As the year comes to an end . . .
I have a lot to think about. A lot has happened this year, both good and bad. Just as anyone else, I wish the bad things didn’t happen. For years now my friends from various stages in my life have also moved around the country as I have all of my childhood. So it makes it very difficult to see folks. This year was special and unique.
I got to go on vacation twice with Lauren and Mike. Sonya has been here to visit on several occasions. I even got to spend time with folks back home in Biloxi. The “harem” as Brian likes to call them. It makes me remember how much I miss my friends. For a while there I almost forgot what it was like. I’ve made friends everywhere but not the kind of friends from before. Not the kind, you tell anything to. Not the kind, you call up randomly just to chat. My new friends, it seems like everything has to be planned. What happened to, picking up the phone when you are bored and head out to catch a movie?
But the year was filled with lots of bad news. Seemed like everywhere I turned I heard the word divorce. That is very sad to me whether the couple had kids or not. Unfortunately, many are not finalized because its never quick when it has kids involved.
We’ve gotten to spend good quality time with Brian’s Dad. I think he really enjoyed Seattle/Alaska. I wish we could do more for him to get him away from the drama that fills his life. I don’t think the stress is good for him at all. I saw him at Christmas and he looked tired and run down. It is wonderful that he is helping care for his grandkids but it takes such a toll on him. He should be relaxing and “enjoying” the kids not having to care for their day to day needs. Hopefully things will lighten up for him.
We haven’t gotten to take mom anywhere this year and for that I feel really bad. She deserves it. My goal is to get that taken care of the first half of 2012.
We’ve moved to a new house in 2011. It was a difficult decision. In a bad economy, how can you dive in and decide to buy a second home just to have two mortgages? But we did our math carefully based on our spending habits in the past 2 years living together and sharing finances and we did it! I am very glad we did. I love the new house. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my old house too. These first 4 months have been tight because of move in expenses (little fixes here and there) and the holidays. But we budgeted well and we didn’t incur additional debt! Now we just need to stick to our normal behavior in 2012 that we did in 2011 and we’ll still be able to take our vacations, buy our toys, pay down old debt and keep up with the mortgage. For that I feel really lucky.
I see lots of folks that make equal to or more than us and they aren’t able to do the things we do. They probably have more cost in their life. Hopefully the economy gets better, and everyone will start to be able to breathe a little nicer as finances let up. I can’t wait until our credit card debt is 100% gone along with student loans. Another 2 years for credit card debt and car loans. I wish it wasn’t that long but I think the house was worth the delay and I refuse to give up vacations. After all we take pretty cheap vacations and the life moments and memories we have together are priceless. Who cares if people call me cheap. I’d rather take 3 cheap vacations than one super expensive one. Alaska was pricey but Alaska cruises are never cheap and we wanted to make sure Dad had a great time. Balcony was nice but the price premium was still not worth it. Maybe later in life, but for now, I’m going bad to my cheap interior rooms.
Those were the highlights of the year. There is still so many more things worth mentioning but I better hop in the shower so that I can enjoy my last day of 2011 with my nephew, Tai. Happy New Year everyone!