Friends, I’m starting to wonder what on earth I was thinking as I “planned” my summer. This post title is not focusing on the news-news (although it could, because good grief, I am exhausted from wondering what horrors will be unleashed on us every. single. day…). No, it refers to what’s going on in my life this summer. But before I begin, a huge caveat: I am only responsible for keeping myself alive. I have no children, no spouse or partner, no pets. I live ~1000 miles from my immediate family. I am not listed as anyone’s legal guardian anymore. It’s literally just me.**
So, you may be wondering why I am feeling overwhelmed when I have so few responsibilities… And I would not blame you. If you read this post and think “What a whiner!”, I would not blame you. But for me, this is A Lot. A LOT a lot.
The rest of my summer includes…
- Finishing up my summer course (4 weeks to go!)
- A visit from nibling #1 in July
- More fun with Engie! (not a bad thing, just adding it to the list)
- A legal name change
- Dealing with the ramifications of a legal name change: social security, DMV, work, insurance, credit cards, emails, subscriptions, financial accounts, passport, etc. etc. etc.
- Moving to a new apartment
- Going on vacation with my parents
- Going back with my parents (i.e., not home) because
- My dad is having back surgery, 5 days before
- The fall contract starts.
Two months, folks. All of this happens in the next 2 months (contract starts 8/18).
What was I THINKING?
At least I’ll always have Old World Wisconsin?
**Yes, I know that I should not compare my life to others’ lives, but I can’t help it. I really have a very easy life. It’s just that this is all a bit overwhelming, since it’s happening in about an 8-week period. I need to just suck it up, but it also helps to lay it all out there. Thanks for understanding.
Hey that is a lot. Full stop. Helping out with post-operative care so close to the start of a semester is tough!! I hope it all goes off without a hitch! And that you have some fun along the way (but obv many of those tasks have no chance for fun, like all the name change stuff and moving).
Thanks, Lisa. There is a (small) chance that the surgery may not be needed. I’m keeping that hope alive but also not banking on it. 🙂 I do get to have Fun With Engie, and honestly? Getting to clean up and clean out in prep for moving is making me very happy. I clean out regularly, but now that I’m going to have to pay to store it for a few days? I’m even more ruthless. 😉 Hope you are staying cool!
ANNE. I already knew about some of this, but seeing it all stacked up in a list is a reminder that it is A LOT OMG. I’m glad you have a vacation in there, and I really hope it offers you an opportunity to rest and recuperate from the first portion of your eventful summer!
I know, Suzanne. When I wrote it out, I realized that I’d kind of piled one thing on top of another on top of another… I am hoping to sprinkle in some fun, and vacation should be excellent. I’ll let you know what my schedule looks like re: driving, etc., just in case the stars align again. 🙂
You are going to need a vacation from your summer vacation! Yes it’s a lot. Being single and not having to take care of anyone else is not the life of ease that folks imagine – sure I have family and dawg responsibilities, but believe it or not they also do things for me in return.
Here’s to the fun times along with the inevitable stress that will come in the next two months!
That’s a really excellent point – thank you for reminding me! I occasionally wish that I had someone taller and stronger than me in my life who could a) reach the top shelves, and b) help me with “one person can’t do this” kind of tasks, like flipping up the mattress and fixing the bedskirt that’s driving me slowly bonkers. Fun times are definitely going to happen – I just have to make the most of them!
Anne! That is a lot of things! You don’t need to justify it by saying that you have a very easy life – we are all different and to be honest, I am overwhelmed just thinking about any one of these things on your list! And what are you TALKING about, you have so few responsibilities? You have an important job, you’re a busy woman! I am pushing back at the idea that you can’t complain about having an enormous list of things to do! THIS IS A LOT OF THINGS!!! I mean, moving to a new apartment? That alone would have me in a spiral. So what I’m saying is that this is a lot, you can feel overwhelmed, and complain all you want!
Thank you, Nicole. I do need to be reminded that sometimes, it’s okay to wallow a bit without trying to justify it. I am so grateful you blogged about the stress surrounding your move last year (wait, omg, has it been MORE than that? why does time fly so quickly?), because it reminds me that these kinds of sporadic stressors are just that – stressful! I don’t have to force being Zen about everything all the time. 🙂
You have such a busy summer ahead of you! I completely understand that feeling of overwhelm. If I even have a few busy weeks, I’m just beside myself even though I know some people have busy LIVES all of the time. But I am not built for busyness!!
Thank you so much for this. I like my routines, and when there’s a prolonged not-in-my-routine phase of life? Well, I get a bit stressed out (as is probably evident, LOL). I am glad that I am “just” moving within the same building – and that I “just” have to decamp for 2 nights. I’m sure I’ll still stress out about it, though! Sending you restful weekend thoughts. <3
Uhm, that is a lot for two months’ time, single or not. I do not blame you for feeling overwhelmed. I hope that some of the things that are “highlights” (time with Engie, vacation) will counterbalance some of the harder stuff (moving, name change, your dad’s surgery).
Sending strength and love.
San! You’re back! (I saw all your posts and need to get over to your blog stat to read up on your big trip home!) I hope that the highlights outweigh the potential lowlights, too. There is a small chance the surgery might not happen, which would make me very happy, from a schedule perspective AND an “I worry about my parents incessantly” perspective. 🙂 Welcome home, so glad you’re here. <3
I’m so glad that you will be going on vacation with your parents, and that you will be able to help your father after his surgery. You are going to have a VERY busy 8 weeks, but at the end of it all hopefully you will look back and see that some good memories were made.
Wish I lived closer, I would help you move, or at least, pack. Much easier when it’s not my own stuff!
*starts pondering how to get Julie out here for a “visit to the midwest” that will include “packing” and other fun activities…* 😉
Thanks, Julie. I am glad I get to go on vacation at the end of all of this, and I’m also glad I have the flexibility to stay with my parents for a few days after my dad’s surgery. The doc says that he will be mobile the day of; I will just feel better if I am there to help out/get in the way. Ha. They can kick me out if needed.
Oh god, I KNOW how hard it is not to compare yourself to others, I do it all the time, and I know it’s useless to say don’t, but also don’t? That is a LOT of stuff. And when my husband is away and my kids are away during the year there is a lot of shit to get done and it’s not that much easier just because it’s only me I have to take care of (and the dog, but I can sometimes fob her off too). And having a lot of stuff on the docket even when some of it is fun gives me anxiety. So I hope it all goes well/ is fun/ is less difficult than it seems/ can be made easier by throwing money at it or whatever. Good luck!
Thank you for this, Allison. Seriously. I know I shouldn’t *need* validation but I do. What can I say? A full life can be a good life but it can also be a stressful life. That said! I have started packing and while it’s not anywhere close to done (hahahahaha) it is starting to look, well, sparse around here. I’m also getting rid of LOLS as my mother would say (Lots of Little… Stuff. Sure, we’ll go with Stuff, keep it PG…). Oh, and I am most definitely throwing money at it. I am a wimp (seriously wimpy + ortho problems and god I sound old) so I am hiring people to do the Big Things. 🙂
I just want to echo what everyone else is saying – just because you don’t have a spouse or kids or pets doesn’t mean that’s not a lot on your plate. It might even be worse because there’s no one to share the load. I mean, Zelda definitely helps me a lot through my challenges!
But some of that will be fun! Vacation! Family visit! More Wisconsin adventures! Let’s focus on that and ignore moving and working and stuff like that.
Fun stuff coming up! (Note to self: Do NOT FORGET A HAT, FTLOG.) I am looking forward to a day that is not all working/packing/sitting at my computer/fretting. God, I’m so ‘good’ at all 3. I am throwing money at all of this – no way I’m even going to attempt a name change or move on my own, thanks. That’s why the Universe gave us lawyers and moving companies.