Personal finance

I think we’re getting older.

Today we were talking about moving in October, but the phrases “good jobs,” “unknown,” “our savings,” and “fiscal responsibility,” kept working their way into the conversation.

We’ve had these same conversations before when we moved to Tahoe, back to Bellingham, and then to Vail. But never before have financial responsibilities been the core of the debate. Usually we outweigh those cons with our young and care-free attitude. “We’ll be alright,” we say to each other. “We work hard, so we’ll be okay.”

But those days seem to be fading. The confidence we have isn’t as strong as it used to be for one reason: we have good jobs already. The repercussions for a poorly planned move seem more drastic than they used too — or maybe we are just fully realizing them for the first time.

Since we do have good jobs, it’s scary to think that we could be broke again. With our 30s approaching, starting over on the pay scale isn’t as fun and adventurous as it once seemed to be. The unknown is now scary, instead of being a place of endless possibilities.

But this is how people get stuck: financial security. I can keep doing what I’m doing and I’ll make good money, but it doesn’t mean I’ll be fulfilled. I don’t want to be become a crusty curmudgeon looking forward to an off-season vacation as my only reward.

You wouldn't like me when I'm crusty.