Let's see, what's happened since November 5th....
Hubby applied for a VA loan on a house we'd build in San Antonio. We were approved but were going to wait to build until after January 2009. We even had a plot picked out and a contract on its way to us. The idea was that our oldest would move in (with his girlfriend and another friend) and care for the home for a couple years at a major discount in rent so they could all get started in a new city. We really couldn't get a firm yes or no from them, though, and I understand that. We kept going back and forth on it ourselves.
I'm a list maker, especially when I am anxious about something. So I sat one night and did a budget based on this housepayment and how it would effect us in the longrun. I realized that even a small emergency or fluctuation in cost of living allowance (or heck even a payroll screw up like we had this month of $800!) would completely screw us. It also meant living paycheck to paycheck, which we haven't had to do for the first time in our marriage EVER since we arrived in Japan. With hubby also having a chance at promotion either this year or the next two years (one possible promotion to officer and the other two chances for Chief), things still aren't solid on what we'd like to do in the future and we'd rather have our option open for a little while longer.
I really do not want to be house poor while living in a foreign country. It would mean no travelling back to the States, no cosmetic surgery EVER (more on that later), and no shoppingin Tokyo-- heck very little sightseeing, either!
So we decided to not sign the contract and wait another year and a half to two years before getting into the market again. San Antonio was not effected by the housing collapse, so things are not likely to change much there in that time. The area we want to live in is expanding, but we believe they will still be building there when we are ready again. If not, we can definately adjust and always buy a lived-in home.
However, since doing that budget, I have decided to focus on paying off another set of bills. Which means I am not going to have cosmetic surgery this summer like I had originally planned. I may try to have it done later in the year, though, after I take care of the bills on my list. This also allows us to go to our 20th reunion this summer and actually have a vacation where not every single penny is counted.
Purchasing the home also put a little cramp in my choices for my classes and now I can take more face-to-face classes than planned. I am absolutely hating my online math and history courses. I enjoy sitting in the room with the professor and sharing ideas and learning with other people. So I think next term I will be taking at least one Atsugi class (probably Biology if its offered since I paid for the books already). If I manage to pass this math course, Im hoping the Intermediate Algebra is offered here or at Camp Zama... I'll schlep my ass up there to avoid taking it online.
Since the election I've also realized I've been battling a bit of depression and I know it has a lot to do with why I've been silent here and why my weight has crept up a bit. I'm aware the lack of exercise didn't help, but when I felt isolated, I retreatedinto old habits and behaviors -- self-care has dropped a lot and I'm feeling just a shade of what I did during my worst bout with depression several years ago. So to help head that off, I talked to hubby about it and he said he was wondering the same thing and he's been a good listener since.
We are waiting to get our move-in date for the base and I CANNOT WAIT. Its the first thing I think in the morning and the last thing I think at night. I can't wait to walk, walk, walk and have people to talk to just one floor away from me and a couple blocks down the road. I can't wait to have sidewalks for Logan to ride his bike on and parks to play at everyday so he can burn off some energy.
Ever since hubby went to night shifts, so did Logan. He stays up til 6 or 7am in the morning and sleeps til 2. If I go anywhere, he falls asleep in the car, so I've been avoiding it the last couple days in the hope of readjusting his sleeping pattern. He's been up since 1:45pm today and I hope to get him in bed before midnight tonight. Yeah, in this house that is normal. When we are on base things will change so much. For one, he won't be falling asleep in the goddamn car- I'm selling mine and that little boy is going to be walking and playing for several hours a day most days.
He had his last assesment on his speech done and I should be hearing in a couple weeks what they have decided to do with him. So about the time we arrive on base he should be receiving services which will also help us gain a normal routine. This may mean he gets to go to a class at the elementary school and we can walk there together. Or I let him ride his boke there, I walk back, and he rides home with me and that avoids him falling asleep in the stroller.
The potty training is still going on and he is showing great signs of almost being 'there.' He now refuses to poop in his pull-ups or underwear (YAY!) and just the last couple days has pulled down his clothes and ran to the toilet to pee on his own. Of course he didn't quite make the toilet, but I didn't care. He tried and that was what mattered.
We do seem to be having troubles with his erections. He always has to tell me when he has a "high peepee!" and has whipped that sucker out in public places. Luckily no one has seen it, but I just quietly tell him we only do that at home and he says, "Okay." I find it funny, but I definately don't want him embarrassing other people! Once he stops doing it in public, I will move on to the "That is private, and do that in your room." Like we did with our daughter when she insisted on humping everything in sight.
Today my oldest son found us a Wii and we tansferred the money for it and accessories into his account. Also extra for shipping and insurance and money for his gasoline. He got it at the NEX, which means tax free! I am still trying to find a Wii Fit, which will be my gift for me this year. My daughter is screaming about hair extensions in Yokohama, which apparantly "ALL THE GIRLS" are getting now. I hate those damned things but she doesn't want anything else and she isn't failing everything this year like she did all last year....so I will probably capitulate and take her to get them. I'll just grit my teeth when in two months she tells me how much she hates them or watch as she pulls them out of her head. Logan will be getting a bike once we get on base and a few other presents (small, small cheapass presents). Hubby says he has nothing he really wants...sort of like me, other than that Wii Fit and I didn't think we'd get that because we couldn't find a Wii here. Otherwise, I was just going to pay extra off on the credit cards and dream of shopping this summer. Maybe buy some more albums on iTunes.
Right now I'm just struggling to stay in the 160s until I get on base. Then things will get better for me. I just know it. Not going to beat up on myself. Just looking forward.
