It feels as though we are always going to be “getting ready to live our lives” as opposed to just getting down to business and doing it, already.
On Thursday Graham came home from work, sat down on the back deck where I had been watering the potted plants, and said the words I’d been dreading since he got his first carpenter’s apprentice gig at the end of last July, “I’m officially unemployed.”
Maybe “dreading” is too strong a word. Nevertheless, it did cause me to cringe.
We’ve been very lucky that Graham’s very first job when he decided to enter a trade lasted for about ten months. Many carpenters job hop from site to site for years on end. In addition to my full-time salary, we’ve had his modest, but stable weekly pay cheque to rely on since he left his work as a cable guy and took that step in a new direction, one which I support 100%.
Thanks to Graham’s seasonal business, we’re going to do just fine. In fact, Graham’s business is more lucrative than his carpentry work, so being laid off couldn’t have happened to us at a better time. If it had happened in the winter, however, we’d be in trouble. Tightening the purse-strings. Counting our pennies. And our blessings.
But it’s not winter, it’s summer, and the business is ramping up into full swing.
The part I find the hardest to get used to about this career of Graham’s, is the very unpredictable nature of work in trades. A job could last for two years, or two weeks. It could be a ten minute drive from home, or several hours, requiring workers to stay away from home all week long. This does not fit in well with my compulsive need to map our life out. I know that there are lots of women out there who spend time on their own while their husbands are away at work or school all week, but I don’t know how to plan for that day, which is likely coming for us, at some point.
Maybe I’d feel more like we were just living our lives if I could stop being such a planner, such a worrier. Just revel in the day-to-day moments…accept that this IS what our life is going to be, is what it is today. How do I do that?
I don’t have any advice for you. My hubby’s boss isn’t doing well. I think it’s a sign of the times. Sad to say but we’ve been in worse situations. When one door closes another ALWAYS opens up! Don’t worry about a thing. Everything is going to be just fine………I’m going to go stock piling goods! Just kidding! LOL!! Hugs!
Traceytreasure’s last blog post..New Respect
I’m going to start stock piling goods. My comments must drive you nuts. It’s really not my intention, Mrs. Editor/Proofreader! Please forgive me! Hugs!!
Traceytreasure’s last blog post..New Respect
I often think about living “in the moment”. What a struggle! More and more often I think to myself, “This is it. This is my life. Right now.” It does help me to savor things a bit more. Like looking at something in retrospect and appreciating it, but doing it right now. Maybe that sounds wierds.
Sue’s last blog post..Pajamas all Day!
Ames, I’ve been forced to live in the moment since roughly 2005 when all plans went to hell in a handbasket after a phone call from my doc saying “you are pregnant woman”. That wasn’t the plan (it was too soooon – nooooooz) and now I am a day by day, week by week person. It’s rough and I wish I had advice – but surviving it isn’t all that bad. No really – it isn’t!
How do all those carefree folks do it? Not sure, but with good friends and a clear head, it can be done.
I’m sorry about the job, but you are right – the timing couldn’t be better with the available jobs for his “side” work.
motherbumper’s last blog post..Contests are always fun
Dunno. Pynchon’s on a contract that lasts until October 2009, and I”m already worried about what comes next. Yeesh.
mimi’s last blog post..Two!
Not going to lie. I enjoy when Cody’s gone for a long time. Let’s me have me time. It’s not always easy when the kid is awake and ON ONE, but we are able to keep our own schedule, our own routine and there’s only one of us that she has to listen to. When Cody enters the picture he messes up the whole “thing” we had going.
Not that I don’t love having him around. I do I do.
But I guess after seven years of being alone a majority of the time I finally became okay with being by myself and working Cody in when he had the time instead of planning my life around when he MAY have time to fit us in. It has worked very well for us all.
moosh in indy.’s last blog post..Feeling Caulky.
You just described exactly why I don’t act professionally, eventhough it is my passion. Good for your husband for following a path that brings him more happiness than my sucky “safe” job..
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