Designing My Life

Remember way back when I made my New Year's resolutions, I talked about "designing my life?" No?

Well, I've been doing some reading about what it means to be a Gen Xer (and a Gen Yer), and how we are different from the Baby Boom Generation. It's been eye-opening and empowering to read that I'm not the only person who seems to skip around from career to career, hoping to find something that I love, that gives me and my family the work/life balance that I (we) seek. Basically, I just want to find something to do that is meaningful, is flexible, is valued, and allows me to enjoy life.

So, I've been doing lots of brainstorming, in terms of what I want our life to be like, and came up with a brilliant plan! Here is some background:

My parents have talked for years about never being able to retire (Hi, Mom!). I know they have saved, but, like many people who were parents with young children in the 70s and 80s, probably haven't saved enough.

As I've discussed, we have bone-crushing student loans that most likely will prohibit us from ever owning any property.

SO, back to my brilliant plan. My parents should sell their house, and we should all find a lovely place to live together. I'm thinking somewhere in Oregon (hi, Femputer!). I want a well-planned city with a great climate where I can bike/walk to work year-round. My parents put down the down payment, Tony and I pay most of the mortgage payments, and we all live together.

It's kind of crazy. I know we will all get on each other's nerves, but it's kind of a win/win for us all. They will live very close to their grandson (which I know they will love, and I will totally love), they'll be close to us for when they are in greater need of assistance, we'll be able to live in a nicer home and a nicer climate, and be able to afford things we'd like, like private school for Hal, and maybe even Cable TV!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What dreams do you have for your future?

P.S. Patrick and Krista, you should come, too!!!!!!