Thrown out by my spouse.
No place to live.
No job.
Sounds like the beginning of a top country song I know. And all the while I’m thinking, what the hell am I going to do? And I keep thinking, and thinking, and consider all my options:
- Economy currently sucks, job market non-existent – odds of finding a job here? Next to nil.
- No money to get a place of my own, nor are there very many options. – Small towns can suck this way.
- No family to stay with. Siblings and parents are either full up already, too far away, or in worse shape than I am.
- Friends are staying away, too much drama…but not every friend.
I have one who might help me out, but they’re not close.
Is it a good idea to take what little cash I have to drive over a thousand miles and leave everything and everyone behind? What’s the worst that could happen?
- I could be attacked and/or killed.
- My car could break down.
- My friend changes their mind.
- I can’t get a job.
- I end up homeless with a cart filled with my meager possessions.
Well, if I’m attacked or killed, then everything is pretty well done for anyway.
If my car breaks down than I won’t get where I’m headed.
If my friend changes their mind I’ll be homeless. If I can’t get a job I’ll be broke, and probably homeless.
So basically, homeless and poor or death. That’s it, that’s the worst that can happen. Death I can’t do anything about. Death is coming one way or another no matter what I do. Failing to take action for fear of death means I’d never do anything. Death can kiss my ass.
That leaves poor and/or homeless. Did I mention that the weather where I live sucks? Now this isn’t
“snows twelve months out of the year with below freezing wind-chill”
kind of sucks, but it is the
“cold and wet and definitely not good for homeless activities”
kind of sucks. However, the weather where I’m potentially headed…now that definitely doesn’t suck. That weather is mild, sunny, barely cold (considering currently living standards) and is next to the ocean. Yep, that’s right, beach front.
So worst case scenario (not including death) has me homeless and poor, but in a better environment (even if I don’t make it the entire way) with ocean front property (public beaches count) for me and my borrowed shopping cart. Therefore, the best case scenario has me arriving safe and sound, temporarily living with my friend, getting a job, a new place, and starting over.
Not much of a choice. Having eliminated the most dire possibility (death), having found a a glimmer of hope amongst the remaining woe, the decision kind of made itself. Staying was not an option, but going was. Even if it didn’t work out, I would be better off in the long run.
Here’s to taking the leap!