The Staging Area

Ben and I have had some interesting discussions over the last few weeks about what we're doing in Ohio. To buy a house? Not to buy a house? Exactly how deep are our roots here?

I'll spare you the suspense. We've decided we're in no rush to buy a house, so no deep root-growing happening here. We haven't even signed a 6 month lease on the apartment we've been living in for the last year and a half(though I think we might; you know, since we're not buying a house). We miss EVERYBODY and, while Cincy isn't so bad, we are thinking that our future lies elsewhere.

So this begs the question -- how temporary are we? What are we doing while we're here?

As some of you may have been able to decipher from my previous post, I have started an MBA Program. I have faint hopes of being able to finish this endeavor early, but it's supposed to take about two years.

I have very mixed emotions about this whole going back to school thing. Mostly one emotion pervades: I hate going to school. Clearly I'm a masochist. I not only work at a school, but I keep going BACK to school for my own education, OVER and OVER again.

But I have this insatiable need to be productive with my time. No, not THAT KIND of productive. Stick with me people! Why am I going back this time? An MBA is a great asset for future career opportunities, so if I can get one, and I can get it free with a little sweat and tears from yours truly, well --- it only seems logical.

NOT TO MENTION, what else is there for me to do in Ohio? No really. I'm not kidding. Well, I'm sure some of you could figure out how to spend your time productively in ways that don't involve school. But, for starters, I'm really not quite ready for kids(I'm selective about the kinds of productivity I'm into, apparently). I can't update a house because I don't have one. I can't hang out with all of you. And it seems like this MBA thing may be a "for a limited time only" kind of offer, considering my rootless presence here and it's only free while I work at my current job. And that it's easier to go to school BEFORE you have children as opposed to after. See what I'm sayin'?

Summarily, I know it's good for me, my career and our family's financial future and it appears time is of the essence if I want to do it. Do I relish it? In fleeting moments, sure. I do like learning things. But the rest of the time I roll my eyes and say, "School again. Ugh." I do that a lot, actually. (Sigh)

We could just pick up and go; leave the Cincinnati life behind us. But all things considered, we think it's best for us to sit tight for a bit. We want to make a smart jump, not just any jump.

So if not now, then when? We're not sure exactly when. 2 years. 3 years. Maybe more. Maybe less. But said jumping will likely happen as soon as possible, taking all things prudent into consideration.

And to where? We don't know that either. It's years away people!! The good news about the wait? I have time to persuade Ben that London is a great place to raise a family. :)

There's a negative to coming to this conclusion so early in our Cincinnati existence. It makes the next leg of living here seem long. Really long. We are talking about undetermined years and months of just waiting to move on. Harsh.

You can feel my yearning. I know you can. And you recognize it. That's because it is the yearning of students everywhere. :) I'll try my best to live and love my Cincinnati present. Living it up while working full-time and going to school is definitely going to be a challenge, but somebody has to do it and apparently that somebody is me.

It feels a bit like we're in a staging area; like we're building a set for a play that is to come -- the play that is my future happiness -- without school and after Cincinnati. The play's really the main event, isn't it? That's what everybody's waiting for. The staging is necessary, but incredibly less fun, and the costumes are nowhere near as glamorous.

All of this being said, I have a request. Should I find it wise, after having finished the MBA here, to go back to school once more, would you PLEASE commit me. I can officially be considered mentally unsound at that point and not capable of looking out for my own best interests. That is all I ask. Thank you.