Is it really Friday?

I seem to have lost all sense of time and day. I guess that happens when there is no job to go to. Well, I have a job, part-time, and yesterday we did do the payroll and checkbook, which makes yesterday Thursday, which makes today Friday. Wow.

Wednesday, I took some time to walk around with my little doggie, and we sat on the pier and just enjoyed the pre-Isaac winds. It was a perfect moment that could have gone on for hours had I not become certain that my little doggie was getting antsy enough to jump off the pier and into the water. This would not be a problem except for the fact that we live in a wetland of international significance swamp, which means lots of muck (gross) and alligators (AAAAAAAAAGGHHHH). So my little doggie and I walked a little further inland and enjoyed the breeze. I need to remember to live like that more often; just being in the moment. Life is too short to ignore this moment.

This morning, I feel more optimistic about my job search. Maybe it is because the world always feels fresher after a rain, maybe it's because I did some online job hunting that felt promising, who knows. Whatever brought it on, I'm grateful for it.

This morning also brings exciting news. I think we sold Sunshine's Harley. Now, many of you may be screaming "SELL THE HARLEY? NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!", but really, when we've put 6000 miles on it in 4 years, we can't justify the insurance. There is also the matter of the wildlife in the area where we live. After almost flipping the jeep upon hitting a wild boar, Sunshine go to thinking about how horrific that would have been on a bike. It probably didn't help that he almost hit a deer in his truck the next morning, and it isn't even mating season yet.

Then there is the matter of what we can do with the money. We just paid off Sunshine's truck, which frees up $500 a month for us. Our next big chunk of money will pay off another loan we have weighing us down, which will free up another $300 or so a month. Soon after that, we will be looking at paying off this magic bus. I've written about this before: when we get these things paid off, our living expenses are drastically reduced.Can you imagine a life with no mortgage, no car payment? A life with only utilities for monthly expenses? We are closing in on it. I can see the life at the end of the tunnel; a life of only cell phone, electricity, satellite TV, and lot rent. Dude, whaat? How much easier will life be then? How much less pressure to find the good job that pays all the money that pays all the bills for all the things that society says we must have/do; it sounds like heaven. And we aren't achieving this status by buying into some huckster's "financial freedom" scheme that will only cost us 6 easy payments of $49.99 through this one-time offer. We achieved it by re-evaluating our priorities.

Sunshine and I talked about that in a roundabout way a few nights ago. I was saying how grateful I am for him and the luxury he affords me; that luxury of being able to quit a horrific job and take the time to find a job that I will enjoy instead of having to take just any job so that I can make all the money to pay all the things. Sunshine pointed out that it wasn't just him that afforded me that luxury. It is also our lifestyle. We do live rather simply, after all. We don't have a 3,000 square foot McMansion to pay for, nor do we have to heat and cool and clean and maintain that McMansion. We don't go out partying a lot (being in recovery saves a fuckton of money that way), and we don't "entertain". He reminded me that I was an active participant in the decision-making process that brought us into this lifestyle.

Which has me thinking again about living in the moment. This moment. Right now.

The air-conditioner and its constant, reassuring flow of air. The sound of the birds coming out of hiding after Isaac's wind and light rains passed through town. The morning sunlight streaming through the skylights in the hallway and kitchen. The absolute lack (for this moment) of human intrusion into my morning reverie. The smell of hazelnut flavored coffee. The absolute perfection of this moment makes me want to stay home with the little doggie because krogering is going to suck. However, my tissue, it comforts me; and we do need some food.

In total contradiction to all of these we-live-very-simply ideas, got check out my thoughts on dressing like a movie star on a budget. Thank You, Aunt Becky, for allowing me to guest-post.