It has been a bit of a slow day today, which is nice after some long days and late nights. I cleaned the bathroom and toilet and my wife made a blueberry pie. Exciting stuff.
We also had her nephew drop by with his girlfriend as while yesterday was his graduation, today is the real big day - they are both moving out of home and in together.
Do you remember leaving home?
I do but I think my move to Finland was more dramatic then that. I remember my first rental apartment which was a 32m2 studio built in the 60s. There was stars cut out of similar colored wallpaper to cover the holes in the walls left from previous tenants and I took a plate, a knife and a fork from work to eat off. I had a party there with 60+ people one night.
Good times.
It is amazing how little a young person can live off and still find enough money to smoke and drink. I haven't smoked for years and hardly drink now but if I did, I don't think I could afford it. Priorities have changed.
It is also interesting that if my wife and I lived as if we were students now, we could save a massive amount of money, even though she is not working currently. It wouldn't be "seemly" though for an adult couple with a kid to live that way. Why expand as earnings increase?
Funny. As we get older we are expected to increase our consumer habits as a sign of maturity. Buy more to prove we have managed to succeed at adulting without considering whether that is an indicator at all.
But, I wouldn't mind some nice things, some creature comforts now and again. One day I keep telling myself. I have been telling myself that for a very long time.
I come from a no frills family and while food was always on the table, there was little else. I remember from a very young age thinking about being better with my finances than my parents and knowing now I have failed more often than not.
It is okay. I don't have a bad life in comparison to many in this world and, there is food on the table now, although it has been touch and go in the not too distant past sometimes. The work load I am currently doing ensures that at least for now, bills will be covered and we can even enjoy the odd outing. We don't buy much but when we do we generally do something rather than have something.
Someone asked me yesterday if I will go back to Australia to live but, I can't afford it I think. I would have to start from scratch and build a career in a very short time and, my wife is unlikely to get a position in her field. That is all things remaining equal though. Who knows what would happen and be possible 5 years from now if this crypto scam turns into something big.
When I came to Finland I had nothing but a bag of clothes with me and I have managed to build a family, a small business and a home of sorts. It hasn't been an easy journey, starting from scratch is hard but almost 16 years later, I am getting there.
16 years? Is it a long time? It doesn't feel that long and I can still remember the drunken nights out with friends. 16 years from now and my daughter will be the age of the couple who moved in together today. I wonder if she will realize the opportunities she has available to get or, while she let them pass her by as I did. That life is hers to live of course.
My plan is to have her covered so she can take some risks in her life and have a good chance at following her dreams and passions. I know that for me, while things are okay, I would have likely had a better chance of content work of I didn't have to take jobs that were unsuitable just to cover living costs. I hope the work she chooses is able to be more meaningful to get when she does it and has the capacity to recognize when it is time to change and be able to without having to feel she must stay to make ends meet.
I think this is a big part of adding revenue streams for me, and especially the more passive ones I am trying to build for later, as they are able to support transition and mobility. And who knows, maybe a move to Australia one day to see if we can build another kind of life from scratch.
Economic availability is about having options and I am hoping that one day, the options can be considered without mention of money at all.
One day.
Taraz
[ a Steem original ]
(posted after giving a young couple a table, carpet and blueberry pie for their first home.)