I'm bored!

[TheGoodEarth]

I know Annpan, therin lies the problem. Slave to the wage or whatever you want to call it.

I would much rather be time wealthy than cash rich but I really don't have much of a choice, I have a family to provide for so I can't just stop working because I want to be time wealthy. If I choose to forgo my salary then I would be made bankrupt and homeless.

[Rosendula]

I know Annpan, therin lies the problem. Slave to the wage or whatever you want to call it.

I would much rather be time wealthy than cash rich but I really don't have much of a choice, I have a family to provide for so I can't just stop working because I want to be time wealthy. If I choose to forgo my salary then I would be made bankrupt and homeless.

Obviously I don't know your personal circumstances, but is there a happy medium you could achieve? Perhaps work less hours and spend more time doing Ish things (resulting in you spending less money and therefore not needing to earn as much)?

[TheGoodEarth]

Nail, head, hit Rosendula! That is what I am trying to figure out. I would like to work winters and have summers off, say May - September to do all the ish things I would like to do. Earn enough in the winter months to see us through the summer.

Trouble is there aren't many jobs around like that for us pen pushers. I tend to work contracts at big companies and they don't all run from Sept to May unfortunately I am working on it though, I am self employed so do have a bit flexibility in the contracts I take although in the current climate I will take whatever there is! We are also downsizing and getting rid of any unnecessary expenditure so small steps in the right direction I guess.

[Annpan]

That is just what Zoe does (aka Thomzo)

Recently (it is probably just winter and impending extension bills talking) I have wished that I could go back to work, but I have figured out that that door has firmly closed behind me, and I am stuck here now.... right now I would love a pay-packet... I'm sure I won't feel the same when I am lying in my garden in a few weeks on a Monday morning having my morning coffee and watching the birds flying overhead....ahhhhh.

[Millymollymandy]

I think my husband is really lucky working from home as a consultant. He has times when he's really busy but other times when he hardly has any work so he's free to do all the Ish things he wants. Even when he has work on he can fiddle around outdoors then just come in when someone calls his mobile to tell him they need something doing pronto.

[Ovalina]

Well my husband works full-time in IT, so we haven't completely left the ratrace but up here its as good as.

Good Earth we moved up from the Midlands (neither of us from there) after deciding to live a much simpler life, it can be done - its just we have given up a lot that perhaps we took for granted. Theres always a compromise really isnt there?

My day starts with animals, opening, feeding and cleaning - often in a Force 10 I'm not a housewife, I'm a crofter that crafts, so I sell felt and stuff.
Now we're sorting out the polytunnel and deciding which veg to grow where and sorting seed packets out.

I find the winters very hard - roll on spring

[Green Aura]

I know what you mean Ovalina - I've found this winter quite difficult.

My biggest problem is that since my mother came to live with us she 1) has the TV on all day, which drives me nuts, but 2) also expects to be involved in everything we do. So we often end up not doing very much. OH is also another computer bod, working full-time working from home.

I think the quality of winter light up here doesn't help - investing in a light box helped enormously, improved my mood and energy levels no end.

[Ovalina]

Just what I was thinking about Maggie, I know S.A.D affects me because I'm a different person in April, then change in November. I said to OH this morning I need a light box, they're quite expensive though aren't they?

I have in-laws who (bless 'em) want to help with the croft when they visit - we end up trying to find them things to do and not get done all the stuff that we need to do, can be a bit frustrating can't it.

Our weather is absolutely foul today, hows yours?

[Green Aura]

Wild and wet this weekend. My work in the polytunnel was short-lived. Still I've got one bed cleared and dug. The other side is smaller and for tomatoes so can wait a little while if necessary. Next nice day I'll be out getting some salad stuff in.

My light box cost a couple of hundred, but you can get them much cheaper. Sounds a lot but we decided to go for CE rated medical one rather than waste money on one that might not work.

I have to say it was worth every penny - excellent customer service (first box was faulty - they replaced it by courier and took the old one away) it's full spectrum apart from UV. We both felt great after just 3-4 days - 20mins every morning over breakfast. It's back in its box now until november.

[Thomzo]

That is just what Zoe does (aka Thomzo)

Well I try to. It doesn't always work though. Being an accountant helps as most companies want someone across their December year ends so, in theory, I should be free by April. But they always seem to find me more work to do. My current contract was supposed to end last May and I'm still there (but only for another two weeks ). I didn't really mind last year though as the weather was so awful I was quite happy to carry on working.

Hoping to have at least two months off this year. Three if I can keep the expenses down.

I do think that you can live a lot more cheaply if you aren't at work all day. It's much easier to find the bargains at the supermarkets, you don't have to buy so many smart clothes and you have time to make do and mend yourself.

Cheers
Zoe

[bryony]

hi ovalina, on the topic of SAD lamps, I got a CE rated one for about £75 pounds at the beginning of the year (based on advice given in a health and beauty thread). I couldn't afford a better one, and it's only small, but it does seem to do the trick, and I consider it well worth the expense- if you think of how many winters it'll get used in the future as well. Maybe this cheaper version is an option?

[Ovalina]

Wow, thanks Maggie and Bryony I didn't think they were that good. I shall definitely be investing in one and thanks for the tip re a 'medical' model I shall look into that.

The sun is shining this morning and I'm busy with chicken sheds and shall be sowing some seeds later in the day - feeling quite motivated.