How Do You Know When It’s Time To Pack Up And Make That Change?
Do you know when it’s time to make that change?
Husband has an online addiction problem.
With real estate.
As long as they are houses in other towns.
One year of empty nest and he wants us out of here.
“Check out this marsh front home on the coast of Georgia.”
“How about this abandoned town in Italy?”
“Ooh, I love this jungle home in Costa Rica!”
He’s ready to go.
Husband has a good point
I get it.
Life is short.
It seems each day we hear stories of terrible things happening to other people.
“I want to enjoy our lives while we can,” he points out.
The thing is, I’m not so ready to pack it all up.
I don’t consider our nest completely empty.
When is your nest really empty?
Sure, over the last two years we have launched both girls off to college.
Now that it’s summer, both girls are back.
Oh, I smile thinking of that first night.
Both of them sprawled on the couch binge-watching Netflix.
Dog snuggled between them, four puppy paws up in the air.
There’s not a sunset on any tropical island that can fill my heart with a more beautiful sight.
“I want them to have a place to come home to,” I explain.
And,
Since that night, we’ve seen the girls,
Well,
Admittedly,
Not so much.
Each one is running off with different friends.
At least one of them has a job.
It’s just like old times,
Of a couple weeks ago,
When they were still off at school.
Husband has another good point
“What was that you were saying about wanting to have this house they could come home to?” Husband asks.
“I get that they’re not here here,” I agree, “But I like knowing that they know they could be here. I think that’s important.”
Three more years.
Until the youngest is out of college.
That’s all I’m asking for.
How much time do I really want?
Or is it?
Will I come up with another reason to stay in the house I’ve lived in for 20 years?
In this town for 25?
Is it possible I’ll never know when it’s time to go?
This is not one of my strengths.
I’m not so great at just moving on, just because.
“You’re so brave to leave CNN and start your own media company,” some have praised me.
“Brave?” I laugh. “I lost my job, so I had to pick myself up and start over.”
My actual talent
There’s my talent.
Life pushes me down.
You kick me out the door.
You break up with me.
I will get back up.
Again and again.
My actual un-talent
Moving on for the sake of moving on?
That, I’m not so good at.
Do you know, Dear Reader?
When it’s time to go?
To a new home?
A new town?
A new job?
Is it possible it’s better to go before you have reason to get back up?
There’s a new home and a most current husband calling my name.
I need to know when it’s time to answer that call.
Do you know? Please leave your take on this in the Comments section below.
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