So at 52, I may be a little late to the mid life crisis party, but here I am. After decades of raising kids (and a husband) and running a business, I find myself absolutely lost. What is my next chapter? Beats the hell out of me.
I am truly blessed to have the opportunity to start a new chapter at my age. This is not lost on me. We sold our plumbing business earlier this year, but it is being paid in monthly installments. So no big lump sum to let us retire. I definitely still need to work. But doing what?
I’ve spent the last 15 years working from home. Even after we set up a shop for our guys, I continued to work from home. There wasn’t much need for me to be in the office. The freedom this gave me was immeasurable. I have answered the work phone while grocery shopping, at restaurants, in Paris and Hawaii. It was the dream! But life happens and it was the right time for us to sell.
Now I am left trying to figure out what to do. If i get an office job I have to control my language, which is kind of laughable at this point in my life. If I had to put a dollar in a jar for every bad word I said, I would be bankrupt inside a week. I would like to blame this on the last two decades of working in the plumbing trade, but it predates that for sure. I can make a grown man blush without even trying.
Aside from my potty mouth, I don’t think I want to give up the freedom to be able to travel when I want. This is my biggest dilemma. If I get a traditional job, I lose that freedom. The flip side is that if I don’t get a job, I won’t be able to afford to travel. And all of the websites offering remote work? What a scam.
I’ve never been at a point in my life when I needed to decide what I wanted to do. When I was younger we were so broke. I worked wherever they would let me! Being picky was not an option. When my husband decided he wanted to go out on his own and start his own plumbing business, it was a no brainer that I would run the office. But now what? I have never had the opportunity to think about what it is that I would actually like to do for a living.
I had my first child when I was 18. My entire adult life has been spent as a mother and a wife. I have supported my husband in everything that he has done. I know more about plumbing than most people on this planet. But I don’t think that’s where my future is. In my younger years I was in restaurant work, primarily as a bartender. I also know serving and restaurant management. Is that what I want? Working late hours sounds dreadful at this point in my life. Then there’s the issue of my age. The last time I had to look for a job I was still in my 30s.
I don’t think I have ever felt so lost. It’s terrible. For 52 years I have rolled through life doing what was expected of me. Now what? Do I even know who I really am without my kids and husband? Do I even know what actually makes me happy and fulfilled?
On that note, let’s get a drink recipe! I, for one, could definitely use one. With fall in the air, let’s change up the Moscow Mule. And please let me know your thoughts or experiences with your own mid life crisis. I need all the help I can get! Cheers!
WINTERY MOSCOW MULE
1 1/2 oz. Vodka (I prefer Ketel One)
4 oz. Ginger Beer
1/2 oz. Simple Syrup (equal parts sugar & water)
1/2 oz. Unsweetened Cranberry Juice
Serve over ice. Garnish with cranberries, rosemary and orage slices. Cheers!