2010 Contingency Plans

With Mike's rejection from the University of Edinburgh, we are mentally preparing for the fact that we might not be moving to Scotland this year, even though we are still waiting for responses from three other schools. In order to mentally prepare for this possibility we are trying to make plans that will keep us excited for another year, until Mike can reapply and we can attempt the move abroad one last time before giving up the dream.

One thing we're doing to keep us excited about staying in Seattle for another year, we're planning our Christmas/New Year's vacation. We had so much fun traveling this past Christmas that we've decided to try to travel every Christmas and this year we've decided on Venezuela. We don't think we'll have enough money/vacation time for another three week vacation, so traveling for 11-15 hours each direction is out of the question. Plus, Desi wants to use her newly acquired Spanish skills and we want to do something in the Caribbean (almost guarantying us warmth) but we don't want to redo a prior vacation (Playa del Carmen) regardless of how fantastic it was. Thus, we've decided Venezuela will be our next big trip.

Additionally, although Desi still absolutely adores her current gig, she's mentally prepared for a change, so she applied for another job within her current organization. She's not necessarily prepared to quit altogether but transferring to another area within the same organization would be a welcome change. Plus, the new job focuses on a subject that actually interests Desi, microfinance/micro lending, whereas her current gig, in education reform, was only something that she fell into which is similar to her prior gig which dealt with child welfare services and reform.

Whether we move to Scotland or not, the plan is to still sell both houses. We've been living in the same house in south Seattle for seven years this May and we're ready for a change. We don't want to buy another primary residence either. We're actually looking forward to the transient lifestyle of a renter, getting to select the best neighborhood in Seattle for our lifestyle, not having to deal with house repairs, no property tax. Oh, it sounds like Heaven. The house in Salt Lake goes, too. We're done with being homeowners, tax benefits be damned. We're really looking forward to having no financial responsibilities but that of rent. It sounds so freeing.