For years, I’ve been wanting to send this post:
I’m poised and ready to update my out of office message: Gone traveling, don’t know when I’ll be back. Drop me a line sometime….
Traipsing across legendary spice routes, I’ll send dispatches from the road… filled with stories about the people I meet. In words and photos, I’ll tell their tale, daring to capture their essence. Then I’ll close my note…destination unknown, signed simply, Happy Trails….
***
I gleaned through my possessions. Donated everything I could part with. And for the last 18 months, I’ve purposely acquired nothing that wasn’t a book…or previously used. Eventually, each new item that entered my house, felt like a burden.
Justifying my pauper lifestyle, I reminded myself, “I’m leaving.”
Then I was laid off from my job. When the shock wore off, I was actually happy. This was a sign! Passport at the ready, I put my house on the market and prepared to bid Seattle adieu.
But fate had another plan….
Before my eyes, I watched the economy go from bad to worse…and within 6 months, the value of my home dropped nearly $100,000.
Sadly, I’m going to kiss that trip good bye, for now.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah, I think our house is down about $70K less than what we paid for ours.
Things always work out, so the master plan is not in your control but one day you will likely have that trip. Enjoy your time and let us know when that day arrives.
Read that you'll be at CIA in Nov for Worlds of Flavor. That's an expensive event. Hope that it's well worth it.
My parents have the same problem. The house we've loved for so long as a family is now an albatross. Let's will things to improve, all 'round.
You know you always have a bed and a dish of candied bacon and biscuits here in London! x
Don't say adieu, say รก bientot because things are bound to change. Meantime, your activities have been pretty darn awesome. A door closes, a window opens kind of thing, right? (((hug)))
My post makes me ache for you. You'll still get there—I can feel it—but I really hope that in the meantime, you have been finding, and will continue to find, smaller ways to create what you're looking for.