Pondering changes...

[Jan]

Hi all- it's the newbie again. Might be a little long .

Usually I handle my DH's time away pretty well due to the crazy hours I work, but the last couple weeks I've started missing him. Probably losing mom a couple months back has a lot to do with it too, but I haven't been as depressed as I thought I'd be. I keep busy and that likely helps. I think what triggered this latest is having such a great time with him over the July 4th weekend - I tried my first non-revs and got to stay with him a couple nights in Toronto and Cleveland, and we got to visit Niagara Falls (boy was it crowded with both 4th of July and Canada Day!). It was just such a great time and I can't stop thinking about that.

The change of scene reminded me just how much I love travelling - and frankly I'm just extremely jealous of his job! He gets to go to cool places while I pound on a keyboard 10, 12 or more hours a day. Now to some degree I do like my work- the client's team works well together and generally very considerate of each other (I've learned to be grateful- this is often too much to hope for in many jobs). I have some flexibility, but I hate worrying that I'm going to lose my client if I do take off when I want to. I have my own business, the problem is that I have one big corporate client who takes all my time. What I'd like to be able to do is focus entirely on doing projects for local businesses, and get enough business that I can put a team to work. It's tough to do that without the dough, though.

Anyway, what has been brewing in my head for the last 2 or 3 months is... why don't we downsize? We could sell anything we don't need (which is really a lot if we truly look). We could get rid of the huge mortgage payment and get a smaller one, and I could even move to his new base city (HOU) - where there are quite a few jobs requiring my specialized skills, or if we can get by on less income- I can take the jobs I really like. Then if we get lucky and have kids (another story), at least by being in the base city he'd be there a day or two more a week. I could live with a lot less if I could work a lot less , not to mention have that free time to travel! (Call me crazy, but I love to watch the hustle and bustle in the airports, and meet new and interesting people.)

My biggest worry is- what if DH's base city gets moved again? How often is that likely to happen for a new ExpressJet pilot? What other things am I not considering? Am I just crazy ?

Here's another question, a little off subject -but for those of you who travel a lot- do any of you have airport club membership's (like Continental's President's Club)? If so, are they worth it? I'm thinking the free internet could pay for itself - and it would be nice to have somewhere to hang out between hotel check out and the next flight...

Jan

[Kristie]

I don't have any club memberships... simply because in order to use them, you have to have a "paid" ticket.. when you nonrev, there's no ticket to be able to get in the door....

I tried calling and getting into one and even asked if i could use the facilities if i were non-revving and they said no, even if i paid for a full years membership, i still have to have the "paid for" ticket.

regional bases can change in the blink of an eye... you won't see it coming because the company won't admit it until it's absolutely necessary in order to not have so many people jump ship. i'd just take that into serious consideration when thinking about moving to a base city.

i'm like you, i'm ready to stop working so hard and ready to live a little (more)...am thinking bout my options too cuz this 10 hr, on the computer all day long thing isn't making me happy anymore.

just the other day, i asked doug whether or not he wanted to live in our house till retirement or after (ie: pay it off) and after talking, we kinda came to the conclusion that it's a good house, good neighborhood and all we have to do is keep our exercising up (because we have stairs) and keep working on maintaining our youth so that we don't have to think about retirement changing our lives and having to move into a house minus stairs...so, my plan is to start paying off the house a bit more and concerving on "stuff" consumption... clean out and garage sale and just economize everything so i can do like you and save up to just enjoy a bit more....

[Jan]

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize that (paid tickets required) about the memberships. It seems to me that if you paid for the membership and have a boarding pass they should let you in, especially since they are so expensive.

I think we must have a lot in common, I can relate to a lot of your posts. I really like to travel. Never really had a chance to before, so knowing that the opportunity is there- but not time-wise- is pure torture for me. I'm sitting here thinking - either work hard for somebody else to have a nice house that I'm alone in most of the time -or- get rid of the materialistic stuff, bolster up the entrepreneurialism, get a good backpack and get going. The practical side of me is saying wait because I do want to have kids in a year or two. But the practical side isn't making me happy and I think the adventurous side might be pulling ahead. Besides- stuff can be replaced, time with the people I care about can't be. DH and I are on the fence about it, but we'll probably take it slow and mull over it for a few months.

[roz]

Stuff is stuff! We've lived in the house we bought in 1980. We renovated it, first due to the neighbor's tree falling through the house, and second on our own. But it's all paid off. We bought land last year in NC with the intention of possibly retiring there. We took out a small HE loan to finance it (no points, no fees and really low interest). Now that MIL passed, we paid it down. I hate debt. I had it structured that my mortgage would be paid off by the time my son went to college. Well that was a good move because he went off to college 9/11. DH got furloughed due to 9/11 and I had just started a new job. We have no car loans, no credit card debt. Did I mention that I hate debt?

We have always taken full advantage of travel passes. For years, my sister was an executive at Ford Motor Company and she'd send me her itinerary. If DH was flying, DS and I would visit--free hotel and free food. We went all over the world! I'd take DS to England during a school strike to visit castles. I took him to Normandy to show him what our kids sacrificed in WWII (his grand pop was in WWII--on the Pacific side). He was very moved, as was I. His subsequent papers turned in at school reflected that. It was all cool!

Now we're in the dual travel advantage. I travel so much for work. DH joins me when he can to dive (he's a serious diver to the point of being a paid instructor). So, he joins me when he can and I join him when I can. Usually it's my situation that is more accommodating, however!

But I also really, really, really enjoy my home. So, all we pick up now is designed to enhance that experience. So I just splurged on a Villa Ware Pizza Grill. I love wood grilled pizza. But I only eat whole wheat. Trader Joes sells whole wheat pizza dough. I was trying the Bobby Flay way and it was not moving me to excitement! But this grill is great! So, if anyone wants custom, wood fired pizza, come to my house!!!!!!!!!!!

[Amanda]

I lOVE to travel too- unfortunately Nick's buddy passes get me no where!!! It makes me mad b/c I would love to have his travel benefits.

I was thinking about getting rid of my stuff too. I have SO MUCH stuff! I used to buy anything and everything- I'm sure I spent thousands on things I don't even use. I went through a stage where I bought lots of pottery and art. I was thinking of selling everything on eBay! I just don't want it anymore.

My job is slowly killing me. I hate going to work and get panic attacks now all the time when I think about my job. I just don't fit in to the super conservative financial industry. It's a great company, just not a good position. I was told I cannot move up in out AZ office b/c most of the jobs are on the phones (cust svc).

I'm at a crossroads- I'm 36 and don't know what I want to do! I want my own business or do my own thing! I'm doing Arbonne and it's doing well, but not enough to retire on (yet). I need something to change in my life!

Sorry, I didn't need to vent on your vent post! AT least I can relate!
Amanda

[Kristie]

Originally Posted by Jan

Thanks for the info! I didn't realize that (paid tickets required) about the memberships. It seems to me that if you paid for the membership and have a boarding pass they should let you in, especially since they are so expensive.

yeah.. but a "seat request" slip doesn't necessarily = boarding pass to the crown clubs...I WISH!! I'd SO be there each time i need a shower or a quiet place to go on 4 hr sits between flights!!!

I think we must have a lot in common, I can relate to a lot of your posts. I really like to travel. Never really had a chance to before, so knowing that the opportunity is there- but not time-wise- is pure torture for me. I'm sitting here thinking - either work hard for somebody else to have a nice house that I'm alone in most of the time -or- get rid of the materialistic stuff, bolster up the entrepreneurialism, get a good backpack and get going. The practical side of me is saying wait because I do want to have kids in a year or two.

yeah, i think we do relate because it sounds like you have the same traveling passion i have...the problem is, once we decide to settle down and have kids, the traveling will have to stop for a while until their at a good age to start socializing them on traveling.. but even then, the type of travel will be a different situation....i don't see why you can't do both...that's what i'm doing...i rearranged my work schedule to fit my travel schedule in because it's that important.. some jobs, you can do that, others you can't.. it just depends on what you can work out with your boss!! but it doesn't hurt to meet yourself in a middle for a while while getting ready to jump all gung ho into something completely new!

Roz, I'm working at being as dedicated a debt manager as you are!! slowly getting there but i'm really impressed at how you've done that...maybe you can give us all some pointers?

sounds like the christmas party might be at your house this year? hahahha well??? maybe??? that could be fun!! wood fired pizza at Roz's! hey.. there's a new restaurant name for ya!

[Kristie]

Hey Amanda, we have a big community garage sale in october if you'd like to join me in a "get rid of the crap" fest???

or we could open up an ebay store!! I have enough to sell for at least a few months!

[Amanda]

I have so much to sell, it will freak you out! I don't even know how I would get it over to your place. I've had 2 community yard sales here but people are so dang CHEAP! I make more money on eBay when I put stuff on there.

A

[rgphib]

Originally Posted by Jan

Here's another question, a little off subject -but for those of you who travel a lot- do any of you have airport club membership's (like Continental's President's Club)? If so, are they worth it? I'm thinking the free internet could pay for itself - and it would be nice to have somewhere to hang out between hotel check out and the next flight...

Jan

My FIL has an American Express card (not sure which one.....) and he got us into the presidents club with our nonrev boarding passes. He does it all the time. I know he pays for the card, just not sure which one (Plat?).

[Kristie]

maybe it's because he's a "paying" customer and your his "traveling party" that he's able to get you in? when you get a chance... let us know what the scoop is so we figure out whether or not we can do it too!!