This is a Journal entry by Rains - Wondering where time's going and why it's in so much of a hurry!

I've dropped out of the rat race

Post 1

Rains - Wondering where time's going and why it's in so much of a hurry!

I've been meaning to write a journal on this for the last, erm, ten days smiley - blush but somehow haven't found much time for it.

A few months ago, a round of voluntary redundancy came out at work, with a reasonably generous package. Me and Dave talked it over, and came to a couple of conclusions. One was that the automotive industry in the UK isn't exactly in the best shape at the moment, and it made sense for one of us to think about jumping ship. The other was that as we're thinking of starting a family soon, a lump sum to chuck at the mortgage would be useful. So I applied, and much to a lot of people's surprise, they actually let me go! I actually left work officially on the 30th June.

Given various things, we decided that I wouldn't look for another job immediately - and even if I did feel like getting another job, that it would only be part-time (20hrs / week max) so I could still look after the house properly. And as soon as I got pregnant, I'd quit anyway.

I've been amazed at people's reactions to it. I half expected people would be sniffy about it, but the vast majority of people have understood (and envied!) and are amazed that someone my age would put family and home before a career. I was humbled by so many men who told me that they wished that their wives could afford to have done what I'm doing.

I'm in my second week of officially being a lady of leisure smiley - biggrin. It's been nice to have time to clean the house properly, to prepare meals properly, to see other friends during the day... So far the only time I have the TV on is in the morning to watch the breakfast news! I've been sufficiently busy as to not feel like I'm a lady of leisure at all smiley - laugh.

So... I have some free time. I hope to get around to finishing the Guide Entries I've been sitting on for months (and maybe writing a few more!). I hope to have time to cook, to bake cakes, and to begin learning how to be a housewife (a term that deserves more respect in my book!). I feel more excited about that than I have done in the last 18 months or so of my job!

Here's to the future, and whatever it brings smiley - cheers


I've dropped out of the rat race

Post 2

Brown Eyed Girl

I think I sort of know how you feel. Having finished my exams, I looked in vain for a job. Nowhere wants to know until I'm eighteen. So I've been doing the housework, and something that I think it under rated is the sense of comfort from knowing where you are with the housework. I'm finding I really enjoy it! Maybe I'm just cut out to be a little woman. smiley - biggrin

So smiley - cheers for housework and leisure!


I've dropped out of the rat race

Post 3

Marmite

Rains, i used to be in the motor industry, working for a company that sold gaskets, very large company, i started there in 1981 with over 2000 people working there, i left in 1998 with 250 people working there, now the company in 2006 cant pay anybody their pensions and will close next year.

Yep its best to get out of the motor industrysmiley - smiley


I've dropped out of the rat race

Post 4

Rains - Wondering where time's going and why it's in so much of a hurry!

smiley - cheerssmiley - biggrin

I had the same problem when I was looking for stuff when I was 16, BEG - it's a real pain. No-one will give you a job until you've got experience, but how can you get experience without getting a job? smiley - erm. There is a certain satisfaction in looking at a clean bathroom or kitchen and thinking "ahh, that's done", isn't there?

The weirdest and trickiest thing is suddenly feeling really lonely. Although I've got some friends who're around during the day, they're working part-time and got other things to do. And it doesn't help that Dave has gone off to a scout camp for today and tomorrow (he's not away long though!).

BK, what's happened to your old company is exactly what we were worried about with ours smiley - erm - to the extent we're going to look at private pensions and things just in case. I've got some way to go before retirement but I think the earlier we plan the better!

Hope y'all have a good weekend smiley - biggrin. At the moment my plans consist of doing some ironing, writing some guide entries, some lunch, and some sunbathing. Some of my female friends are coming round tonight for a girly night, which should be quite good fun!


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