Grateful

I'm always amazed at the way things sometimes work out. I'm becoming a firm believer in the idea that if you want to do something, you don't have to know how it's going to happen in order to set things in motion. Decide that you want it, express that desire, and believe that it will happen. Or at least, imagine that it will. I'm not claiming that this works for everything, in all situations, or that what you get will necessarily be exactly what you had first expected, but nonetheless it is surprising how things surface when you decide on what you want and allow yourself to want it.

I'm excited about my current plans. Not that I ever get so attached to plans that I wouldn't be open to new ideas, but still, for now I really like where I'm headed. I gave my landlady notice two days ago that I would be moving out at the end of the month (though I didn't have a new place lined up). Today my friend called me to say that another friend had flagged her down to ask her if she knew anyone who wanted to sublease an apartment in town through February (for about half of what I'm currently paying). And she did know someone, actually! I looked at it today and it is perfect. I still have to confirm it with the current tenant, but if all goes well I will be moving there at the end of the month. And I will attempt to sell my car shortly thereafter, as the new place is ideally located. It's even right across the street from one of my closest friends. I'm so blessed to have people looking out for me, and for things falling into place like this. I also had the offer of a spare bedroom if I needed it for a while. I am so, so thankful for my friends and family!

So, back to the plans: move into this new, cheaper place, sell my car, and take out a personal loan to cover what I owe on my car, beyond what I will be able to get for it (the loan will be $7-8,000). Then spend the winter working full-time and paying that loan down, so that hopefully come late May/early June it will be close to paid off. Then I'll be off to Homer for the summer, to spend time with my family, attend my (other) sister's wedding, and possibly volunteer on an organic farm via WWOOF. I plan to continue doing the Medicaid billing for my current job remotely, 10-15 hrs/week, so I will still have a little bit of income to pay off the remainder of my loans, and save some if I can. I've added one more thing to my agenda, too, which is to visit my dad in Hawaii at the end of the summer (maybe volunteer on a farm there too?) I haven't seen him since May of 2004.

After that is wide open. Travel? More WWOOF-ing? Back to school? Depending on my financial situation, I may need to work somewhere for a while before taking off on any grand adventures, but once I'm free of the car, I will have very little debt except what's left on my student loans, which isn't much. So it shouldn't be too hard, or take too long, to save some money and/or completely pay off my debts. Plus, I read somewhere that you can WWOOF as an Americorps volunteer, and they will forgive part of your student loan! That would be ideal. And there are WWOOF farms everywhere--I was very surprised how many there are even in Alaska.

I am happy about what has been, because it has brought me here, I am happy about what is, and I am hopeful about what may be. What more is there to ask for?