Things to be happy about

Though, for a second year, I probably won't be spending any Christmas time with my mother and brother/family (mildly depressing, but not completely, because they've been "blah" toward me for the past however-many years --- I'm finally just calling them on it), I am nonetheless looking forward to Christmas, as I usually do. While I don't have anyone to buy for this year (which I usually look forward to), I still like the crisp weather of the season, and the bright lights and cinnamony smells and Christmas music in stores. (RE the latter: Just found out the Austin Christmas-music station: 95.5, which I added to my car stereo.)

I'm also looking forward to 11 days off work --- only 2 more weeks of work left before the vacation. I have a very first-world goal during this time: To buy 3 out of these 4 things: (1) A new TV and Roku stick for my bedroom (because I'm tired of sleeping on the living room coach just so I can go to sleep watching TV). (2) A new microwave (because my current one is a 1985 hand-me-down from my mother). (3) A new phone (because my current phone is 1 x 3 inches, a freebie from T-Mobile given to me in 2007 when I first signed up for a cell phone before I moved to New York). (4) A black leather recliner-chair for my living room (because I'm tired of always immediately lying down on my couch when I get home).

I think I can psychologically do at least the new TV/Roku and microwave. But the concept of finally getting a smart phone seems hard to me, and I don't know if I really need a big ol' chair.

Of course, what makes all of this possible: My job! Did I mention already that I've been kicking ass at it? Thanks to my boss for giving me the raise a couple of years ago. I still can't afford to buy a house, but then, at 53, I don't know that I WANT a house and all of the payments and repair-costs that come along with it. With a mid-level income, the time to buy a house is in your 30s, when you have all of your future life and energy and money (and 30-year-mortgage) to put into it. At 53, my future work-life is only 15 years, and, as a single, middle-aged, non-handy woman, I certainly don't have/won't ever have the energy or know-how or extra money to do any repairs that may arise. So, I'm not so depressed about the idea of never being able to have a house.

I've reached the conclusion, though, that, going forward, I might just be OK with what I have. My current salary allows me things like regularly ordering books and CDs, as well as occasionally getting a new phone or TV or appliance or chair.