Resolution Regret of 2009

So, Ms. Bell’s final challenge of the year forces me to reflect upon plans I had made that couldn’t be followed through with for a very good reason. At the start of the year, I knew I was headed into my second year of employment with UF MSE and would have my coveted two years of experience by the end of it all. I was hungrily eying Southern New Hampshire as a realistic goal for August 2010. We paid our credit card debt down to the recommended 35% mark with our tax return and planned to pay the rest off in 2010 and buy a car. I would polish my résumé and hunt for jobs in NH. I was going to look through different apartments available to work out a realistic salary request. Then we found out our Valentine’s celebrations had resulted in a very big surprise. This news changed our plans — and our lives.

I had to put all plans for Southern NH on hold until further notice. All extra funds needed to be saved. We needed to skrimp as much as possible. We needed to ensure that we could welcome our sweet little boy into the world as securely as possible. On top of that, I couldn’t imagine trying to move across the country a mere 9 months after having a baby. While I know babies are born up north just like they are here in Florida, I also can’t imagine having his second winter spent in dramatically colder weather. I stopped worrying about finding the “perfect” town to settle into — I have standards, you know. (I’m looking for the lowest poverty levels, the highest graduation rates, the best salaries, the most affordable houses, and the optimal people to land ratio. We need a place where we can thrive.)

While I’m incredibly happy with the surprise ending to 2009, I’m also a bit sad that I can’t be planning a move in about seven months. I may revisit planning in the new year, but I’ve been reminded this year that you can’t plan too far in advance because life has a plethora of variables. You never know when things will get shaken up.