A New Outlook

As I follow my morning routine this morning, I can feel a nudge and drive in my soul pulling me toward a simpler lifestyle.  I believe this all started with the loss of my Job at the end of March.  I took some time off to really think about the direction I want to move in.  My kids are grown and are leading their own lives.  My husband is a working from home, and I just want less.

Being a Capricorn, things have always been important to me.  Why?  I don't know.  I like to have the latest gadgets, a variety of clothes to choose from, books and movies to occupy my mind, and enough knitting and stitching (craft) supplies to keep me busy.  But as I look around my home I can see that 17 years has really accumulated a lot of STUFF.  We've rotated things out and made donations, but I still have a lot of stuff, everywhere.  The attic is full of not only our own things but now my children's things as well.  A business, A craft room, the man cave, have all been over run with things.

So during my soul searching "time off" I came to the realization that we can do whatever we want.  We aren't tethered to jobs in the city anymore.  Our children are capable of living alone and have.  Two no longer live with us and the third, well he's home from the military and enrolled in college.  He needs to finish school.  But being over the age of 21 and having been in the military (and living miles away from mom) makes him a man.  A man capable of fending for himself.  Does he really need me?

I had a conversation with my husband that began with "Honey, we need to talk.  We need to discuss what we want and what we don't want.  Where do we want to go in the next 5 years, 10 years?  Where do we want to live?  Where do we want to retire?  I think we need to make sure we are both on the same page."  His response was as expected, " OK, when do you want to have this talk?"  "Well" I replied " I was thinking we could have a brief discussion now, then take some time, say a week, to think about things and then revisit this conversation in detail.  I just feel a need for change."  He's an awesome man, and agreed.

Following our conversation, we'd come up with some definite "on the same page" thinking and desires.  We were both on the same page, just maybe on different paragraphs.  We agreed that it's time to downsize our life a bit.  Less is more.  We agreed that if a job opportunity took us out of Florida we'd be excited about that, however to move of our own volition out of the state for a fresh start was impractical due to parents needing us here now or in the future.  We both agreed that we are over Tampa, and ready for a more simplistic lifestyle.  We don't need to have Chinese food delivered, or be able to run to Culver's for hamburgers because we are too tired to cook.  I'd like to have some chickens and have fresh eggs, I don't want to have neighbors, with blaring music or screaming kids that echo through the neighborhood.  I'm ready for change.

Embracing change is the first step.  We are embarking on a journey, but we're taking those steps together, and in reality, he is all I have ever needed.

Officially, we move at the end of June.  To  a house half the size of my current home.  To the country with  2.5 acres of land on a pond, with a vineyard of muscadine grapes, a small persimmon tree orchard, and two established (yet overgrown) irrigated garden areas.

I'll be sharing my journey, as I downsize,  I expect there to be some struggle for me as I let things go...

Great Mail Days

Is there anything more exciting than getting goodies in the mail?  I don't think so.  I LOVE to get magazines, and packages in the mail.  The anticipation of receiving a purchased item just adds to the excitement when it finally arrives.  You just have tear through the packaging to get to the item.

Some things I received in the mail this week:

1) My favorite white eyeliner - I needed a replacement so I ordered NYX white eyeliner on Amazon.  I LOVE Amazon Prime - get it in 2 days.

2. Machete - Wait a minute I didn't order this?  Hmmm, why would Amazon send me a Machete?    Well that's a good question.
ME: "Hello Amazon?  I received a machete that I did not order.  I think there has been a mistake."                                      
AMAZON:"Do you have a shipment tracking number?"                                                               ME: "Yes I do. That number is #### #### #### #### ###"                                           AMAZON:"I'm sorry we don't see that tracking number.  The item may have been sent to you as a gift.  If you weren't expecting a gift, then it's possibly an error, so you can keep the machete, or donate it.  Do what you like with it."      
  ME: "Ok, I don't know who would want to send me a machete but thank you for looking into it."  Have a nice day"

3.  My antioxidant capsules recommended by my dermatologist.

Today Choose Joy by Lizzie* Kate

Never Give Up by Lizzie* Kate

Collect Moments Snippet by Lizzie*Kate

Autumn Tree by Barbara Ann Designs

I know what to do with my eyeliner, and my Heliocare.  However, the Machete?  I gave that to the hubby, and now the only remaining question is... What do I stitch first?

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Life Happens

I'm a terrible blogger!  No, no it's true.  I just get side tracked by something shiny and I'm gone.  Talk about a short attention span.

I've had the last few weeks to take a hard look at myself, and decided changes are in order.  As often happens, LIFE just happened.  My job was terminated due to budgetary cutbacks.  Well that's always a bummer.  And I"ve spent the last few weeks, wasting the hours, playing Diablo III, goofing off on Facebook, Beginning a Project Management Course, doing some chores, and trying to figure out What I want.  I'm not sure I've managed that yet, but stay tuned, more is coming....