pairs.) This past Thanksgiving, he simultaneously prepared caramelized corn with mint while researching a now defunct route of the Long Island Railroad. Given his kaleidoscope of interests, his view is focused but always shifting.

“He’s terrified of doing something he doesn’t want to do, and he’s terrified of being unhappy,” said Matt, who sees his brother is a role model for him and his 17-year-old sister, Gaby. “I don’t think he’ll ever have a job he hates.”

When Michael’s former boss at the New York City Department of Education inquired as to whether he would like to apply to extend his temporary position, Auerbach politely declined the offer. Having completed his memo about trends in school violence after nearly seven months of work, Auerbach no longer desired to be a policy analyst and was now ready to apply for legal positions. He left the job in June.

“It seemed like the project was kind of over for me at that point,” he said. “I knew there were bigger fish to fry out there somewhere.”

Brent Madoo, Auerbach’s former colleague at the Department of Education agreed. “He was appreciative of the work we were doing there, but I don’t think it was something that he was necessarily passionate about,” said Madoo.

Currently Auerbach is focusing most of his attention on Upper Green Side – a nonprofit committed to helping create sustainable neighborhoods on the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. He recently became the group’s president.

Upper Green Side founder Glenn McAnanama resigned from the position after moving to Morningside Heights, and he nominated Auerbach to take his place.

“He’ll bring a different flavor and different ideas, and based on everything I’ve seen, I like where he’s going,” said McAnanama. Auerbach will focus on transportation issues, while McAnanama will continue to push for the expansion of green markets and recycling facilities.

Another huge component of Auerbach’s presidency involves maintaining the Upper Green Side blog. “It’s really about self motivation,” said Auerbach, who’s grown accustomed to the challenges of blogging with www.streetsneak.com. After just a few of weeks of posting, Auerbach said that there were roughly 800 viewers in the month of November.

But once this helmet-wearing, sneaker-philic young man adds a 9-5 into the mix, how will his advocacy efforts morph?

Auerbach, who regrets not taking any time off between undergrad and graduate school, says law school was “just the next step for me.” Now he’s begun to seriously consider a career in politics after getting a taste of community advisory this year. “And sure, I do still have premonitions about going down to North Carolina and just trying to play golf professionally,” said Auerbach. (He’s got a three handicap.)

“What Michael aspires to be, it changes every month,” said his brother Matt. “He wants his hands in everything.”

As member of a generation who was often promised fulfillment and happiness in addition to a paycheck, “You find out what you’re good at, and if the passion sticks, good things will come from it. That’s what I believe in,” said Auerbach. “I have a few passions, so I’m just seeing how long they’ll stick.”

Tags | biking, Community Board 8, Michael Auerbach, Transportation Alternatives, Upper Green Side, www.streetsneak.com