Strategy and Tactics of Family Life
Events of the past week have helped to bring certain (unwitting) tactical and strategic decisions of mine into sharp focus. When it was time to go off to college and seek my fortune I was drawn by a touch of wanderlust. No true desire to leave my home far behind, but a desire to see what else was out there. I have those urges to this day.
In the end I settled here, married a fine woman, bought property with plans to put roots on it. I didn't think about anything but the moment I was in, and that was the folly of youth coupled with a jingle of new job money in my pocket. I know lots of people who have done this same thing and like me, saw (or still see) nothing wrong with it.
What I have now, years later, discovered is the big picture. It is the place of the children to take care of the parents as they get older and less able to do on their own. Brothers and sisters can split the load in ways that work best for them. Perhaps one child far away in a good job can send money, but a closer child does the grunt work, or what have you.
I am an only child. If it gets done, I do it. My parents nearest family are two hours from them and just as old as they are. Their brilliant only child is four hours away from them. I have on my shoulders all of the risk of their impending age. The rewards of being an only child I reaped long ago, with nice Christmases, no fighting for parental attention, nice first car, help with college, down payment on the land, etc. It is nearing time to pay the piper as it were, and I am poorly positioned to do good.
I, of course, can't exactly pack up me and mine and move back to the land of my birth. The only jobs there are those you bring with you. Everything else is bottom dollar work for the man.
It is true, I have skills, but no seed money and no desire to even begin to think about bringing up that kind of marriage ending conversation with my one and only. No sir, no thank you. Besides, there is bound to be another way.
The good news is, it is not exactly crunch time. I have time yet to plan. Mistakes were made, but mistakes are nothing more than opportunities to grow. I think I feel a growth spurt coming on. Wish me luck.
