Hmm. I'm slow in getting to the point. The reason I'm posting is to announce that I've recently received one of the best birthday gifts ever. My wife will likely be returning to school in a little less than a year--which will take us out of state, which will mean I'll be leaving my present job. We'd been talking about my taking a few months off before the move, before starting work again in our new area (or before I go to Clarion, if that works out next summer), and I've been living below my means enough that it was more than just a far-off hope--even if wasn't ideal financially (I'd rather take more time off later than a little time off now).

Well, about a week ago, she told me that when I can't take it anymore, I can quit anytime I want. We both know it would be a struggle, but it means so much to me that she appreciates my dreams and wants them to come true almost as much as I do. She isn't a writer or any kind of artist, but she has an understanding of what I'm going through. We're almost at the point where two of our four monthly paychecks go entirely for savings, and I think we'll be at the point by the end of the year where we wouldn't have to touch our savings if I stop generating an income. If I do quit significantly before the move, I'll likely find part time work. But even if I do, I'll have much more time for writing, I'll be able to save my wrists for my writing, and I'll have a much shorter commute--no matter what I end up doing.

I was worried a bit in past months that I should find a proper balance between writing and career before the wedding--I didn't want to go into a marriage with this frustration dominating thought and feeling. The balance still hasn't been found (and I'm still fighting for the writing time and energy almost every day), but at least I'm not so worried anymore.

Filed under Journal, Prose and Poetry, Vanity Smurf
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