May 13, 2012
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The Conversation: Question #4
Engagingmy80s to Lovingmy50s: Kids grow up real fast. So what is your plan for yourself when they leave home?
Perhaps tellingly, I initially mis-read the question to be: “…when YOU leave home?” I ‘left home’ (your home) at 18, for College And The Wide World (swearing, of course, never to return; “BTDT,” I said – leaving it all behind). But of course I very delightedly pranced my way back (all full of the World, and happy – for a while – to leave it behind) in order to raise my own two kids exactly where I’d been raised. It all felt very right. So far (right on the imitative trajectory), Ms. 14 tells me frequently these days about how far SHE is going to go when HER moment arrives.
Anyway, when I leave home for the second time (health and finances willing), it will be with my beloved partner, heading for known places (shared soul-memories of the former solo), and new places too. We have a while to settle on the exact itinerary, since it’s still seven years (assuming all goes right) before Ms. Now-11’s HS graduation. And of course finances will be tight with two college tuitions to consider. But we love having fun doing good, so that’ll be part of whatever happens.
photo from: http://www.photographyblogger.net/16-adventurous-open-road-pictures/
In any case: travel is on the agenda. And (lots and lots of) writing. As long as my mind doesn’t go (and/or as long as the bits that are rusty find soothing oil through instant digital answers to forgotten info) – the happy thing about my chosen passion is that tales age well. And sometimes they only ripen into full flavor with time.
Don’t you think?
Comments (5)
The seven years will go amazingly fast. I think that it will be amazing to see where your girls head after HS. They will have a great start from you; that they may fully appreciate around age 40. I hope that you and partner maintain the enthusiasm for the second round of adventures. I am sure that you will do it up right. I hope we don’t have to wait 7 years for more writing, though.
Oh, we plan to do the same, only in smaller, smaller steps… and we’re starting now. See, I can’t afford grand, far-reaching adventures, and heaven knows Baby Owen wouldn’t make it long, anyhow. So we’re starting with a closer-to-home radius and seeing what there is to see here… then branching out further, and further as we get older. When the kids are gone? Just THINK how far we’ll be able to go!
I just want to say, yet again, that I’m glad you’re blogging again, and I’ve enjoyed the rare opportunity to have time to read your latest several entries.
It’s good to have a plan. I did not when my two took wing, and it was an adjustment. There have been interruptions to what I would like to do. These days I try to find something engaging that will take me out of the matters of health and illness. Lovely to read of someone’s plan. Blessings abound.
Oh my dog, kids are all growed up and out so fast. Enjoying them as adults, sweet adults happens before you know it. All your hard work pays off though, the content of knowing you raised humans who know what they are doing makes what ever you are doing that much more peaceful.