Naval Gazing

SUCCESS:
At age 4 success is ... . not peeing in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 16 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 20 success is.......going all the way.
At age 35 success is . . ..having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 60 success is . . . going all the way.
At age 70 success is . . ..having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . ... not peeing in your pants.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jer 29:11

I have a little nagging thought this morning.  I was with a family member last night, family going through some hard times.  Some fracturing in the family.  Many in the family trying to deal with it head on, some trying to approach at a side angle.  Which is correct?  Maybe my other side of the family tendency all along, to not talk about everything, sometimes don't say anything...is that correct?  Why do I always feel the need to tell my feelings, side, perspective...maybe I should just shut up and listen.  Once something is said, can't be unsaid.  Where did this come from in me?  How do I admire and accept unconditional love if I don't have that as a value too?  Maybe it is some part of my desire to avoid conflict.  Do I walk away too easily...Self actualization starting here?  Maybe this is something I need to delve into...hmmmmmm.  Deep thoughts for Friday the 13th.  OK.  I am done thinking for today.  Hope you have a great Friday!

Gotta start somewhere...

So I have been fascinated with the process of a blog for several years.  My favorite blogs to read are ones where people just talk about life.  I especially like when one is blogging for an event or change.  So, rather than regale my friends and family into listening to my stories over and over about how much joy I am getting from reducing my clutter and getting ready to move 225 miles away (this bring sadness to family and friends I will be moving away from), I thought I would talk to the blogosphere and see if I can meet some like-minded folks out there.

Plus, I have a really teadious job that gives me sometimes several days with not much to do, followed by furious crunch time work.  Very hard to find a balance.  I probably should have called my blog Finding Balance, but that would suggest much more zen type of content, which I probably would fall wearily short.

My husband is getting ready to retire in 10 months.  283 days, 6 hours, 15 minutes and 25 seconds...give or take.  Who's counting?  Part of what attracted me to this idea is the intention to write through this process and see if I was able to, wanted to, keep this up for the 10 months.  Another part of me wants to see what writing is like since I will have a lot of free time (God willing) once we retire and move.  My husband is a little older than I am, so I am not sure I will totally retire or work a 3rd career (I have already been through 2 careers, not counting all the work/jobs I did since I was 12 years old up until I graduated from college).  I think I am a bit too young, restless, impatient, spendthrifty...scared, OK scared is a fair word.  I am a bit scared of what this will bring.  Some of my fear is about money, but about equally scarey is what my life will look like...will I like myself?  Will I feel I am accomplishing enough?  Will I?...what if?...what about?...

I have learned that journaling is a good thing.  But I want more than just journaling.  I want to get to know others out there who are going through something, needing a bit of contact.  Not only are we relocating...we are moving to a very small town from a decent sized Midwestern city.  We are going south about 225 miles to another state.  We want it a bit warmer (me, not too warm).  I have lived in this state before, in another life.  Well not really, but I lived there over 20 years ago.  I liked it there very much, but I was younger and single and restless and in career-mode. 
I am not really scared about the small town part, I grew up in a REALLY small town.  My husband has never lived in another state.  But he and I are both sick of the city and sick of the pace and sick of having to get out and get around in the cold. 

More tomorrow, I hope.  We'll see how this