System

For the next few weeks, I shall probably blog more than once a week. I hadn't posted anything since I left Fedex until the COVID-19 basically stopped time.

Priorities vs goals

The year is winding down, and I am a week a way from beginning a new job. It's a fair time to re-evaluate my life in terms of SWOT. I used to do a self-assessment every new year by taking a sheet of paper and folding it in half twice to outline what I considered my household's SWOT.

STRENGTHS	WEAKNESSES
OPPORTUNITIES	THREATS

I haven't made such a list since I started at FedEx. I don't know when the last time I made one was.
I'm pretty sure my dad was still alive, for I ceased thinking about my work schedule as a Strength once I had my mother available to watch my children.

STRENGTHS

Being financially prudent is my biggest strength. I've the will to say "no" to avoid racking up debts, but I married someone who had plenty of hidden debt. It will be vanquished, one day... maybe in 2020. I don't pay interest on it, so I have a hard time justifying paying off debt when I can earn interest on the money I'm hoarding by carrying debt. I'm able to juggle new debt, thus enjoy the time I have with my family.


WEAKNESSES

One of the biggest weaknesses was my being behind in terms of saving towards retirement. I have only been full-time a few years while I have been equally unemployed.
When I left Target in 2005, I had roughly $1,300-1,700 in my 401(K) which I rolled into my 401(k) at the hospital. When I was laid-off a year later, I had roughly double in my 401(k) when sat idle until I rolled roughly $8K from my next job's 401(k) into once I was subsequently fired after 4 years leaving me with roughly $12K saved at the age of 32. I worked at the car wash nearly 4 years and rolled an additional $5K upon leaving for FedEx. The account has fluctuated and currently sits at $19K. My FedEx 401(k) was roughly the same as my rollover account at the beginning of 2019, but should be over $41K by the time I start new job. $60K is not much to have saved at 41, but it's something which can grow significantly in 20 years without my meddling. 

Jenn can retire when she turns 56, so my working until who knows how long isn't hateful given she'll need insurance through me.

OPPORTUNITIES

I will be able to be a father and husband during the week. Once I get myself organized, I should be able to knock out all of my to-do lists around the house that I can DIY and assess what I need to have someone else do. 

I paid off my student loans, so I have started paying more towards the mortgage. We have half a year of car payments, which could go towards another car or the mortgage. Jenn's student loans are about to expire, so that too will free up money towards mortgage.

THREATS

Being a homeowner, there's always something that can break. We'll need a new dryer, water heater, range, lawnmower, etc sooner or later, but as a whole everything seems fine if you don't consider we have nothing saved for our kids' higher education. Jenn and I both came from such situations, so the prospect of having nothing for our children is not daunting. My kids are all smart, and we will have more money freed up to help them not lean completely on student loans.

12 more days

I gave my notice on Tuesday following my being given the official start date 12/9.
I had a few matters to resolve, but phone calls and emails have put my mind at ease.
I am looking forward to my new job. I don't hate FedEx, I just feel it's best to move on. My priorities have changed and I just assume not to put up with a nightly shitshow. Money can make one overlook stuff, but the weight of being a stranger in my own home along with our not needing the income, made the choice to leave beyond reasonable.

reflecting about why I left car wash

I used to like the car wash. I had an easy schedule that didn't conflict with anything except my sleep schedule. The drive was 42 miles round trip, but since I didn't have to utilize child care, it paid enough to offset the cost of gas. When my carpal tunnel became an issue, I started to look for something else. I kept my carpal tunnel in check long enough that I could manage the toll it was taking on my daily life.
After 3 and a half years, my hours began to be cut. I needed to offset the money lost, so I applied for another part-time job. I didn't get it, but came across another opening the day I got rejected only for that job to replace the car wash.
With all the news about vaping being bad, I have to wonder about the chemicals I inhaled while cleaning the car wash for nearly four years. The stuff burned holes through my clothes if it dripped on me.
Considering the car wash was destroyed back in the Spring by a tornado, I am humored. I doubt I would have stayed at the location, given closer stores opened since I left.
The car wash was busiest days after stupid snow storms. 2000+ cars a day is a lot of cars, when the min is $8 a wash.

times are a-changin'

Standard time is the time the body resets... Seasonal depression is just around the corner.
Had a hot summer followed by a hot early fall only to have snow on Halloween.
I am not a fan of cold, it seems. Always preferred cold to heat, but the wind didn't agree with me last week.

Regardless, I'm looking towards not working in the elements as much. It's no secret that I've been annoyed at work, but nothing positive can be said regarding the last few months. Sure I have a job, but between people not carrying their weight, my hours and responsibilities being cut, lack of a true raise, and still not seeing my family during the week, the daily annoyance has taken its toll upon my desire to remain.

I hope to go to AM, but during peak season seems to be a stretch. I have explored my options, and I have plenty of options it seems.

I've little, to no idea, what my children do during the week. Doesn't help that I had a 51happlay bug that forced me to factory reset my phone.

I am on the hold list for LOSERTHINK. Hopefully, it's more helpful than WIN BIGLY.

long days

Been getting up at 7am M-F to see my children before they go to school. I don't see them much. I work at 3:30pm and the oldest comes home at 2:30. Youngest comes home at noon, while middle at 3:15pm, so I only see the latter before she leaves at 7:30am.

Sucks that I don't see my wife during the week aside from maybe a half hour each day since she leaves at 7:30am as well.

All but my son are asleep by 10pm, so I come home to a quiet house. 

kids are back to school.

Hard to believe how busy summer had been. I recall being home a lot as a boy, but as an adult, I seem to be driving my kids someplace every day.
Boy had a week at 2 separate camps at the beginning and end of June. Four weeks of rowing Monday-Thursday.
Middle Child had music lessons weekly.
Youngest Child had swimming lessons twice a week, speech once a week, and then music once a week for a month.
Middle child had craft things she did at home and such, but as a whole, they all were active.
Now, they all have to be up and out of the house by 8:26.
Meanwhile, I still work second shift, so I will only see the middle child from 6:45am -7:34am.