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I'm eating peanut butter cheese crackers from the vending machine. I suspect the crackers are made with the same Nuclear Cheese Powder that you dump into your Kraft Macaroni and Cheese.
Also, I got no Mother's Day call from Michael and Lilly. And now the whole world knows their shame.
I'm grateful to the reader who sent me this link in response to my last entry (sidebar), from which Calvin purchased my Mother's Day gift of lilac lotion and lilac body spray.
I've been drinking tea and water all morning, and I have to pee AGAIN. (TMI, perhaps?)
If you haven't been keeping up with my blog, Dana has a hysterical project going on (it starts here, with the latest update here).
Nothing at the moment.
2003 - No entry
2002 - Twelve questions for WordGoddess.
2001 - The lengths I would go to.
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May 10, 2004
Daydreaming
Calvin and I have been talking recently about what we want to do with our lives. Which is amusing, considering that I'm (nearly) 30 and he's 40, and we both have what outside viewers would call "careers", and a home, and an assload of debt. So it would seem that the "doing" is already going on.
We have A Plan, which involves (creative) budgeting, and weekly monitoring of debt balances, and a payoff schedule that covers the next four years or so. Once we are Blissfully Liquid, we will suddenly find ourselves with options other than, "Keep our jobs at all costs because we are one bare paycheck away from being out on our asses."
I've already talked about the possibility of buying a cabin up north, and it's still a thought. But it's slowly being replaced with this novel idea... how about an entire lifestyle change, complete with new locale and new "careers"? Because really, do either Calvin or I want to continue slogging away at our 8-5's until we reach 65, only to enjoy three months of retirement before our health shits the bed? No. Do we love our jobs with all our might and main? No. Are we content with the amount of time we're able to spend with each other during the week? No.
Are we game to try something different? Yes. Well, with conditions.
My boyo isn't all that receptive to change. He has to have it brought upon him slowly. There needs to be a plethora of road signs announcing the impending change. There needs to be a map, a plan, an itinerary that clearly delineates Point A, Point B, and Point Z. There needs to be plans to accommodate every known contingency. There needs to be a reasonable guarantee of success. Otherwise, we'll be staying where it's "safe", but not necessarily "fulfilling".
Which is cool, because I'm much the same way. I'm not quite as risk-adverse as he is, but I also need a plan and some guarantees. I'm all about the duck-rowing.
So we got to talking about what that beautiful, wondrous "thing" would be, that we would like to be dedicating our lives to. Sitting there in the hot tub one afternoon, casting our gaze up at the sky, and allowing our minds to wander among the possibilities, we... drew a blank. So. Start with what it is that we enjoy doing, in general.
Hosting parties, cooking, puttering around the house, hanging out with friends, going on vacation, enjoying the outdoors, eating, taking day trips, taking naps.
I want to get back into horseback riding, and maybe give lessons to children. I also would like to become licensed in massage. Calvin is a social creature, and would like to do something that involves interacting with people, does NOT involve anything technical, and also involves being in my company all the time.
So here's what we figured that we would possibly like to do. Run a bed and breakfast.
As soon as we thought of it, it was a total lightbulb moment. It pretty much encompasses all of our nesting tendencies and passtimes into a money-earning lifestyle. One that allows us to be together, be hosts, enjoy the outdoors, and completely unplug from the ratrace lifestyle we're currently mired in. I can totally see Calvin running the place, futzing with menus, tending to maintenance. Plus, if there's an opportunity to own a bar, either as part of the B&B, or nearby, he'd make an excellent barkeep. I can be PR chickie, and give horseback riding lessons, and massages. Because wouldn't *you* stay at a place where you could go riding, and then have someone massage your backside afterwards? Plus, lessons and massages could be money-earning outside of the bed and breakfast.
We could both cook, and do the necessary chores, and otherwise make ourselves available to our guests for places to see, things to do, or just general relaxation in the hammock. Because there will be a hammock. And a swing. Maybe two swings. And a hot tub (because once you've had one, you can never go without). We would provide breakfast, and any other meals that the guests would be around for. Picnics? No problem! Dinner for ten? Absolutely! Midnight cookies and milk? You betcha!
Yeah, I'm a little excited about this idea. I mean, I've been daydreaming all about the little finishing touches that would make the place "homey", and would make people want to come back. I've been thinking about things that would make our B&B stand out among the thousands of others out there. I've been wondering about location. The coast? The mountains? Arizona? Maine? Someplace different altogether?
I would, of course, offer special discounts for the friends I have among the journaling community. Hosting JournalCon or TUS-Con is not out of the question. Especially if we end up owning a bar, too.
Anyway. One step at a time, here. I'm not afraid of the reality of the situation. We have debt to pay off first. Then, we need to amass some cash. Then, we start looking for a good place - one with established clientele, that has a good earning history. A place that's near enough to an airport, and near to summer and winter passtimes. Once we find this gem, well, then it's a matter of selling the house, quitting our jobs, and moving.
Yeah. It's as simple as that. Well, and why can't it be as simple as that? Mark my words, one day I'll be linking to this very entry when I write to tell about the place we are buying. And it shall be titled, "Living The Dream". I have decreed it thusly.
In the meantime, I'm having a grand old time perusing the listings on this website. It's good to have goals.
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