Running On Empty!

Since I wrote a post about "everything is broken", I feel like I'm "running on empty".  Our house hasn't sold yet, the repairs never stop, the bills keep coming in, and I'm working my butt off to keep from acquiring any new debt.  Lately, I've been putting in a lot of hours at the office and I haven't seen a dime.  I had to steal a few minutes to write this post!

As most of you probably know, I'm a real estate agent and it's been too long since I've sat at a closing table.  Now, before you start thinking, "Man, those real estate agents don't have to do anything!  They just show a house and wait for that nice check at the closing" ... let me tell you how it really is.  We deal with many buyers and sellers, and only a small percentage actually bring a closing.  Unless there's a closing, there is no payment for showing house after house in 98 degree weather, those late night phone calls, tough negotiations with other agents, and the mental breakdowns of a frustrated buyer or seller.  In fact, most of us agents have had to learn not to take things personally and deal with rejection, because we've all had those clients that used us up ... only to disappear off the face of the earth!  Get them pre-approved, find them temporary housing, show them countless houses ... and then they're gone.  WTH?!  It happens to the best of us.  I take my job seriously and I know I'm a hard-working, good agent but it's happened to me a couple of times this year ... ugh!

Anyway, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the closing I have scheduled in about 10 days goes through.  It would sure ease my mind a bit.  I'm not down, but have I mentioned lately that I can't wait to sell our house and be free from debt and timelines?!  A negative attitude won't make things easier so I focus on the fact that with every day that passes, we owe that much less on our debt.  I know our house will sell eventually.  It's definitely not priced too high and other homes in our waterfront subdivision haven't moved either (a perk of being an agent and able to always check out the market and the competition).  It's just a matter of bad timing and a lot of patience.

I've actually been looking for another job the past 4-5 months, and at 46 years of age that's been a scary experience.  After about 50 job applications from working at the grocery store, to retail stores in the mall, to an administrative assistant at the hospital I previously worked at for over 7 years ... I've only had two responses and interviews.  Needless to say, I didn't get the job.

Sometimes I think I'm going backwards.  We're supposed to be selling everything, ditching the rat race and sailing .. yet I'm out looking for a job?!  I tell myself it's all temporary and just like part-time cruisers ... I'm just doing what I need to do to cruise in the future. 

So, that's what I've been up to lately.  Pretty much the same for Ken.  He's making a living, but construction work ain't easy.  We're both tired and ready for a change.  Keep the good vibes coming our way!   

Gonna end this with a song I've always liked, "Running on Empty" by Jackson Browne.  When times get tough, may as well sing!  Here's a few of the lyrics too ... yep, a lot of us are running!

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
Looking back at the years gone by like so many summer fields
In sixty-five I was seventeen and running up one-on-one
I don't know where I'm running now, I'm just running on.

Looking out at the road rushing under my wheels
I don't know how to tell you all just how crazy this life feels
Look around for the friends that I used to turn to to pull me through
Looking into their eyes I see them running too

Running on, running on empty
Running on, running blind
Running on, running into the sun
But I'm running behind

Hasta luego ... until then.  Mid-Life Cruising!