1️⃣ Figure out work situation
My job is almost certain to change or be gone in 2024, maybe even within the next few weeks if my company goes under. Instead of waiting to see what happens, I need to take more control and have some options ready for a new source of income. This likely means finding and applying for new jobs, but I'd love to shift industries completely and find something more... fulfilling? Still, in the short term I should take steps to improve my income security:
• Find and apply for 3-5 solid jobs a week.
• Consider taking a pay cut if it allows for better quality of life. (Flexible time, less managing of people, more interesting tasks/goals).
2️⃣ Move to Spain
This is already in the works. In March 2023 Kass and I spent two weeks with the kiddos in Spain scoping it out. We then spent the better part of the year gathering paperwork, renewing passports, and finally applying for the visa. If approved, we should get a response soon. This would kickoff a flurry of time-sensitive next steps:
• Decide what essentials to bring, what to store, and which to dump. Get cleaning.
• Figure out what to do with house. Rental management service?
• Find temp housing in Spain. Madrid, Zaragoza, or Valencia?
• Study more Spanish, faster!
3️⃣ Or, DON'T move to Spain
If our application is rejected, this brings up more complicated things to figure out. Our goal of moving to Spain is to find a healthier political climate, more close-knit community, and safer schools. We want to escape the extremely individualistic, dog-eat-dog, active-shooter-drill oligarchy that the US has become. If Spain doesn't work out, shift gears and continue steps to achieve this:
• Reapply to Spain? Always an option.
• Try elsewhere? We've already explored this, but maybe there are still other countries that tick all the boxes and are attainable.
• ??
4️⃣ Downsize & Cleanup (especially that box of wires)
I've already been downsizing in prep for an international move (can't fit a server in my luggage), but I still have tubs of batteries, motors, hard drives, SBCs, old gadgets, and of course--a mountain of wires. It ALL needs to go quickly. Even the 3D printer.
• Reach out to a maker space to donate?
• Recycle?
5️⃣ Focus on unpaid work
I like aspects of my job, but I rarely do the things that I love most - designing/building stuff, and solving problems with real-world value and impact. My past approach has to been to leverage my skills to generate as much income as possible so that I can separately make time for passion projects and things that matter. I don't think I've had as much success with that latter bit. How can I scale back on paid work and shift more to passion projects? Steps to get there:
• Find alternative income streams that better match my values, even if the pay is small or nonexistent to begin with.
• Explore feasibility of part time work (this is probably part of goal #1, but listing it here too).
6️⃣ Structure time better (Family/personal/work)
Working remotely for the past 4 years (!!) has done wonders for my work/life balance, but there's still a lot of room for improvement. Just as kid #1 headed to preschool, kid #2 arrived and used up any free time we had gained. Part of being able to spend quality time with the kids requires that Kass and I first get quality time and mental breaks without the kids. And part of Kass and I getting quality time together, without the kids requires that we each get quality individual time. We need to be more structured and intentional with our time. We already have a good idea of the steps required:
• Plan and schedule recurring monthly time with Kass. (Schedule babysitter even if we don't have plans yet!)
• Plan and schedule recurring, uninterrupted individual time of at least 4 hours a week, or 16 hours a month. For both Kass and myself. (Cooking, working, chores, etc. do not count.)
• Plan and schedule bi-weekly family time or parent/child 1:1 time of at least 4 hours, uninterrupted. This could be as simple as summer gardening and pool time, or a trip to the mall.
7️⃣ Socialize more
I tend to neglect socialization, or rely on Kass for planning. My friend base has dwindled significantly since college and needs a lot of work. I need to be more consistent in scheduling time to see people, and more proactive in sending that random "hey" to friends. I also need to branch out more and find new opportunities to socialize with more people. Next Steps:
• Message/call a friend weekly.
• Plan something (anything) with a friend monthly.
• Get back on MeetUp, see if that book club is still active, or find other new activities with new people.
8️⃣ Travel
I'd like to plan one final big trip before kid #2 turns 2yo and isn't free to fly. Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Manila? Need to check a few things first:
• Check on affordability of flights from Spain.
• Check visa restrictions.
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