snetitting to the future

These little guys just moved on after a week or so of visiting our area as the snow's been melting. They are now fatted up on the grass-seeds and continuing on their way northward. They are so cute! Makes me miss my little guy back in Taiwan more than usual.

[photo credit]

Speaking of Taiwan. (See how smoothly I did that?)

Looks like our long-ago bare-minimum-in-Tromsø plan is coming to fruition. You know, the one before we found out Judge is basically guaranteed a position at my company assuming his English is up to par (which there are really high chances that it would be by the time we'd be ready for him to apply). The one where we would stay here one year, to experience real Norway and hang with my mom, and then move to Oslo or Trondheim so he could find a job?

Well, that one's been gone for 3 or so months already.

Following that, up until last week, our general big-picture plan was that Judge would stay home with Leona until either (1) we got pregnant and gave birth, whereafter I would then stay home with both kids, or (2) Leona started kindergarten in the fall next year at 2.5 years old, whichever came first. Both scenarios: Judge would get a job at my company. He would then work there for around 3 years to build up a solid work-experience before we headed back to Taiwan, where Leona would have time to adjust before starting school.

Then we got an email. Judge's dad's business is ready for us to step in (in China) and learn the ropes so we can take over or bring it to Norway if here's a good place for it. Plus there is another earnings-potential-opportunity that we will know if it's for real in about 5-6 months. If it's for real, now's the time. Thus, his parents will come here end of this (lunar) year for a visit and then we all head back to Taiwan together.

*world shaken. need time to find my footage again*

It's not that I'm not accustomed to my visible path being just so far ahead of me, but I had kind of warmed up to the thought of being in my motherland for a good while before once again heading out.

The thing is, I know this is right. Right for our long-term big-picture. Rather than live on one salary (and not a huge one) for the next 4-odd years, not quite able to save too much, living rather frugally and feeling like like we can't afford driver's licences and a car - and gas - and thus really freedom to enjoy this grand and beautiful country we find ourselves in, we can return in some years and hopefully be working for ourselves and really live all there is to live here.

Of course there is still a decision-tree active (the if-then, if not-then type), but I'm trying to focus on just one path, and then if something changes deal with it at that time...but at the same time make sure the door isn't closed for the alternate path, if it becomes necessary/opportunity to follow it.

That being said, the alternative path just pushes back our departation-time to summer of 2013.


What does this mean? We still have to find an apartment for July or August 1st (now that, my friends, is a whole story in itself! Tromsø is a frugal rentee's nightmare), and I still want to change my work-contract from hired-in hired-in to a direct-hire (even without them paying more for me, this would increase my pay quite a bit I think, as it would all be going to me and not the two middle-men).

I am starting to get excited about all this! Just starting, though ;)


.