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It is hard being on the road over 200 nights a year...away from your family, isolated in many ways. It definitely isn't for everyone. This blogs represents the thoughts of just one such person. Read along and find out if the road is for you.
This is my new blogchalk:
United States, Georgia, Gainesville, Unity of Gainesville, English, John, Male, reading, RE Investing. :)
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Friday, February 13, 2004
Maybe, I just don’t like the kitchen….
True to my word, I am back on the blogging trail. Spurred on by both Julie and my parents recent health challenges, how the real estate investment calls have been coming in, and the general work load that is heaped on you by Da Company, I have been doing a lot of thinking. (not that that is always a good thing)
Do you ever wonder if all the hoops you jump through, all the deadlines you are required to make, the schedule you must maintain in general, just what we do to keep pace is worth it?
I have. A lot.
Why you ask? (If you must know, so do I)
I have been giving it a lot of thought because I can’t say if I were to suddenly pass away tomorrow, that I have left he world a better place for my being here. Yea, I give to the church. I try to help folks who need and want help out. But, at the end of the day, I really can’t say that I make a difference.
And that bothers me. A lot.
You ever heard of that saying, “If you can’t stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen.”?
Well, I am here to tell you that I can (if I want to) stand the hottest heat going and still keep plugging. The heat of 60 plus hour primary job work weeks, a spouse who really doesn’t contribute in the way I would like or support me on the things that I find important, all of the trials and tribulations that we all endure doesn’t really bother me. I have proven that to myself over and over again.
So, if it isn’t the heat, then what? When you are on the road as much as I am (something if you are reading this to consider if that type of job is for you something to seriously consider), you miss things. A lot of things.
What you ask?
You miss those private moments with that special someone in your life. You are a part of the family, or a group of friends, …but not really. The only person that you connect with is yourself. It may sound strange if you aren't living this life, but you are more likely to connect to a fellow worker or someone you met on the plane that lives the same life you do than your spouse, family or friends.
And although you get paid relatively well (it could and should be significantly better for what you have to endure), have an impact on many individuals and business’s that you wouldn’t ever see/meet normally, you can easily find yourself thinking that a better life is out there and the path that you are currently journeying upon isn’t going anywhere near that stop.
So, what am I trying to convey (to anyone who wants to listen)? While I can and do take the heat, I have come to the conclusion that I am not all that happy with the kitchen I find myself in.
Changing kitchens is not really a viable option. If you have been in as many kitchens as I have, the location may change, but the dynamics are the same.
So, I need to design a new kitchen. One that I have a climate control on and the ability to cook at my leisure. I know when I want the new kitchen done.
Let’s see if I can get it built on time and budget.
Blog on!
posted by John Panico at 6:08 AM
Tuesday, February 10, 2004
It was the worst of times…
Haven’t blogged much lately. It has been a combination of busyness and laziness. Not a good excuse, but hey…it is my blog story and I am sticking to it.
Work has been steady, if not uneventful. Some of the customers are nice, some aren’t. Either way, you can’t control them. Which leads me to ask, “What is it that I can and do control?” I don’t think very much.
The past few weeks have left me in a bit of a quandary as well. My dad and his wife have both been in and out of the hospital. That has made me think that I may have to give serious consideration to moving to California to take care of them. I spoke to my brother last night, but he is less than enthusiastic about helping. I can’t really focus on that, because once again, it is just another thing that I can’t control?”
So, my focus hasn’t been as good as it could/should be over the last couple of weeks. First, there were the health issues that I seem to find out about “after” the crisis is over. I have left strict instructions that whenever my dad has to go to the hospital that I want to know.
My frustration is then heightened by the fact that either my Dad or his wife tell me lies on why they didn’t call. (It wasn’t serious. I called your cell phone, but didn’t leave a message. Etc)
Although I told Julie immediately about their health issues (something that I was a bit reluctant to heap on her, since her Dad is about to have an operation this week), I did hesitate on broaching the subject of potentially moving out there to take care of them. Which I shouldn’t have been, as she is trying to help formulate a win/win situation to accommodate both sets of parents.
But as usual, I digress. I could beat this horse for a while, but enough about that for now. I am going to head out to California the first week of March to handle some issues and hopefully help out some.
And now for:
It was the best of times…
I bought my first house of the New Year (just 5 more to buy this year to reach my goal). This was the easiest one yet. Couple had been making double house payments for a year on a nice 2-story house with a basement. They owed 138,000. The comps in the area are in the 180’s. I bought it for the grand total of $1 (and took over the payments). I will have to pay them an additional $20,000 in 3 years, but I could pocket $20,000 or so by selling it tomorrow. So, how cool is that?
If this house were about 10 minutes closer to my current house, I would move there myself. It has 2 acres with a stream on a wooded lot at the end of a cul de sac. Freeway and AJ would love it. Julie already does.
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