Today, I’m predicting it. It’s cold, a bit rainy and not at all summer-like. Yet, this summer holds so very much promise that I’m just going to be bold and declare it the Greatest Summer on Earth. Why, you ask? Oh, let me just regale you.
Well, first, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) has just predicted that June, July and August will be warmer and drier than usual in the northeast. Score one for the good guys. Further, thanks to the advent of an El Nino (and possible “super” El Nino), I can expect a warmer and drier winter. That takes the pressure off of the upcoming winter and gives me a little less dread for the winter months, particularly as I’m not necessarily planning a winter escape this year.
Back here at home, though, is where the real payoff is. While I didn’t necessarily plan on working less this summer, that may be my fate. And if it’s my fate, that’s okay, too. Already, our lives are a little bit better with me not working so much. The house is clean, the yard is trimmed and mowed, the pantry is stocked, the laundry is done and our lives are more under control than they’ve ever been. Honestly? Even my office is clean and when that gets cleaned, it means the whole house is in good shape. (My office is always the last thing I do because it truly only ever affects me.)
So, how does having my – ahem – you know what together impact our homelife? Well, the garden is a classic example. In years past, the garden quickly became an intense point of stress for us. We were always unprepared, getting plants in the ground at the last minute and largely dissatisfied with the row prep itself. Then, maintaining the now-planted garden became a battle with the weeds claiming precious weekend hours and the need to manage water – either too much or too little – a constant stress. Finally, when we did have high yields, the garden became a burden one last time as I was battling to preserve food and maintain my sanity in what was typically one of the busiest times of the year for me.
Fast forward to today. In exhibit one, you will see that the garden is going in on time with the rows well prepared. As each row gets planted, the irrigation system is added as is the compostable corn plastic row cover that ensures that roots don’t dry out but the soil doesn’t get too wet. Further, the plastic prevents ground mold and fungus from getting splashed up onto the plant stems and low leaves, leading to healthier plants. By installing the irrigation and plastic, we also reduce weeding and watering burdens. Finally, because I’m not working so much, I’m well-prepared for bumper crops, if we get that lucky.
In the meantime, there is a lot to celebrate and appreciate. With me working less, our evenings and weekends are so less rushed. Everything I do to take care of us translates into less that my husband needs to do in his little free time. Further, because I can do more for us, we can also make do with less, reducing any financial pressure from my lost income. Suddenly, life slots into place a little more easily.
Lastly, I’ve come to terms with a lot about myself and my professional career that really does feel like resolution. At first, I was underprepared for a work slowdown. Truly, that’s on me. I should have gotten more serious about business development and improving my own skills. Secondly, though, there was also an inevitability to my professional sunset. It’s been nearly a decade since I ran a health center and my experience as a professional consultant draws on my experience as a former CEO. So, I have always known I had an expiration date and that it was fast approaching.
When the slowdown happened faster than I expected, I had to reconcile my lack of planning with my own professional expiration date. At first, I was just embarrassed and I felt a little washed up and cast aside. But then, my amazing husband stepped in with wisdom I should have come to expect. His words matter, but his actions mattered more. His support restored my dignity and allowed me to be okay with not necessarily being the smartest person in the room. It also made it truly okay for me to enjoy what I love: taking care of our home and our family.
Now, I’m actually looking forward to summer not as some sort of professional outcast who got retired vs. choosing her own retirement date. Instead, I’m moving into summer and celebrating who I am – failures, successes, needs, wants, desires, strengths, weaknesses and all matter of contradictions included. I’d like to still get busy and I’ll definitely try, but I’ll also continue to put this family and our needs first.
And this confluence of good weather, good circumstances and restored dignity leads to the only natural conclusion: it’s going to be the Greatest Summer on Earth here at our little mini-farm and kitty rescue. I’m certain of it.
The Yuppie Homesteader 