I have a plan.

[Tobin S.]

I'm going to write this post and then spend some quality time with my cats. Well, that's the short-term plan. The long-term plan is a little more complicated.

I've heard it said that to know how to change your life you have to fully accept where you are in the moment. You won't know what to do unless you know exactly where you are. It sounds simple, but I've run across a lot of people in my time who didn't have an accurate view of themselves and their situations. I hear of people all the time who feel that they have no control over their own lives. It may be true in some cases, and there are certainly some things in life that are beyond our control. However, I think a lot of people have more control over their lives than they realize, or even worse, than they will acknowledge, especially here in America.

The biggest obstacle I have right now is that I have two house payments. I've had a condo on the market that I moved out of four years ago when I met my wife. I've leased it a couple of times, but it's been empty and for sale for a total of two years. The latest stint has been since April of last year. Something has got to give. My contract with my realtor is up on the 15th of this month and I'm going to try something different if he can't make something happen by then. I've told him that as well. I think I'm going to auction it. I'll probably have to take a financial hit on it, but as of right now I've got about $630 a month flying out the window paying for the place and keeping the electric on. It will be best to cut my losses, and I have the money right now to cover a short-fall so now is the time to do it. I'll be rid of the place and I will have saved my credit from a foreclosure or a short sale. That's my top priority right now.

I'm in the job market right now. With my place sold, it will make it more comfortable for me to take a chance on a new employer. It's possible that I'll stay at my current employer, too, but things are going to have to change as far as my job within the company goes for me to do it. I'll need at least a promise of a step up the ladder at some point in the future to stay on.

I just graduated from college with a business degree and people sometimes ask me what I'm want to do as far as a job goes now. I don't have an actual job title in mind. I'm just looking for a good opportunity. It's not like there is a certain kind of job out there that I'm only going to pursue. I think that closes you off to any other potential opportunities. I don't have a dream job. I didn't grow up thinking, "Man, I really want to be an accountant." That being said, there is a certain category where I am a natural fit. With the business degree and many years of experience as a trucker, I'd make a good fit at most companies involved in transport. I've focused on those kinds of job listings, but I'll consider anything if I think there might be a place for me there.

I want to make my next employer my last employer, and I'm open to making my current employer my last employer. I'm getting too old to spend anymore time bouncing around jobs. I don't want to be starting out at the bottom again unless the compensation at that point is already good.

My next goal is to pay off debt, and now we're looking longer range. I'm 42 now. I have some credit card debt and my school loan. I hope to have that all paid off by the time I'm 50. Depending on the job situation, that might happen sooner. Once that debt is taken care of, I'll focus on our house with the goal of having it paid off before retirement.

But will I retire? I can't say for sure right now. I was recently off work for almost three weeks and I just about died of boredom and inaction. I didn't know what to do with myself. I might be one of those people who never retires. The owner at the company I work at right now is 87. The owner's wife is in her 80s and she still runs payroll. They still come to work 5 days a week. A sales rep there is in his mid-eighties as well. One of my bosses in in his mid-seventies. Who knows? Coming to work as I age may well increase my life span.

I have a new sig line that reflects my thinking at the moment.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. You ARE an optimist, my dear Tobin, and this post really highlights that.

Your plans sound great.

They sound flexible enough to allow for the unexpected, and yet you're not floundering around, trying to figure out what to do next.

Go get 'em! The world is waiting...

[onethatcares]

2. keep the condo for a while

rent it out for 600.00 a month, that only leaves you 30 bucks outapocket. start your own book keeping business, dollar a day book keeping. great side job tell your co drivers. Don't do taxes or accounting, do the simple stuff.

Your plan for making your next employer your last employer will only work if you work for yourself.

remember; Job means, JUST OVER BROKE>

GOOD LUCK

[Tobin S.]

3. The market will only bear $450 a month for the condo

Less $45 for the property manager and I'm coming up more like $230 short a month. I'm way underwater on it thanks to the housing crash. I've also had the pleasure of having to paint and put new carpet in the entire condo thanks to a bad tenant. After the security deposit, I still had to come up with $2500 to cover the repairs.

I have worked for myself in the past and it wasn't much different than being employed by someone else. I didn't make any more money doing it and I had to pay more for insurance and taxes.

[handmade34]

4. transition can be exciting...

as a previous owner of 2 homes (renting one out) I strongly suggest taking the hit and selling one... the weight off your shoulders is well worth the money you may lose...

that's what we did and I have never been sorry ( it helps that we were able to sell it to a young woman just starting out on her own who is eternally grateful for our help in getting her 1st home we saw her ad on craigslist looking for house)

find the job you love and you will never have to work

[DebJ]

5. Hi Tobin. Have you thought of checking out

truck leasing companies?

I worked for a major truck leasing company many years ago for about 7 years. At the time, it was a great place to work, but that was
waaaayyy back in the late 1970s early 1980s... so I couldn't speak for the current state of things as there have been many changes both
in the company and in how an accounting department works these days. I was an office manager there. I was also a District Controller for another national chain.

Just a thought as this also combines your knowledge of trucks/trucking and business management. Maybe you had already included these types in your search, but thought I'd mention it.

[Joe Shlabotnik]

6. I've had a plan too,

But unfortunately every time I come up with a plan.... Trailer park boys steal it from me. The big dirty.... that was mine, Freedom 35... that was mine.... killing the neighbour's annoying pets... that was mine, reselling stolen BBQ and patio furniture, ditto..... the siphoned gas station: mine, .... sigh it never ends. etc etc. Being Canadian can be curse sometimes!