Paper Bag Princess: Good Idea in Book Four: Ichi-no-Tani 2017

Paper Bag Princess (whom I have known by other names) had a good point about analyzing the intangible benefits of the move.
GRANTED I cannot nor will I ever be comfortable ignoring financial stability for intangibles. My wife and I have had an interesting conversation about this:
- she worries about money because she wants to make sure there is enough for emergencies. Thus, she goes out of her way to save as much money as possible. (Shops exclusively at Goodwill, repairs instead of replaces, etc).
- I worry about money because I know that the only way things get done in this world is money. If we want a house, we have to have money. If the eye drops don’t slow my glaucoma, we have to money for lazer treatments. Wife and I are on Adderall and Duloxetine respectively, which requires money. We both have needs and desires that require money. So I worry about being able to make enough to cover our future needs.

Money is a concern, I’ll say. Hell, Hardin County has 17,000 people and the Assistant County Attorney gets $45-60,000 per year with insurance. Of course, there is that urge of “go for it, change jobs again” but… Wife would kill me. Parents would kill me. I’d get burned by my partners and not able to work much other than where I fled here for. So… problems there.

BUT.... Paper Bag Princess (whom I have known by other names) had a good point about analyzing the intangible benefits of the move.
OF THE THINGS I SAID I WOULD DO WHEN I RETURNED TO “CIVILIZATION”

(1) Therapy. No time or availability for me to get therapy. Seriously. But Wife is. That helps. She’s had her assessment and is looking for a therapist that fits her requirements and meets with her insurance’s requirements.

(2) Couch to 5K. OMG… I’ve been trying this one. Seriously. I’ve finished three weeks but it took me two months to do. So I should start over. And try and stick with it. But (a) the pain; (b) the heat; but really the truest answer is (c) I GOT SO FAT! I used to run all the time. Before my pain receptors started going ape-shit-monkey-fucking-bananas; I would run often. But that pain? And so for over 13 years, I haven’t run. I’ve gained 100 lbs. It is like learning to run all over again but this time… it hurts so much more!

(3) Join Kendo. Ironic that this comes up this month. I had on my schedule KENDO CLUB. There was an introductory exhibition scheduled a few blocks from my parents’ house that I was looking forward to on the 22nd. BUT Chinese Boss came in TODAY to tell me that July 22nd was a Law Firm Speaking Engagement and I needed to prepare something to introduce myself to the Chinese Clients. So… guess I have to rearrange that schedule.

(4) Get Singing Lessons. Not gonna happen. Too much time, too much money, not enough reward.

(5) Re-engage in Theater. GOD I WISH I COULD! But there is literally not enough time. If I could leave work by 5, maybe. But expected to be here until 6 or 7, I could never commit to a show.

(6) Take advantage of Museums and Nature Preservation Sites. I have not done this much yet. I’ve been to the Zoo, Wife went to the Botanical Gardens, I went a few things for fun but… no Museum or Natural History work yet.

(7) Improve Wardrobe. I have been but not much. I’ve picked up a few new shirts. And a new coat. And a new pair of pants. But I need more.

(8) Intentionally and purposefully make time for friends every week. I have been good at this. I’ve spent at least a few days a month with friends and family.

(9) Return to church. I did for a while. I went to several church services and then realized… I was TOO TIRED. I couldn’t get up before 8 a.m. every day of every week. So now I sleep in on Sundays. I should find a way to go, though. There are Thursday and Saturday services.

(10) Look for opportunities to volunteer. I should volunteer with Mental Health Groups or the Iowa Democrats or something. I haven’t. I’ve been focused on/afraid of work stuff. If I volunteered, that would be time away from trying to get clients or trying to work.

(11) Re-invest in Comic Books and Anime! I picked up a shit ton of new comics. That i haven’t read. Also, they are incomplete and out of order. What I need to do is go online and try to collect better. BUT OH WAIT… that costs money. MONEY.

(12) Speaking of investing. This is one I keep talking to Wife about. We need to invest. It may feel like losing money because we can’t access it; but it should be growing for us. It would be nice to make our money work for us. Just have to pull the trigger on this one.