5 year plan

Wanna hear a secret?

I have a 5 year plan and it’s making me positive and excited about the future.

My girl is commencing Year 8 which here, is the first year of high school. She has visions of going to University when she's done. She’s not sure what she’ll study only that she doesn’t like blood and wants to make a lot of money and she doesn't need to decide right now. However, like her mother, she has itchy feet so we have come to an exciting agreement.

When I was growing up and living in beautiful Queensland, I always wondered about South Australia and moved here when I was 19. I’m 36 now and it’s time to plan my next move. I’m only here in South Australia because of my respect for the father/daughter relationship while my girl is a child. Our combined income affords her a high quality private education that is an opportunity too good to pass up. She is much loved by her dad and his family and it’s a sacrifice worth a million bucks.

When she’s an adult, it’s her responsibility to maintain a relationship with her dad, not mine and this gives me freedom to leave. My parents live in Mackay, Queensland and they don’t care where I am. Okay, that sounded bad, but you know what I mean. We don’t see them anyway.

We’ve decided to leave Australia after year 12 and go and live overseas for 12 months minimum. My girl could apply to enrol in study overseas or work for 12 months and come home and study, whichever is accessible. I am confident I will secure employment to sustain our living expenses anywhere we go. I secured work easily in London when we lived there, and then again in Bedfordshire when we lived there. At the end of the day, I don’t care if I’m making sandwiches as long as I can earn enough to sustain our expenses and we're getting a different taste for life.

So where to go?

I am more than open to your suggestions of places that you’ve lived and enjoyed. I just want a complete change and want to scratch that itch. I want to hang with Melissa in Connecticut, visit Marlayna and Cynic wherever she is! I want to be able to travel to Canada, the Grand Canyon and other magnificent places without the distance of thousand of miles making it damn expensive and unattainable. I want to do a road trip and drive through cities with the wind in my hair.

My honey carries dual citizenship by birth because her father is British so she may decide to live in London for awhile. Ugh. Been there, done that. Pass, thanks!

Although, Scotland was beautiful. I'll pass on Surrey and Sacramento LOL!

One option would be Thunder Bay, Ontario. Since 1998, I’ve been communicating with a man who lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He’s a good friend and I adore him. His name is George and he reads this blog.

He’s always encouraging me to write stories and gives me constant praise. George lives with his girlfriend and from all accounts, they live a peaceful lovely life. George’s girlfriend and I have emailed and she’s as fascinated about sunny Australia as I am about snowing Canada. She sends images of snow everywhere and we love them. An added peaceful bonus is that Lake Superior would give me the necessary fix of water close-by.

Another option was Colorado. For years and years, I’ve had a strange fascination with Colorado Mountains. Denver, Boulder, the skiing (even though I’ve never been skiing) the wood cabins, the foggy depressing visions I have of it. I remember being bitterly disappointed that the Columbine massacres had taken place in my beloved Colorado.

I have visions of living in a run down wooden cabin with my cat, a dog, chilling by the fireplace and going to work daily just relaxing and living my life. Obviously if I find a sweet American to keep my bed warm well, that’s a bonus.

My only issue is the lack of water but I’m hoping the closeness of mother nature will counteract that. I have been insanely jealous when people that I’ve known have gone there. I love movies that are shot in Colorado.

A third option would be the beautiful city of Chicago. I've been there once before in 2000 and loved the city. I've stayed in contact with a dear old friend from Chicago and we'd do each other a favour and get married if I went there. He wants to live in Australia and I am happy to live in Chicago for 12 months and return - win win, eh?

That leaves 4 years for me to get my shit together, save as much money as possible and plan a relocation properly. I would start the immigration process early because I know they can take years to process. I can start collecting documents, research, talk to USA/Canadian friends, get suggestions and plan the move.

Obviously I would try to secure a position within child protection, sexual assault units, criminal justice stream or business management and preferably with Aboriginal people but I am 'officially unskilled' as far as their immigration processes go.

I also am predicting that because I'm 36 years of age, I'll have some troubles getting a work visa, even if it's possible at all. I've starting researching already!

If for some reason, Carissa at 18 decides she doesn’t want to leave Australia – and Lordy I can understand why – then, I’m going alone. By that stage, she could be living with friends or her Dad, who knows. She can always visit.

Right down to the sale of my car and relocation of Ace, the super-cat, I’m positive this is achievable. Just now, one of my Canadian colleagues has agreed to share her contacts in Colorado and Thunder Bay with me over coffee tomorrow.

I have no doubt that her father would embrace the opportunity for her to travel and see the world while she's young.

I’m under no illusions that it’s going to be damn hard to do this but you know – you’ll never ever know if you never ever go, eh?

I’ll always call Australia home. I’m very proud of my roots and my country and feel blessed to have been born Australian. I will return here but until then, when my child-rearing responsibilities decrease significantly – why not spread your wings eh?

I have no real ties to Adelaide. I’ve lived in Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and have no real interest to live permanently in Darwin. I can take two years leave without pay from my permanent government position before having to return or relinquishing it. I also believe my place of work will sponser me as far as visa criteria goes.

Things that scare me are being alone in a big wild country, guns, gangs, cost of living and basic ignorant of their systems. I’ll make friends easily and stay connected to friends all over the world via the net. Even if it's for 6 months eh?

So, what say you? Got any suggestions? Negatives? Positives?