One type of "Reality" TV Experience

I watched one of the recent House Hunters International the other day. Guess what! It was filmed in Merida, Mexico, so I had to watch!! Since I've watched that real estate market for so long, I'm always curious if they'll show one of my favorites. Sure enough, two of my all time favorites were given the chance to shine.

The first one shown was in the more modern area of town, in the outskirts. That area I never did a lot of perusing because I love the colonials; plus, it was on a golf course - no interest. The second one was none other than "The Hidden Street." Always fun to see, and I liked hearing the couple's reaction to this rather eccentric place. Our reactions were similar - it's fun but too spread out. I always told Brian we would have to get walkie talkies to ask each other a question if not in the same room, or to find each other with ease. This couple sells sofas so I thought it was rather funny to take them to this place which has a sunken, cemented in living room furniture! They talked about jackhammering out the seating! It was only selling for 565K so why not jackhammer! Although actually I'd seen the place selling online for a mere 495K earlier in the year.

Lastly, they showed the couple Casa Chablis. Yes, if I had the money this place would be our number one choice. Amazing! As anyone would (if they had that kind of money) they picked this stunning place. But speaking of money, "that kind of money" definitely went up for the show. Too bad this couple hadn't done some earlier homework. Just like the Hidden Street which had gone up in price so had Casa Chablis. On HHI they were selling it for 450K, a bargain for those who had a budget of 500K. However, I had never seen it online for that price. I can't remember the highest I had seen it for but I saw it go as low as 365K. It appears this couple "negotiated" the price down to 439K. Truly a bargain for them but if only they had a little more information behind them. In the end, they are happy and certainly do have a wonderful home. I'm just not in their league so all that money as a gift seems a bit excessive!!

Hold On!

I continue to engage in my sedentary pursuit of foreign real estate browsing. I mentioned Panama and Ecuador before and Mexico is also on the list with Nicaragua trailing in distant fourth. I also talked in my last post about changes on the forefront. Put those two things together and Brian and I have come up with selling the house and moving somewhere warmer and cheaper. (A few places in the States are also in the running!) Surprising? I'm still a little surprised at how quickly and radically our thinking has changed in the last six weeks. Perhaps you ask - why? Boiled down, the financial upset towards the end of the year caused us to drastically rethink the direction we want to move regarding our finances. By the way, the financial upset is resolved, and more positively than we had hoped! Thank God!

No specifics. No decisions. This, too, is a process. During one of my browsing times, I did run across a coffee plantation for sale in Panama :-). It's located in the Chiriqui province. I know I don't know how to pronounce that name correctly, but in my mind it sounds vaguely like "cheery." So when I teased Brian that we could buy a coffee farm, naturally the name of our product would be Carol's Cheery Coffee. Does it get any better than that?!

I doubt that buying a coffee plantation is in our future, :-) but we are open to new possibilities. After all, life is an adventure!

On the Lighter Side? Not so much but...

I had wanted my next post be a little lighter in nature. I even looked on youtube for something that might be funny and light. Either it was my mood or my sense of humor, but nothing really struck me as all that great. After that attempt, in my regular reading, I came across the following and found it quite applicable. Sorry, I wouldn't say it's light but hopefully uplifting. In the end, I found it hopeful and comforting.

“Some people like to regard themselves as 'realists.' You may have heard someone say, 'I'm not a pessimist, I'm a realist.' Maybe you have said that yourself. I have. The inference is that an optimistic person is not realistic. Accordingly, the only honest and correct way to view the world is to point out the deficiencies, difficulties and inevitable failures.”

This quote took me up short a bit as I have often described myself as a realist rather than an optimist. I've never thought of myself as a pessimist. Either way, I ended up saying, “Uh oh!” The document goes on to say the person with this realist attitude is a naysayer, one who ignores the positive, emphasizes the negative to such a degree that even words of encouragement are irritating; and they're cynical people. It continues with:

“The optimist says the cup is half full. The pessimist says the cup is half empty. The man of faith gives thanks that the cup is half full, and he marvels that God will either make the half cup sufficient to meet his need or miraculously refill the cup.”

I do want to be a “faith full” person. My current financial situation is what it is. There is nothing I can do to change it. Even though I was surprised by this turn of events, God wasn't surprised. The matter will be settled and I will move on into the future. God is there too! I trust him. I'm sad at times over the loss, and there are significant changes due to it. However, it's not the end of the world and I've learned valuable lessons! 


Document quote out of a reading from one of First Fruits of Zion publications.

Bumps Can Hurt

Today it is important to write about that for which I'm thankful. I suppose it's appropriate also because it's Thanksgiving week, if not the day! But why I need to write has nothing to do with the holiday, rather it's a choice to be grateful through setbacks in life. I've cried today. I've been angry. I've wanted to rage that - it's NOT fair. The past is haunting me so to speak but that's just it - it's the past. I can't do anything about it, make different decisions or put safeguards in place. I didn't do anything wrong although perhaps a few decisions I should have researched more. Some of the repercussions now are due to decisions made by others, totally out of my control. The affects are financial.

I could be an ostrich about the whole thing. I'm not above that! Although I have to say that in the long run, I've found it not all that helpful. What I need to remember is - it's only money. Really! Do I feel that perhaps my security for the future is a little shaken? If I'm honest, yes. But practically speaking it's impossible for me to secure my future. I have no idea what's coming, good or bad. My provision and stability really come from God.

So I choose to be thankful. I'm so thankful I have Brian to help me find my way through this; my home and food on the table are not threatened. I'm also thankful for sunshine; laughter; a lazy day; great food, conversation and friends. There is also that amazing, wonderful, comfort drink - coffee, which can be deliciously shared with a friend or sipped slowly in the quiet of the morning. Of course I'm so grateful that Brian asked me to marry him because he's a keeper! Life is good. As I've said before the adventure of life can have twists and turns, bumps and tunnels. I guess I'm just a little surprised they'd happen so soon. Silly me! :)

M.I.M

The topic of money is bound to come up sooner or later. It's impossible to completely remove oneself from it's sphere of influence. I suppose someone might disagree with me but then I'm not a backwoods, living off the grid type of person! I do like my creature comforts, like indoor plumbing!! Money certainly can give varying degrees of freedom but at the same time can also twist us up in knots.
The aspect I'm zeroing in on is Money, Independence and Marriage, or MIM for short! : ) Surprisingly enough, or not, being one in finances was/is one of the biggest adjustments for me in married life. Why? Hmmm... At first, it was difficult to even remember that I needed to consult Brian on some purchases that were out of the ordinary. How were the monthly expenses going? Did it fit in the budget at this time? Brian isn't tight fisted at all but there is only so much money that comes in monthly! As a single person, if there was money in the bank - why not!? A budget? Only I had to suffer any consequences of irresponsible spending. I don't think of myself as irresponsible so whether single or married there aren't a lot of problems. This issue is really in my heart and attitude.
The concept of a budget is not an anathema to me, quite the contrary! Knowing limits for types of spending actually gives me more freedom and security. I think it comes down to someone else taking care of me. How is that a bad thing?! It isn't!!!! I just think it tickles at that age old issue of mine called performance based love. I'm not doing enough - guilt. How am I contributing? I can't be pulling my own weight. I don't deserve this because I haven't done anything for it. Peeu - all that stinks!! In reality, whatever Brian and I bring to the marriage of a financial nature really has come from God. I want to share with him just as much as he wants to share with me. I don't want to cheapen God's provision for both of us by keeping tally (of whatever it might be), being burdened by guilt, or the pressure of earning it. God freely gives. I just have to remember from where the blessing is really coming.
It's funny, in both a Ha Ha and strange way, the aspects of life that can trip me up. I can make things so complicated or just plain whacked. I've got to recognize these issues first, but thankfully God is the one to make the adjustments in me so my load truly is light. In addition, I can talk to Brian about anything, even if it's stinky! All in all, thank GOD! : )

Downsizing

Got a new car!! Well, new to us. :) Lately we've been rather consumed with car shopping. What kind of car fits who we are, as a couple? Then, what make of car fits that description? Finally, what's out there and what can we afford? We brought 2 cars into this marriage. Brian - a sports car, a very nice one! Carol - practical, economic car with a little zip or flare, if you will! Saturday we traded in Brian's car for a Nissan Rogue. This week my car gets cleaned up and put on Craig's List. No favoritism here. Both cars are going so we will have one for the both of us.
Part of the reason for our change is something that fits us both. But we also have traveling as a priority. In order to do that we have to downsize and cut some corners to make it financially possible. In life it just seems time and time again that flexibility is the name of the game! I don't mind doing what's necessary for us to travel! I love traveling or at least being somewhere different. We both love the Rogue and are totally satisfied. Yes, we have to keep track of our schedules a bit more with only one car but it's a small price to pay!
We are well cared for!

Processing!

As mentioned before, I'm not an external processor. So why do I blog? Good question! I do enjoy writing and it can help me to put thoughts and feelings into words because I force myself to get it down in black and white. Although as I look at August's postings, I don't see many!!
Life this month has been relatively status quo, but honestly (as revealed by my lack of postings) I think I've been in major inward processing mode due to this financial setback. Naturally, with any change it produces more change. There have been further decisions to make and adjustments to the path I thought I would be taking! I'm pleased with the decisions thus far. I have to say that it has all been rather consuming on one level or another, certainly on my deep internal processing level. I wouldn't say it's been overwhelming but rather an undercurrent that has kept me focused on navigation, even if it's been subconsciously.
Those are the times that it just doesn't work to write. The intensity and/or work of processing just doesn't allow it. Then I do feel overwhelmed or vacant when it comes to writing. Therefore, the lack of posts.
As a side note, sooo glad I married an external processor! I never have to wonder what he's thinking. Plus, there's the added bonus of him drawing me out or at least he provides the open ground and security which enables me to talk whenever I want!!
Here's hoping I get more in a writing groove again! :)

Overdue!

So what's been happening? After a year plus of living in our home, I have the drive, enthusiasm AND energy to make this place really look like a home and feel settled in. I think having our bedroom painted was a great kick start! I'm also re-reading "So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore." It's worth another read to let the ideas, concepts and heart behind it sift through me again.
In the last couple of days, there has been a lot of processing going on for me. A rather large financial and relational setback occurred. The few people I've told about it have even called it an injustice. By in large I'm not an external processor. Although I do talk about upsetting things, I also need to pray, analyze some (however, some things are just too incredible - good or bad - to analyze) and just time to let it go. I can't do anything to change it because you can't make someone do something they don't want to! What does not help is re-living the events in my head, playing over the verbal exchanges just to get angry again! No one, including the Lord, said life would be fair. Honestly, I have so much to be thankful for, which has really helped to calm my heart and enable me to forgive. Still working on all of that; it's not completely over because it's a process! :) I'm also thankful that God doesn't want me to be embittered or carry this burden around with me. In Him there is new life ahead, and He is the one who takes care of me. Moving forward day by day, sometimes moment by moment.

Smiles

I seem to be pushing my time limit of a week - again! Do I have anything to say? Sometimes I wonder.
Life is grand; I can tell you that much. Is everything perfect? Oh no, not really. There are financial setbacks, frustrations and sometimes a seeming lack. But do I really lack anything? A resounding NO! Does life go as "planned"? Hmmm, well not always according to my plan! :)
Although as I get older (and wiser?), I'm more at peace. Life seems a bit simpler as I recognize the elements of life which are of greater importance. Being obsessed with me is not one of those things. That revelation I think is a life long process. The tendrils of "it's all about me" run deep and are intertwined with so many thoughts, attitudes and aspects of my life. I do enjoy cutting them off because it's so freeing. I thank God for helping me see better and the courage to rid myself of those encumbrances. He is good, has an awesome plan and takes such good care of me. (I'm smiling!)