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Poll to liven things up
It's been kinda slow here lately!
Stolen from MM a few days ago. Are you where you pictured yourself to be at your current age? This can mean anything including family plans, home, career, whatever.
It's only fair that I start.
I turn 30 in October, and I'm somewhat where I envisioned myself. I figured I'd have at least one kid by now, and got a 2-for-1 there. I wanted to have a home, and we've owned for 5 years now.
Career and finances is a different story. I certainly didn't see myself still in college at 30, but I'm finally pursuing my bachelors degree (I've switched to accounting), and hopefully a masters and then on to take the CPA exam. I've had a career crisis the past few years, but I really don't regret walking away from my legal secretary job. I'm only trying to get back into it now to help pay the bills until I graduate. I love that I had a couple of years to explore other passions and spend all that time at the zoos and work with people who are passionate about conservation and animals. Now I'm knuckling down and getting back to business so I can prepare my kids to succeed. We've also got more debts to pay off than I would like, but we are making that a priority over the next few years.
So I guess I'm about halfway to where I want to be. That's not bad I guess.
Re: Poll to liven things up
Sorta... I honestly don't think I'd fully pictured myself past graduate school. I had my life planned out up until starting graduate school, but I think in some ways I never fully pictured life afterwards. But if I HAD, I probably would have imagined myself married, with kids, working in the field of conservation/restoration, and definitely DONE with grad school.
So... I'm close. But the PhD is taking longer than I'd planned, and kids are definitely on hold until I have time to recover from the PhD... but otherwise, I'm at least moving in the direction I'd envisioned.
I'll play! I'm just hoping that our power doesn't go out in this storm...
Home life: I will be 25 in September, and I'm pretty much right where I thought I would be. I wanted to be married (provided that I was still with my high school sweetheart- which I am), have my own dog, and own a house. I knew that I didn't want to have kids yet (waiting until I'm at least 28 and tenured at work), so we're good on that end.
As for work, I am about 1 year behind where I was hoping to be. I had no idea how hard it would be to get a teaching job, so I had envisioned myself getting a job right out of my initial licensure program. That didn't happen, so I had to sub for a year before getting the job I have now (this fall will be my second year at my school). Also, if you had asked me a year and a half ago if I could see myself teaching in an alternative school, I would have said no way. Now I can't see myself teaching anywhere else.
We're ahead where I thought we'd be financially. We have a decent savings, and Luke makes more than I imagined he would 3 years out of college. I never planned on making much as a teacher!
Overall, I am very happy with where I am so far
Not really. I'm going to be 32 next month. I've been married 5 years, which I did hope for myself, but didn't think I'd ever be working in the health care field. I love my job, so that's good and I can see myself doing this field of work for a long time. So I'm happy with that. I'm happy that we own a home, have a cat and a dog, but not thrilled with the the fact that DH is now going the med school route. It's just not what I had envisioned for us, as it's incredibly difficult. The idea of having children is pretty much out the window right now due to school obligations and finances, and we don't know where we're going to be in the next 2 years for school.
So it's not what I envisioned in that sense. I was hoping to be married, but both of us settled in our careers and feeling more comfy with life. Don't get me wrong, though, I want DH to pursue his dream and be happy, this just wasn't at all on the radar even 2 years ago so it's taken its toll.
:::Our Adoption Journey:::
Evan James was born 1/24/13 and matched with us 2/20/13. The LOVE OF MY LIFE!!!
I am nowhere NEAR where I want to be...
I will be 26 in August, and I have a bachelor's degree. I cannot find a job, I've been looking for a couple years now, and become more frustrated every day.
I wanted to have kids by 30 for sure (1 or 2) but that is definitely NOT in our future as we can barely afford food for ourselves.
Can you tell I'm a little depressed? *Sigh*
We've owned our townhome for 3 years which is great, but I never thought we'd be upside-down on our mortgage and not be able to sell for at least 5 more years minimum. I definitely did not see us staying in a TH for 8-10 yrs and I really don't want to raise children without a yard, etc. But at least we can pay our mortgage and not have to worry about a short-sale/foreclosure situation.
I'm happier with my job now than I was a year ago. I did social work for 4 years after college and it definitely took a toll. It was a very stressful job and I am so glad that I got out of it when I did. I didn't see myself in an entry-level type position at 28 with a 4 yr degree, but at least I'm in a field that I enjoy and I have room to grow in the future. H is much more frustrated with his job and we're hoping he can get into corrections in the next few months. It's a better salary with more opportunities, so we're keeping our fingers crossed.
When H and I got married almost 2 years ago, we decided that we'd probably wait until we're 30 to have kids. We both turn 30 next year, and it seems like that's still the path that we're on. Things can always change in a year, but I am looking forward to starting a family.
No - not even close.
7 years ago, right after my mom died, my life was turned upside-down. Not only did she died suddenly (and needlessly) but in the wake of her death all sorts of things came out from years of hiding in secret ("Hello, Brother I never new about!") and our family dynamic REALLY changed. Mix into all that the fact that DH and I had a whirlwind relationship (engaged after just 11 days in the same country!) and I realized that I was pursing a degree that I really didn't want (JD). Throw into the mix that I was FINALLY overcoming years of depression and disordered eating . . . and yeah, what I imagined for myself when I turned 25 is no where near what is my reality now at 32.
I don't really like where I am now. I haven't accomplished anything that I wanted to do and I feel a bit directionless. "A crisis of confidence" is what my sister called it - and everything can be tied back to the summer my mom died. That is when I felt I started to lose control of my dreams. I don't necessarily blame it all on losing my mom, but that did play a major roll.
Of course, that isn't to say that things are ALL bad. I love DH and feel pretty lucky to have him in my life and I am glad that that story-line has taken the course it has. But never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I'd marry a British musician and be dealing with all the joys and frustrations that brings.
While pre-25 year old me never thought I'd be married for almost 6 years at 32 (didn't even want to get married until I was in my early 30s!), post 25 year old me never thought kids would still be several years away at 32. Pre-25 year old me would have jumped at the chance to live in Europe - but post 25 year old me is content to visit often and maybe someday live there . . . but not now. Strange, isn't it?
Life is funny in that it rarely goes as we plan. I sometimes wish I could have the ambition and idealism of my youth back - when everything seemed possible simply because you could dream it. Now it seems that things are possible only IN your dreams and that reality is a much different story.
I might be in the minority on this one but I'm exactly where I thought I'd be and wanted to be. I'll be 30 on Sept. 30th and feel really good about things.
These have all gone according to "plan": Get architecture degree, find architecture job, live on my own for a year, get married, buy house, adopt dog(s). That is where I am now. I thought I *might* be licensed by now but I'm getting there.
I'm really proud that we were able to buy our own house at 25/26 and can support ourselves 100%.
Who knows if kids will ever be in the mix. I vacillate on this almost hourly. I still kind of WANT an "oopsie" because I don't know that I'll ever be brave enough to say "Yeah, let's do this!"
If I could lose a few pounds that would be awesome....but in the grand scheme of things I'm doing a-ok. :-)
No. Not at all, but it's not necessarily all bad.
During my college days, I never would have guessed that I wouldn't be married until age 31. But, looking back, it kind of turned out for the best to get married a little later than average. My 20's were so fun, and by the time Andy and I started dating just before my 30th birthday, I was mature enough, and sure enough of the person I am, to know very early on that I was meant to be with him.
I always had the goal to be a homeowner before age 30, and I was, I just never pictured that I would be buying my first home on my own instead of with a husband. It sort of became a big source of pride to do that on my own, though, especially since I don't make a huge salary.
The house Andy and I bought together is one that seems so perfect. It's the kind of house I always wanted, but honestly, I didn't always think it would be possible to have since I don't earn a ton of money. Thanks to my husband who earns a much bigger paycheck than me, we can afford this house that we both love.
In my younger days, I was absolutely sure I would become a mom at some point in the future. Now, I'm not so sure. I haven't ruled it out, but I'm just not sure. It's definitely not a situation where I feel like I need to have kids to feel like my life is complete, and I wouldn't have said the same thing 10 years ago.
My career is probably the most different from what I thought it would be. I had planned to be a teacher, that's what I went to college for. But, after graduation, I took a job in the office where I had worked part-time during college. I had planned to go back for a master's degree after taking a year off of school, but I really liked my job, so I stayed. I still work in the same office, although my job has changed a lot over the years. Due to a recent office restructuring, my job has changed again, and while my new position is considered a promotion, it's not a job I'm really interested in having. So, I've been contemplating my options and will perhaps look to leave my job. It seems so strange and a bit scary to think about leaving when I've worked here full-time since 1998, but on the other hand, it's really time for a new challenge that I'm excited about, as opposed to the new challenge I've been given at my current job that I'm not excited about at all.
Mr. Sammy Dog
I'm happy with where I am at for being 28. My DH and I have done a good job at building a savings and investing more. We own our home and while we owe more than it is worth due to the poor market I am finally okay with it. There is nothing we can do and it is plenty big to raise a family in and at least we have a little bit of land.
The big change is that we decided to have a baby. Originally we were going to wait until next year, but this past Januray we decided we didn't want to wait. I am thrilled that we will be having a baby boy this November and I look forward to a new adventure.
The only thing that isn't 100% on track is my career. I have moved up at the company I have been at for the past 6 years, but thought I would have made the career shift after getting my Master in Marriage and Family Therapy a year ago. I am taking my board exams this Fall and hope to make the shift in the next year or two.
Well, kind of, but in a different way. I thought I would be an English teacher when I went to college, but I veered off into fashion merchandising instead. Then I went BACK to school and became a FACS teacher instead (which I LOVE). I didn't manage money well at all in my early 20s, so I worked two jobs for a long time. I wasn't sure if I would ever get married either, because I'd been single for so long. I thought I'd live my Mary Tyler Moore lifestyle forever.
I wasn't sure where I'd end up for a teaching job, but I'm happy I'm in a smaller town. We were able to buy a house (which we could have never down in the TC), and now our goals are to build a healthy financial future, because we haven't been able yet.
Way back in 1993, when I graduated from high school, I knew I would eventually move to MN after college. I moved here in 1997. My teenage self at least had one thing right.
Oh heavens no and everything else! When I was younger, I never pictured myself married. Here I am almost 4 years later, and I'm still head over heels in love with the Mr. Along those same lines, here I am nearly two years later with a house in the suburbs (or what I like to call South South Minneapolis [Richfield]). Who knew that was going to happen?
I did, however, go back to school and get my master's degree. With that, I am licensed at the highest level I can be. My 20 something self predicted that one.
Never in my wildest dreams did I expect I would become a wedding officiant, and start a successful small business. I have been doing it for over a year, and I still scratch my head thinking how did that happen.
My social work career, however, is a mess. Early last year, I got laid off and then started a new job in August. Just this past week, I was let go from said job. I was hoping to pull the plug on it first, but they beat me to the punch. It is a relief to be done with that place, but here I am unemployed AGAIN and sitting at a crossroads at 36. Do I dive in deeper with the wedding officiant business or work full-time?
Wow! I had a lot to say about this.
Photo taken at 16 months old
I've really enjoyed reading everybody else's answers.
In general, yes, I'm roughly where I pictured myself to be. I'm in the career field I intended, although I really really thought I would want to be more specialized in my field. Some days I'm still shocked that I have no interest in being more specialized at this time.
I always thought I'd be done having kids by the time I turned 30. That's not how it worked out, but it's okay.
Financially, we're right where I'd hoped to be, perhaps better than I had thought (didn't have much forethought into this, but what teenager or early-20-something does??). My husband has done some excellent financial planning.
From a home standpoint, I don't know if I had envisioned anything in particular. Now, if you ask what my home goals are for 10 years from now, my plan is becoming much more defined. For now, we are in the right home for us, but it's not our forever home.
I'm nowhere near where I thought I'd be.
By 35, I wanted to have a stable career, a house on a lot of land and travel at least 4 or 5 times a year. I didn't think I'd get married - who knows why - so the plan was to adopt a child at 35.
I'm 36. I'm married. We're working towards adoption. I quit what was a stable career in banking at 29 to go to law school, which derailed all my big plans. Instead of a stable career, I'm facing a job market that sucks and working hard to grow my law practice. Since my income situation isn't great, we live in a suburb next to annoying neighbors and are nowhere near building a house. I guess we travel, but it's not exactly what I had in mind. Instead of traveling abroad multiple times a year, we take budget trips closer to home with the occasional trip abroad.
Tired after a long morning of hiking and swimming.
I have more debt that I imagined I'd (we'd) have at age 27 - but I've been on my own (no financial support at all - none for school, housing, food, insurance, bills, etc) since I turned 18, so I can understand why I've got debts.
I'm married, we own a home (well, technically the bank owns it and we are paying them, but whatev), and I have a good chunk of a 401(k) account going. We are working on the kids piece of the puzzle.
I really don't have a career path established - but I had no clue what I'd be doing for work when I was younger and I still have no idea - so no real change there. I've always been more focused on the emotional goals than the tangible goals.
I am happy, managing my depression and anxiety, in a healthy relationship, have a solid and wonderful group of friends, I am self-confident and am able to speak up for what I want/need, and I've found my voice (passions, interests) - and by those measures I am exactly where I hoped I would be.
jack | born 9.13.12 at 40w4d | 9 lbs 12 oz | 23 in
my puppy loves - chloe & jenson
pregnancy blog | chart