So Mark is about three weeks into a three and a half month 'semi retirement' phase. He officially retires on July 29,2010 but has accrued enough 'leave' from the Navy that he only works two more days between now and then. Which means he is home. With me. All. Day. Long.
He's really trying to keep busy, coming up with all sorts of projects he's wanted to do and hasn't been able to because he's not been home much in the past three years. But those are getting done and so now he's making stuff up to keep busy and slowly going stir crazy. I can tell. He is now sending resumes to everyone AND their dog as well as having now registered with a few head hunters. He turned to me the other day and said "I could not retire and do NOTHING". I thought it would be rude to reply 'well no shit sherlock, cause you'd drive ME nuts'. So I smiled, and patted his leg, silently praying 'Dear Lord, you can have my first born IF..'
All joking aside, it's actually been nice to have him home so much. After all, this past year alone he was gone 270 days! On the flip side, I am NOT looking forward to REAL retirement at 65 when he is allllll done working and isn't going to be finishing with one career and starting another. Right now I know this is a brief respite and soon I'll be wishing for these days back as he heads off to his next job and we get back into a work routine. At 65 he'll be home with me. For real. All. Day. Long. Thankfully I'll be a licensed family counselor by then....which brings me to.....
I start school in June now that Mark is home full time! I am so excited! I had originally planned on Law School after he was home, but after two years of having time to think, I've realized I really DON'T want to invest that time. I love the legal system, but I also love kids and family and all that it entails. Not just MY kids and family, but OTHER kids and the ideal of family. So I want to parley all that into a legal career of some sort. So here is the plan. After three years of doing daycare, I am going to start my bachelors in Psychology (accelerated program gives me a four year degree in two!) as well as simultaneously getting another associates degree (In Liberal Arts this time, I have one in Legal Sciences). I am doing the extra degree because it isn't as 'narrowed' down as the one I have AND I have enough credits that it will only take a few extra months to my original plan to get so...why not....I have the time! The best part? I am able to use Marks post 9/11 GI bill (he has enough degrees, he won't be using it!) and so the Navy is paying for my tuition, my books AND I get a $1500 a month stipend. Yes, I get my schooling et al paid for AND I get a pay check to do it! Yay ME!
Once I have my degree, I am going to work as an advocate for children and families within the court system. For the kids in foster care and DCS situations as well as kids caught in the middle of a divorce gone bad. At the same time, I'll be getting my Masters in Psychology which at the end of THAT degree I will choose a family/marriage counseling license or a simple counseling license. I already know I'll be choosing the family/marriage counseling license as that is really my passion. And who knows...after that, I might just go for my Doctorate...and be an old tree hugging hippy chick who teaches Psych 101 at the local college! :)
All in all, life is good. Mark and I both have a new path to travel down and are looking forward to all the adventures that are sure to follow!
Hugs to you all,
Jaye
