Passing Survival Mode

It just hit me the other day that Nathan and I have been in survival mode our entire marriage. Because of school we have had our lives biggest decisions like where to live and work planned for us. We have had to sacrifice a lot in order to keep afloat and get educated. It has been rough and yet I am slightly sad it is coming to a close. 

The best part about being in survival mode is that there are very few decisions to make. We knew our permanent location would be SLC for 4 years. Things like major vacations, electronic gadgets, 2nd car, yoga pass, movies, and anything else that cost $ wasn't even an option. Student loans were FOR SCHOOL and because of school there was little time to work for any extra play money. It became easy saying no to things because time or money would say no for us.

This next stage is completely different. We won't have to wing it and guess how much money will be coming in because Nate will get the EXACT SAME amount every week. We will have the money to afford things that we want/need but will have to say no to items in order to keep up with paying off his loans as quickly as planned. 

We really could have picked anywhere to live and there are so many doors open that it seems as if life is just beginning. The reason that I am slightly sad is because I loved our time together with forced decisions. It was so fun to dream of the future together and what it would hold. Long car drives always meant long talks about the upcoming future. Now living the future we dreamed about is heartrending to leave behind the past that we lived and loved. 

I will go back to school but I don't think we will ever have to really live as college students again. We are finally to the working/family stage. We will have set schedules that are not likely to change based on a semester. We can plan things months in advance and roughly know what it will look like. There are so many opportunities available that I think that is why moving seems overwhelming. 

We have so much to plan and change while we move and we have never had to make as many decisions in such a short amount of time. I'm still unsure how I feel about it all but I do know that being out of survival mode (once Nate takes and passes his last test) is going to be a very unique adjustment and we are ready for it!