AH! You know I didn't even think about that. I did think about it with the telescope though, so I'm not sure why I didn't with the mat lol. Thanks for the info! Also moving my mat next time I open the game!

In other, more on topic, news - I just had a peep master the Workshop and get the Workshop Warrior goal with only TWO of the career room upgrades + buying the career level advancement from 1 to 2 at the very beginning. He's literally only 45 years old and he was even a little restless and wandered a good deal in his early years. So, honestly, this really seems to reaffirm my belief that only a few of the career room upgrades are necessary.