MechanicalPumpkin

I'm writing this, because looking back at my journals from nearly a decade ago, I can see how anxious and uncertain I was about the future. While it is true that sacrifices were made, and great lengths of time were spent far from home, it wasn't for nothing. Those years away forced me to grow, and taught me the value of family as well as friends. I wish I could say that I didn't make any mistakes along the way. That growth is painless, or without cost. But life is rarely so simple as to offer only clear paths and right choices. Which is why I feel odd sitting here, in the relative comfort of my own home, looking back at what feels like someone else's life. Old hopes... Old fears... I'd just like to let that kid know that everything turned out okay. Better in many ways than he could have hoped for, but with room for a few dreams still.

In a surprising turn of events, I find myself once again being promoted. I was offered an MIT (Manager In Training) position, and am now preparing to be able to run my own store. On top of the immediate boost to my salary for being an MIT, should I succeed and become a General Manager, my income will more than double. There are risks and sacrifices involved though. For one, I will more than likely work a 60 hour week... every single week... forever.  I will also be required to move or travel wherever corporate tells me to, and leave behind my friends and family. The position itself is very demanding too, and failure to perform will certainly

Having spent the last few weeks talking with bankers, mortgage brokers, and realtors (and spending hours on end laying on my bed staring at the ceiling) I have come to the conclusion that I cannot afford a house. Even though houses in my area have dropped in price to historic lows, sometimes down 100k from their list price 5 years ago, it is still too much to handle given that I am just one dude, with no friends. Which, is fairly depressing. I told myself that I would save money from my new job for a down payment on a house, which I did. I talked with mortgage brokers and was approved for the necessary loans. And while I could buy the house,