I'm in the process of preparing to up and leave my life as I know it to go explore Australia and wherever else I end up! I've had a cozy little routine for the last five years working as a preschool teacher, babysitting, steady boyfriends, sports and outdoorsiness.. But about 6 months ago I knew it was time to make a change.
I moved out of my boyfriends house in need of my own space; I've been feeling too dependent on him (and many other people in my life) and wanted to challenge myself to live on my own. Well, I ended up moving in with a family I did part time care giving for and while I made a great friend in Carol, having someone BE dependent on me is not the same as me being independent!
At about the same time I moved, I also changed jobs. I went from a place where I was pretty much at the top of the ladder, well respected by my fellow staff, the families I worked with and very loved by the familiar community of children. I switched jobs for government benefits. I switched because everyone told me I should. It was an opportunity I couldn't pass up, they told me. Well, it turns out it just wasn't a good fit. Good people, good community, wonderful children of course, but completely different philosophy. I could make it work if I was desperate for work, but I'm not and there are too many things I'd rather do differently.
Then there's my community. I recently submerged myself in the art of Argentine Tango and am absolutely infatuated with it! I've been dancing since January '10 but didn't immerse myself until recently.. in trying to fill the evenings now that I'm not in a cozy house with my cozy boyfriend. Anyway, I started assistant teaching and am currently dancing and teaching 4 nights a week at least! And I Love it!
My favorite people to spend time with are part of the tango community and everyone else I attempt to convert! I've never been awesome at relationships in terms of maintaining friendships. I'm so lucky to have my best friend since kindergarten still by my side (even though she's almost 900 miles away! And several good friends from my high school years. I guess I'm just picky about the people I trust. I don't mean to push people away but I sometimes forget to be open to other ways of doing things (this is what makes my current job difficult.) There is always more than one perspective~ I try to remind myself.
Then there's family, people I love and will always love but we make each other crazy. I'm ready to define myself away from the umbrella they have so generously tried to hold over me. I am so grateful to all of them and want to take what I've learned and discover who I am in this world.
So I'm off at the end of March!
Goodbye to my job, goodbye to my community, goodbye to my family, and eventually goodbye to my boyfriend. Just me taking on the world. Really though, I think it'll be more like Me taking on Me.
There's so much to do to prepare but ultimately there are blue skies ahead. I'd like to keep this updated but I won't promise anything. I also plan to keep a journal. Paper is so much nicer to read :) Anyway, it's something my children or grandchildren can read and have~ who knows what the Internet will be like by then!
Nap-time is almost over now and the kiddos are waking up so back to life as I know it now.
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