Plans

The backyard, looking down from the chook pen, to the house

I was thinking yesterday that I wish I had some land, could have more chooks & maybe a rooster or two, wishing I had a new car like Jemma's Dad has got (he just got a car that I have been eyeing off for a while), wishing I had a bigger house, wishing we didn't have a mortgage, wishing I had some nicer clothes, a new kitchen........ and so on - you get the picture LOL.



I don't often feel this way, but sometimes I do. Today I feel differently. I don't wish for all that because I have so much that is wonderful in my life (well, some of those things would be nice but definately not essential).



I think we probably all get "stuff" envy every now and again, some more than others. We are very lucky, we really don't go without at all. Having said that, I do go without to get what I want. By that I mean, I could have all (except the mortgage) that I have listed above - right now BUT I choose not to. WHY? Because I have plans for the future. They are not set in stone or anything but we have things we want to achieve in the short, medium and long term.



At the moment, our only debt is our mortgage. We have a credit card, which we pay off each month in full and our bank account can cover that amount. We would have no problem going out and getting a loan for all that I have listed above. But we are paying off our mortgage as fast as we can - that is our first goal. We believe that we will have more opportunities with that gone. Oh we still have a life - we have take away still (but not a lot), we still go on holidays (but I cook all our food & shop around for accommodation), we buy ourselves stuff still (but not much, only what we need and we check prices etc). We treat ourselves with little items regularly (but not all the time).



I have known people who will not go without anything. They have beautiful in fashion label clothes, the latest mobile phone, dine out all the time in lovely restaurants, drink regularly, smoke, go on fabulous holidays, have really nice cars, lovely furniture, big tv etc. They don't have anthing else though - no savings, pay rent (dead money in my view) and probably a credit card and car loan debt sadly.



It doesn't bother me that this is their situation (it would bother ME if it was me), but I wonder if this is really what they want and if this makes them happy? I guess we all have different priorities and wants and different things make us happy. But I believe their lack of self disclipline NOW will impact their FUTURE and they wont be happy where they are in the future. But then they would say well you can't take it with you which is true.



Here is some of what makes me happy:



Everyone (except Nat and Marty) out for Jem's Birthday

Beautiful bubba Michael - just look at that face!!

The Chick Inn and residents. I love my chookies!!

I think that some people I know think I am pretty wierd, but I don't mind - I probably am wierd, but thats ok with me - I'm enjoying my life at the moment. A lot of people wouldn't do what we do and that is fine but you can still have a great life without a lot of stuff (eg my mobile phone cost $20 off ebay - in that time Alex has had about 4 phones, much flasher and "better" than mine - except hers cost thousands all up!!!)