Do you take life as it comes....

[Maisie]

...or do you have a life plan?

We have been just taking life as it comes and we have realised its not a good thing for us. We are taking control of our future. My husband has been made redundant twice in the past two years. He has decided to apply for the Royal Air Force. I think he will serve for around 10 - 15 years depending on his trade and then we would love to emigrate to Australia. My uncle lived there for years and he loved it. We would really like to go somewhere else rather than rainy miserable England!

How about you?

 

[Skippy123]

Date: 6/14/2009 3:10:31 PM
Author:Maisie
...or do you have a life plan?

We have been just taking life as it comes and we have realised its not a good thing for us. We are taking control of our future. My husband has been made redundant twice in the past two years. He has decided to apply for the Royal Air Force. I think he will serve for around 10 - 15 years depending on his trade and then we would love to emigrate to Australia. My uncle lived there for years and he loved it. We would really like to go somewhere else rather than rainy miserable England!

How about you?

Congratulations that sounds wonderful

well I use to have a life plan but things have not happened as I planned so I learned to be a bit laid back and take life as it comes; it helps in the long run for my heart and soul.

 

[Maisie]

I know what you mean Skippy. Sometimes you just can''t make things happen the way you would like them to. In our case it feels like life is happening to us and we haven''t done anything to influence it.

 

[iheartscience]

I'd say I do a little of both. I definitely have plans for the future (promotions, possible graduate degree, etc.) but I've found that a lot of times, things sort of fall into place, so I don't find myself making too many abrupt decisions. I wouldn't say that things just fall into my lap either though, because I do take steps to make them happen. I usually examine my life pretty often and try to decide if I'm happy with how things are or not.

For example, I just started a new job as a research assistant in April. I graduated from college in December and my last two semesters I was a research assistant for two of my professors for college credit. Right before I graduated, I found out that my slightly less than full time position as a buyer for a clothing boutique wasn't going to be made full time with benefits, so I started applying to full time, paid research assistant jobs. I got hired for one, and although it's pretty entry-level, after I gain more experience I can move on up to higher paying jobs. Plus, I'm able to take 2 classes a semester for free because I work at a university, so I may decide to pursue a Master's degree as well.

I definitely made it all happen, but at the same time, it all just came together nicely!

 

[Maisie]

Wow thats great Thing! I love to hear when things come together nicely for people I like

One thing I really regret is not going to college. I hear people on here talking a lot about their degrees etc. I might use the next few years to do something while I am ''stuck'' at home schooling my daughter. I have really enjoyed working with her and I realised just how much fun learning is!

 

[scarleta]

"I''d say I do a little of both."
same here.Wonders happen when you have no other plans.

 

[Linda W]

Maisie, that sounds wonderful. I bet you will love Australia too.

Rick and I have been married going on 28 and a half years. We tried to have a plan, but now we take things as they come. I love my signature line, for that very reason.






Linda

 

[3Rocks]

Date: 6/14/2009 3:59:05 PM
Author: Maisie
Wow thats great Thing! I love to hear when things come together nicely for people I like

One thing I really regret is not going to college. I hear people on here talking a lot about their degrees etc. I might use the next few years to do something while I am ''stuck'' at home schooling my daughter. I have really enjoyed working with her and I realised just how much fun learning is!

Hi Maisie,
You are a teacher in the making!!!!

As far as a plan for life: I learn a lot from my mom. My mom is all about planning. So I do plan as well. I always have to have that next thing I am going to do. I plan to finish college, get a year of experience in a public firm, went abroad for graduate school, pass the CPA exam, and now, although I am working for a large real estate firm, I still making plan to be an adjunct part-time.

The one thing I don''t plan is to have a family of my own. This never cross my mind. Thats where my FI came in. He plan that for the both of us. He proposed in March 2009. My parents will come in December and he wants us to be married soon after that. No date setup yet but he is thinking of Feb 2010. Too soon for me and I told him last nite. About this matter I don''t have that certainty that I have about other matters. If that makes any sense.

 

[Maisie]

Its interesting you say that 3rocks! I am looking at distance learning courses. I am considering starting off with a teachers assistant course first with a view to gaining some kind of qualification for working with children with special needs. One thing I have learned from having a child with SN is that there aren''t enough people there to help them!

 

[iheartscience]

Maisie, you seem like you would be an awesome teacher! As for school, I was glad I went back. I took about 4 years off because I wasn''t interested in it anymore, wasn''t doing my work, etc. The second time around I thoroughly enjoyed learning, really applied myself, and I got a 4.0 (that''s all A''s in case it''s different in England!) every semester. I would highly recommend school as an adult! 18-year-olds don''t know what they''re missing!

 

[Maisie]

Wow you sound like you really did well this time round! I was never interested in further education when I was 16. In my house you left school at 16 and got a job so you could bring some money in. I was pregnant by the age of 18 so that put paid to any chance of college. I think I am at a good place to do it now. I am far more mature!

 

[Haven]

I make short-term plans at best when it comes to most things.

I''m a dilettante by nature, so I''ve learned to allow myself to fall head over heels for something for a few years, but to accept that I''ll probably grow bored by it and want to move on at some point. So, I plan for a few years at a time only, as I never want to feel like I "must" continue pursuing a career or hobby because I put more time/energy/money/etc than is worth for just a few years of doing something.

For example, I paid for my first master''s to become a teacher, but I wasn''t planning on getting another graduate degree in education because that would be too much of an investment in a career that I probably won''t pursue for the long haul. The only reason I earned my second master''s was because my school paid for the entire thing.

The only thing that I am very diligent about planning for is our financial future. I was raised in a household plagued by constant fighting over money, and I never want to be in the same situation. Otherwise, I like to see what happens and go with the flow.

Maisie--Your new plans sound wonderful. I wish you all the best in pursuing them!

 

[Clio]

Maisie, you should totally take some classes! My mother was not a serious student when she started college, and she dropped out at 19 to get married (boy, were my grandparents mad!). She took classes here and there while raising kids and went back full time when my sister and I went off to college. She was a much better student the second time around and really enjoys the job her degree led to.

I''m definitely a planner, but I''m not so rigid that I can''t change my plans as circumstances dictate.

 

[bee*]

I''m a little bit of both too-I definitely have plans that I want to carry out and am working towards them, however if something comes along, I''ve learnt to take it in my stride and not worry about it too much. I will get there in the end.

Maisie-you''d make such a good teacher. You should definitely look at getting that qualification. Love the sound of your future plans.

 

[icekid]

I am a control freak, Type A, serious planner. Thus, it really stresses me out when things do not go according to my well-laid plans. Or when I get what I want, and then want to change

Somewhere in the middle sounds best! Plan, but roll with it a bit too! I''m working on getting there

 

[whitby_2773]

Date: 6/14/2009 3:10:31 PM
Author:Maisie
...or do you have a life plan?


We have been just taking life as it comes and we have realised its not a good thing for us. We are taking control of our future. My husband has been made redundant twice in the past two years. He has decided to apply for the Royal Air Force. I think he will serve for around 10 - 15 years depending on his trade and then we would love to emigrate to Australia. My uncle lived there for years and he loved it. We would really like to go somewhere else rather than rainy miserable England!


How about you?

i''d love to emigrate to australia tooooo! (well, ok, not emigrate as such, just move back home)

but i love the US as well, so now i''m just torn down the middle! i think you''d love australia, maisie - nobody there gets S.A.D.! it''s just not an issue!

and i love your education plan - go for it!

 

[April20]

I''ve always been a "take it as it comes" type of person. I''ve never been one that was able to make a five year plan. DH has always been better at this and for the last couple years has been asking me what I want to do. Until about a month ago, I was truly unable to answer him. I didn''t know. I''ve been thinking more and more about what we want to do and what direction we want to take. We''ve come to a point in our lives where I see the need to be more planful. To use our lives to make an impact. To not just be working a corporate job where I have nothing to truly show for it at the end of the day. So we''re working on a plan. We have many options available to us and we''re trying to determine what our best course is. We''ll have less materially, but we''ll be happier. I''ll take that any day.

 

[Tuckins1]

We have a rough idea of what we want to do (like when we want to start trying to have kids, how long we want to live in our house before thinking about moving, etc...), but things never go EXACTLY according to plan, so we kind of just go with the flow.

 

[D&T]

I have a five year plan that changes weekly

well I used to be a planner before I met my DH, then after marriage, had kids right away and well, planning was useless for a little while anyways, until we got parenthood under control. DH is very laid back, and I "was" very type A high strung individual, well since having kids I''ve learned to roll with life a little more. DH has been more responsive and proactive instead of reactive like he used to be, so we''re more in balance now. Maisie, it sounds wonderful and exciting what you are wanting/or will be doing or DH will be doing, and I hope it works out for you and your family

 

[joflier]

I first decide - what do I have control over? And what can I not control? The stuff I can''t control - I take it as it comes and just roll with it. you can''t waste time worrying over something you can''t change.
But the things that you can take control of? Or have the possibility to change? You have to try to do something if life isn''t where you want it. No one else is going to just randomly drop happiness into your lap. (usually) So, you have to do something to find it, get it, and keep it!

 

[DiamondFlame]

I''ve seen people who could not handle it when life throws their plans out the window. And I''ve seen those who wander through life aimlessly. I think we all need to learn when to take control and when to let go. Looks like both of you are in for some exciting times ahead! Learning is always fun so don''t ever stop!

 

[Steel]

Maisie - I hope your new plans come to fruition and you & yours are happy.

As for me - When I was young I had BIG plans. Every year another part of my plan crumbles away from me and so far nothing has replaced my dreams. It makes me very sad that I cannot achieve my goals, but you can''t fight City Hall.

 

[Maisie]

I agree that you should control what you can and try not to sweat the things you can''t. I don''t want to become obsessed with a life plan because life (for me at least) always has its way of doing its own sweet thing!

I ordered my course work today. It will be here within a week. As well as the teaching assistant course I also chose a psychology course.

 

[purselover]

I think it''s good to have plans but you can''t be too rigid about them because unexpected things always come up

 

[lyra]

I used to plan more, then major things happened which led me to start just taking life one day at a time. I have to say, this approach does work for me. I worry less, and am happy much more. It''s all a balance I think.

 

[packrat]

Maisie, congratulations and well wishes to you and your husband on your new adventures!

I think we do both. JD was accepted to the Police Reserves and there are a couple jobs on the force coming open this summer so he''ll be applying. He''ll be making way less money, but it''s something he''s wanted to do for a long time. I went to the local community college for a few semesters before we got married, and LOVED it-I''d really like to be a full time student for the rest of my life I think! It was such a different experience than high school. My brother is talking about opening a gym when he gets out of the Navy next year, and I''d totally like to be a part of it with him. Maybe become a personal trainer, or help coordinate trainers coming in, handle memberships. He''s wanting to add a daycare and clothing/supplements etc, so I could oversee that.

I''ve also thought about in the future becoming a foster parent. My cousin used to transport babies/kids to foster homes when they''d been taken from their parents for abuse/neglect etc..she''d mentioned one time how hard it was to find places for the kids to go. We have an abundance of hugs and kisses and numnums here, so plenty to spread around!

 

[joelly]

Hi Maisie,
I do make plan for some and not for others. Life sort of happen for me. I''ll just make the best of it. One thing that I don''t leave to chance is money. I run a pretty tight budget. But I am still single so its quite easy to do when you are responsible only for you, right?
Good luck on your plans, Maisie!

 

[atroop711]

I can make plans but I learned early on that life has other plans for me...so I had to tweak my plans to go with "the flow"

 

[mrscushion]

Both.

I''ve had a pretty set plan so far, good college, cushy first job, work towards getting promoted, onwards to b-school, etc. But, it''s always easier to plan ahead for one person than it is to integrate two people''s lives into a "master plan." FI and I are from two different continents and while we have a short-term plan, we don''t even know where we''ll end up living long-term. That''s a pretty big unknown, and we both know that and are prepared to handle it as it comes.

 

[Richard Sherwood]

There''s an old saying, "Man plans, God laughs."