A new beginning

My reason for this blog is to document a major change in my life during these economic times. I will have to backtrack somewhat, because all of this started for me in May, 2008.

But actually I need to go back a few years before that. In 2003 I had been working as a private chef/estate manager for almost 8 years. I had it all, 2 houses, 3 cars, motorcycle, money, fancy clothes, etc. Then I got fired and decided to start my own business with my husband David. We really believed that with hard work and a bit of luck we would be able to make it. We financed this venture with our own capital, because apparently we were the only ones who believed in ourselves. Little did we know:) 4 years later we had gone through all our capital, sold almost everything and were on the brink of bankruptcy. That is when we came to a decision that would alter the course of our lives for what I believe to be a better one.

We did file bankruptcy and we decided to sell everything we owned that had any value and start realizing our real dream. Having also turned 40 last year, and realizing that there had to be more to life than working 80 to 90 hours a week might have helped in the decision. Both of us had talked many years ago of owning a farmhouse and having animals, gardening etc.

As I watched over the years our small fortune disappear, something else took its place. The realization that money even though we need it, does not bring happyness, and all the material stuff does indeed trap you into many things, gathering dust, wanting more, bigger, faster, shinier!! As we started selling our stuff, a sense of freedom came upon me, it's hard to describe except it felt as if a blanket of calm came over me. We did keep some stuff, some items would not sell such as art, and antique furniture, our new IRA's!

The next realization I had was that their are three things I feel are important to me at this time,
Fun, Family and Friends in any order. Life is too short not to have fun, friends, most of mine live on the East Coast, and all my family live in Europe. I made the changes neccesary to get all three in my life. David and I packed whatever we had left, apparently a lot more than we thought( we had so much shit) loaded up a 28 foot truck, suburban and trailer, 2 chickens, 1 cat, 3 dogs and drove accross country from Reno, NV to Erwinna, Bucks County, PA in 7 days this past January.
We found our farmhouse, renting instead of buying, and are closer to friends and family! Why didn't we do this earlier :) But then maybe we would not be where we are now. There seems to be a path one has to take to get from point A to point B, and I guess there can be different paths to take to get to B, this happened to be the one chosen for us. Lesson learned, thank you!!!!

So here we are, not a pot to piss in, but happy as clams! No longer do we wake up in a panic, vomiting before going to work, wondering how to pay this bill, or employees. David is finally sleeping through the night again, and a sense of normalcy has returned to our lives. We don't need much, just enough to pay rent, food and gas. I live life in the moment, I don't think to much about the future, and the past belongs exactly there. I try not to worry about stuff, and enjoy the little things in life.