Live in the Moment

Jay is always reading boating magazines, going to boat shows, and talking about how we are going to outfit our trawler. We don't actually HAVE a trawler; we have a cruiser. But a trawler is his wish boat. I listen and add my 2 cents and sometimes really believe we will have a trawler some day. He's even figured out a way to fit all my quilting stuff on a trawler; sewing machine, cutting table, pressing station, etc. Yesterday Jay left me a short article to read that was written by a Kady Krogen sales guy (Jay would love a Kady Krogen trawler). The article really hit home and I wanted to share parts of it with you. For me, I AM, finally, living the quote and gist of his article. Maybe some of you want to do the same, but are still waiting for "some day" to come. At the very least, it's something to think about.

The author, Greg Sapp, wrote about a quote his dad, John, put at the end of his emails. Here it is: "Remember, somewhere right now, someone with less money than you is having more fun." Very true and for me, timely. Since closing my business last month, instead of dwelling on the fact that we have very little income stream, I am waking happy, with tons of ideas of what I want to quilt, how to express myself through my art, and feeling positive. Don't get me wrong. I appreciate the value of money. Jay and I have had lots of ups and downs in the money department. We were very poor while I was in grad school, then had and saved some money while I taught and ran an accounting practice. Then we lost the money in the tech bubble bust of 2002. Then we built the portfolio back up again when my recruiting practice took off, and once again, like most of us, lost another bunch in the current financial crisis. A veritable roller coaster ride. Right now we're at the bottom of the ride, but I can feel the excitement building about where the ride is going to take us next. Not exactly sure of the destination, but I can feel it, nonetheless. A great parallel here, is that boaters know that it's not the destination of the cruise that is important and exciting, but the journey itself.

Both Jay's dad and my dad passed away on the young side, each was in his early 70's. Both men waited most of their adult lives to do what they wanted to do until retirement. And neither one got to live their dreams. Don't wait till you're old enough to afford your dreams or believe you finally have the time to live them. Find the time now, while you have it within your reach . As Greg Sapp said in his article, there are many quotes to pick from along the lines of "You can't take it with you" and Time waits for no one" because the point is obvious. And as Greg says, "Please don't leave your family with a fat portfolio and a skinny photo album."

Until next time...

P.S. The picture above is my "Seaside Cottages" Quilt made in 2008. I am working on a larger and more detailed quilt similarly themed for entry in a large Florida quilt show later in 2009.

In Good Company

If you run into someone that says this recession hasn't affected them, laugh out loud! This economy sucks. There isn't anyone that isn't feeling the pinch in one form or another. But since we're all in the same boat, it kind of makes it less painful, don't you think? After all, misery loves company and desperation is the mother of invention. OK, so at this point you're probably wondering what direction this post is taking, right? Well, believe it or not, I am thoroughly enjoying the recession. Let me count the ways...
(that's Jay - no shirt, and me, in the yellow-on our boat celebrating Jay's 50th birthday with an overnight raft-up with our boating friends).

1. The concept of "Keeping up with The Jones" is vanishing before my eyes. Everyone I know is slowing down their consumption. Instead, people are bragging about how little they have and how well they are living on less. It's like a badge of honor to find cool and innovative ways to not be a "Jonesy." Downsizing is cool. People are trading in the big fancy cars for efficient small cars that they can keep "forever." Yeah, we did this too- gave up the Lexus lease and paid cash (no more car payments!) for a Subaru Outback station wagon. Of course, we did have ulterior motives for choosing the Subaru. Rachel said she wouldn't be caught dead in it.


2. I don't have to dress up to go anywhere and I mean anywhere anymore. I'm very basic. Give me a t-shirt, clamdiggers, and boat shoes and I'm good to go.
   
3. Life, for me at least, is simpler and more grounded (yeah, I am starting to sound like the new Sun Trust Bank commercials...). We're going back to basics. My new girlfriend, Georgia, had her 45th birthday party last Saturday night. I only recently met Georgia as well as most of the party goers, since we just moved to the new neighborhood. As a new member of the unemployed club, I was perplexed as to an appropriate gift to bring. Not really into the standby bottle of wine gift or spending $30-50 on some thing, I decided to make her a gift instead of buying something. Yes, I made her a gift; french purse, aka wallet. But why am I telling you this? Because when I was talking to Jenny (the Love Garden Jenny) at the party, I told her I made Georgia's gift and you'll never guess what Jenny replied. Jenny and Mike MADE Georgia's gift too. WOW!


4. I'm biking a lot more. I'm without a car most days. Yes, we are a 2-car household, but Rachel has the second car , a used Honda CR-V, with her up at school, leaving me without wheels, well, 4 wheels anyway. I biked over the Hutchinson Island bridge to the bank and to Publix. And Tuesday I biked to the quilt shop, an 8-mile round trip. I couldn't miss out on the big St Patty's Day sale.
   
5. We're getting a tax refund check for the first time in 11 years!


6. I am back in the classroom teaching. Some of you don't know that, as a PhD in accounting, I spent 9 years teaching at the university level. Well, after an 11 year sabbatical, I am once again teaching intermediate financial accounting at our local university in the fall. I can't wait! A whole new batch of students get to experience "Scary Harry teaches accounting."
   
   
7. I finally have time to make enough stuff to launch my own Etsy site. http://www.etsy.com/ is a great place to "buy and sell all things handmade." I will have my own "store" up and running, hopefully, in the next 2-3 weeks. More to come on that front.


8. People, in general, are much kinder to each other these days. I had the car today and did my "big" weekly food shopping only to find a completely flat to the rim, rear tire when I left the store with a full cart of groceries. A big burly guy named Lee jumped out of his truck and offered to change my tire for me. So, there I stood, with my grocery cart, watching this very nice guy get all greasy doing a good deed for me. I shook his hand and told him how much I appreciated his help and all he said was "when you can, do something for the next guy that needs your help."


9. I am taking time to sit and read a good book.


10. Blockbuster rents movies for only $2 now!! Perks of the recession and Netflix.


11. I am working on my first quilt that will be entered in a quilt show. I am taking pictures as I go, so I will be able to share the journey with you.


12. As I mentioned before, we recently moved across town. We downsized, if you will. Jay and I talked and talked about whether we should give up the house or the boat. We have a 34 ft Searay Sundancer named "Take Two." We concluded that the boat is our floating vacation home and we'd rather give up the big house than our boat. Even when the weather is bad we can escape down below and rock the boat ( you know what I mean).

Well, I'm off to work on my quilt.

Till next time-