Gary and I have purchased our first home. What would seem on the cheap side for San Deigo is on the expensive side for Portland. It's all relative, right? We love it! I think we have found a place that is perfect for us in nearly every way. The house itself is lovely, bright and modern, lots of natural light and in a culdesac. The neighbors are great and friendly (except for the surgeon couple we never see...). The neighborhood is the best part. We are within walking distance to a large urban park...which is actually a big forest with hiking and biking trails, and another park that has a trail that goes to the zoo and children's museum! If we walk the other way we are in the city after a 1/2 mile. Yesterday we went to 23rd street which is our local "hip" street and got on the streetcar to go downtown. While doing anything with the girls is a challenge it was so cool to be downtown. Roxanna loved the city...that crazy girl is really exercising her independence. She wants to just run around like a crazy kid and doesn't want to hold my hand...challenging. It was cool for me because I haven't lived IN A CITY, just on outskirts. Gary loved it, reminded him of Being in NY (though doesn't compare clearly). On the way home we stopped at Powells for some books (roxanna insisted on a Dora book of all things), and then stopped at our favorite brewpub for a Growler. I then made a chipotle tequila cilantro chicken pasta (made it up) and then relaxed with a beer after kids were in bed. It was a Thursday. Today we are heading to the mountain for some sledding and hot chocolate. I work the weekend. ..
You see, our lifestyle now is great. I work hard but not an excessive amount. While my ideal situation would be to work only 2 shifts/ month this isn't reasonable given the money we spend and debt we have (we spend way too much!). Gary has been doing a great job staying at home with the kids but at times feels isolated and wants to return to the workforce...adding to that the cost of the home we purchased we thought about him returning to work. So, he got a job! He was offered a job to be the Director of Operations of a Sports PHysical Therapy Company...and he declined the offer. Crazy? Maybe.
What a cliche to say but how true it is to say how fast our kids grow up. Roxanna is 2! Already! Georgia is no longer my little infant. Blink and it's gone. Does Gary want to work from 8-6 and only see the kids for an hour before their bedtime except on weekends when I'll be working? Do we want to rush around trying to arrange childcare? What are our priorities? Yes, we are lucky that we can decline a good paying job, and yes we have a tremendous amount of debt...but these precious years before they start school are the most formative years of their little lives. We both agree that a parent should be home with them if possible. While I wish it were me staying home, that is crazy...so for now, I content myself in knowing that no one can give them the love, nurturing and stability that their daddy can and work isn't going anywhere. When they are in school, we have all the time in the world to join the rat race...it isn't going anywhere, but their childhood is.
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