I Ditto THH as well! Good points, THH, I couldn't have said it better. I am in the same boat, my husband grew a business that is not glamorous but very needed in today's world and it is a service that is repeated. So we always have an income and don't have to worry about someone firing us. My husband's days and nights are mixed up than mine and the world at large, those that work for a corporation. We don't get paid vacation, but we can take time off anytime. My sons and daughter and even future Grandchildren can work in this business. It has afforded us to live on an acre where I have space and can garden to my hearts content.
I live amongst newer and older neighborhoods where they have "rules" and I'm so glad we don't live in a subdivision like that. My husband isn't the type to pay attention to making everything appear neat, I wish he would, but at least he is a hard worker and pays the bills and helps other less fortunate. We've done our travels before our son died and they were wonderful and well deserved, but they were not paid vacations. Anyway, I get the same things with my siblings and so it is so important to figure out what your personality type is, your talents and interest and how much socialization do you want.
It is important to evaluate just what you want in life and what makes you truly happy. I one day mentioned to DH how I would love to have my nails manicured all the time and looking sharp and put together. But my husband brought me back to reality, Man that would be a lot of work. It is true, it would be very exhausting to try and keep up an image like that which really doesn't fit my lifestyle nor do I care. I'm happy with my simple life and the service I give others. My greatest joy is watching my Grandchildren grow and they love to come to my house because it is so Interesting, so many things to do and explore. DGrandaughter came by to earn some money. She learned how to collect the fluffy dandelions, then cut the stems and place them head first in the bucket I provided, then continue getting the next fluffy dandelions that weren't quiet opened yet and then after that get the yellow flowers.
Then she was able to learn to cut all the way down to the base of the plant and maybe even pull out the weed. I know I could do these things faster, but she needed to learn and we enjoyed our company together. She enjoyed earning her paper dollars and went away a happy girl and now more educated and practiced enough that I could probably let her on her own to take care of these weeds.
So she learned alot about plants and gardens and why Grandmas does what she does. This was a priceless experience to build on the future that I sacrificed my alone time to be with her and since she lives down the street, I will have many day ahead with her visits and her help as I age and can't do all that I use to. She loves to cut slugs in half as she learned that from me and she loves to gather worms to feed the goldfish. So it was a great day, and I'm the lucky one because my kids all live in town. While my brother who takes a lot of vacations, doesn't have any of his children live nearby, as well as my other siblings.
So I count my blessings that this is my world and I have what brings me joy. Paislee
Buy I don't mind going on a few vacations once in awhile.
