Financial Fitness

A Year of (Intentionally) Not Working

(Photo: Mt. St. Helen's, 1999 hike). I had worked in the software industry for 13 years. I was walking down the hall to go home. My teammates were coming out of their offices to wish me well and See Me Off, some of them still grasping that I was leaving for reasons other than another job (“Wow, what will you do?” “I wish I could do that!” “Will you travel?”)

I had sadness which was replaced by “Holy Moly! This Is Happening! What Am I Doing?!?!” on the drive home.

Hubs and I had run the numbers for quite a while to insure we could live off of one income. We had looked at that scenario in relation to kids.

But 5 years later, with no kids, I shifted to “I want to take a break and regroup.”

Hubs supported and encouraged the idea. He sensed my unhappiness (Infertility doesn’t make you Miss Bubbly) and agreed “yep, a break would be good”.

I hadn’t depended on someone economically before. Instead, more the opposite. I supported us for the first 2 years we were married while hubs dug out of $70k of debt.

Prior to that I had supported my ex-husband for 2 years as he went through 4 jobs. (Note to self: Tell readers about when ex called an interviewer to say he had not shown up at the interview was because his dog got sick. Ah, precious story, that one.)

Back to the story: We had done well financially. We had a healthy balance sheet that had reached sustainable momentum.

And so, there I was, driving home after my last day.

And now, here I am, a year later.

How’s it been? Fantastic (props to hubs!). The first 3 months were stressful. I was getting used to the idea (OMG we really no longer have my income!), but by mid April we (I?) got into a groove.

We have more time and less stress. No more rushrushrush. The quality of our lives improved. I/We are happier. Our marriage has more fun moments (hey, figure that one out for yourself).

A Big Surprise?

Our balance sheet is growing just shy of the rate as when I worked. Partially due to a fabulous 2006, partially due to me actively managing our accounts.

After purchasing our tix to Lux, I asked hubs how he thought it was going. He looked at me with a Look of Wow and said “You know what’s funny? I don’t even feel like we are missing out or sacrificing. If anything we have gained sanity and quality of life immensely more than anything we could have bought”.

I agree.

I still don’t know what my ‘next steps’ are, but for now we will continue to enjoy the quality of life this provides us.

posted by finance girl @ 7:21 PM