Uncertainty

To pay for all our family's fun stuff, I work. Of course, this includes my horse obsession hobby. I've had a continuous contract with the same company for nearly 9 years. I've moved positions twice, once was my decision and most recently in Nov, it was a re-org into a new group and a quazi-new position that no one asked me if I wanted.

Going to Paris, London & Orlando

I was notified earlier this week that my contract at work will not be renewed at the end of July due to another re-org and what I do will be contracted from the company's central resource instead of a dedicated resource (me) within my group. To make this worse, I'm leaving for Europe on Tuesday for a three week vacation with my family.

We never take vacations aside from travel related to kids sports or family visit obligations. In fact, this trip is partly a working trip for the husband so his costs are covered. But the rest of us (3) have non-refundable tickets and lodging. So we have decided to go anyway. I was already planing on working part-time on the trip as I am paid hourly, so no work=no $. Yay.

I have a meeting with that dedicated resource group on Monday because it's possible they want to hire me since I do the same kind of work. It's probably for less $, less hours, and more instability - so I'm not really excited.

I am looking at full employment status at the company in other related positions, but being in Europe in a very critical time will not be helpful, but not impossible. One of the caveats is that I need to keep my remote work status because the company I work for is based in San Jose, CA and I live in WA state - so the position has to accommodate that like it does now.

The good news for us is that we can pay all our necessity bills on the husband's salary. Also, I live on 5 acres. Four is horse fenced and I have a lean-to. So worse case, I bring my horse home and he hangs out here doing absolutely nothing. I'm trailerless (another sob story) and don't have any kind of appropriate footing to ride at home. But it's pretty much free to keep him here.

I have thought about how I can keep him at a barn.

1. Stop my lessons of course (already done)
2. Half-lease (makes my stomach churn) 
3. Move to a cheaper barn with lesser facilities
4. Both 2 & 3

A view of my barn from the pastures

Moving will obviously lose our stall and my awesomely appointed tack locker I've arranged myself. I would be so super picky about leasing, so I'm not sure I can actually approve anyone. I'd want someone exactly like me (well skinner would be totally fine) who will do all the same things for Sam like when to hose him down, etc as well as take care of my tack like it was made of gold. I'd want them to use my tack - or at least saddle, pads, jump boots, etc because those are items specifically selected/fitted for Sam and his comfort.

Three of the four

There's not an option to work it off at my barn as they have hired help that takes care of everything and have been working there for years.

Tomorrow I will be going to the show that is already paid for. Hopefully it will not be a last hurrah.

PS. Don't come rob me while I'm gone. That would make me more depressed. Plus, I have someone staying at the house to watch my four dogs - who are usually outside and will bite. Just saying.