Friday Note - Live the life you love/Love the life you live

 Everyone says to us, "I want your life!" How I do get that?"

My husband and I have lived through many ups and downs. We both started out in rural northern Wisconsin and put ourselves thru college. We moved to Chicago and worked our way up the ladder, working 60-70 hour weeks as we advanced our careers, helping to grow our respective companies. I traveled 2-3 times a month, leaving a longer "to do" list at home than at the office. We raised our children there, carving out a work/life balance, and fought the commute daily. He advanced to Senior Project Manger and I was The National Sales Manager at my company.

As our youngest approached her senior year, we realized that we were ready to get out of the rat race of the big city. We had spent 20 years on the treadmill, running as fast as we could to advance up the ladder, but something was changing. I started to value my time more than the $$. I looked for a way to stay at my company but not need to be in Chicago. The opportunity presented itself when I lost a sales person. I went to the owner, and asked to "demote" myself. I would take over her old accounts, segue out of the management position, and train my replacement . He was not happy about the decision, but he acquiesced.

The economy crashed soon after, and I took a huge hit in pay when my commissions dropped. My teenagers loved having me there when they came home from school. I was actually able to accomplish more work wise with no commute or co-worker interruptions. What a joy to put a pot roast into the oven and be able to eat together at a reasonable hour. I also traveled far less in my new role. I found the extra money wasn't really as important after all.

The construction company Mac worked for had repeatedly asked him to relocate when they were rewarded new contracts across the US, but he had been declining as my job was located in Chicago. Now, he was free to pursue these opportunities. They asked him to start up a new division in the Southeast. At the time, we owned three homes - the large family house we built in Illinois, the cabin in Northern Michigan and the home in a gated golf community in Hilton Head, South Carolina. So, we sold the home in Illinois, moved to South Carolina and settled our daughter in college there. We were back on plan, having a cabin up north and the winter golf retreat.

Fast forward a few years and another job move to New Orleans. My husband was now the Operation's Manager, building 5 schools worth $156 million. Unfortunately, every job that was turned over to him was losing money. The stress was unrelenting. His doctor told him that if he didn't slow down he would have a massive heart attack and die within the next 5 years.

We made a command decision for him to retire. With only one income, we needed to sell the South Carolina home. We moved back to our little house in Michigan and rediscovered our love of snowmobiling and the four seasons.

We then had the opportunity for Mac to return to work - a one year job in California, in a much lower stress position. We rented a home and moved to Long Beach. We had a glorious year of traveling the coast and visiting the national parks.

Two of our children stayed in Hilton Head. It is still home to us, but it's hard to find a rental property with our 3 big dogs. So - we used the extra money Mac earned in Cali and bought a travel trailer. We go south in the spring and fall, and live in the RV park for a couple months at at a time. I work from the trailer. I am now a "traveling salesman", visiting customers as we go back and forth across the country.

We gave up a lot, but we gained more! I believe that everything happens for a reason. Many people would shake their heads at all we gave up, and some are jealous of our lives. Still others think we are crazy for the decisions we have made along the way. You can float along in life like a piece of flotsam in a stream, or you can adjusts the sails every time the wind changes and take control of the journey.

I do not know where the next chapter will take us, but I have faith that we will land right where we are meant to be. When we hit the next fork in our path, we will probably choose the road less traveled, and I know it will be a wonderful ride!