True enough. But, there is that old saying about throwing out the baby with the bathwater!
I've found that the wedding ring has transformed countless reasonable people into complete nutjobs. It's 2017. Isn't it time to put that old, outdated tradition to rest?
Depends on who you marry and how flexible you are in living with others ... 30 years, 6 children later and we still like each other
Chances are the "nutjobs" were always "nutjobs" but in cognito. If one is rigid in their expectations, you may have a problem...
Our house is just under 2000 sq foot and housed 8 people. The bedrooms are not huge but, besides Hubby and I, the twins were the only ones that had to share a room. Once the oldest went to university, they got their own rooms too. I have been decluttering the house lately but there are some items from their childhood that will not go away ... the wall of books, the legos, some dolls and the boardgames will remain for when grandkids come to visit and need something to do on a rainy day.
Living out in the boonies has it's challenges... no grocery store around the corner so you have to become organized in your meal planning, know your consumption and have storage. The usual with children ... the school, doctor, dentist, after school activities become more time consuming with a 1/2 hour to hour drive time one way. We minimized on the activities to one at a time ... our girls took ballet/dance for about 12 years; some of the boys did tae kwon do for many years with a few soccer/baseball seasons thrown in. We also stayed away from the big ticket sports ... hockey locally ... with price tags on gear and then travel for games away. With the dance and tae kwon do, travel to competitive events was once or twice a year. There are some children who have so many activities, they have no time to just be ... or dream. Friends were always welcome and actually reduced the sibling fights!
Living at the lake has involved water toys ... simple noodles to boats. Again, expectations and realities can be managed. When the kids were little, a good chunk of time was spent on beach duty. Some of the kids would go off for hours in the canoe to explore (life jackets and let me know what general direction though!) Winter time - snow shoes, skis, sleds are far cheaper than snowmachines, excellent physical health promoters. Yes we do have the snowmachines but they are the oldies but goodies. Neighbour who bought a pontoon boat only goes out once or twice a year. Big investment for little return...
The children have seen first-hand why quality of items is more important than quantity ... They each have a dresser that was a hand-me-down made from real wood from their great grandparents' households (some were pretty sad when they got here and needed some TLC). The desks or bookcases that were bought for short term need are long gone due to the particle board content. You may pay more initially but it is bought once and done. We bought they oldest boys a bunk bed for our old house ... metal frame that lasted about 4 years before noticing cracks, etc. For the twins, I built a wood bunk bed that is in storage waiting for the next round.
Bottom line ... choices and planning.
As to your job, is it one that never truly gives you a break? On call 24/7? Do you work from one specific room in your home or anywhere/everywhere? Is it minimalism you are shooting for or distinct separation between home life/work life?
Dash barely on warranty but either had to do-it-ourselves or trailer it in to the dealer 1/2 hour away. Lost time either way ....
