But now that my eldest daughter is out of the house, embarking on the next chapter in her future, I can't help but imagine what will be in the coming year; particularly, in a year from now.
First, I hope the global pandemic is on a solid downturn, that people have been able to control it through social distancing and masks, or that a vaccine has been found, tested, and is being distributed. I miss my family and friends and look forward to the time when we can socialize more freely.
I hope that it becomes safe to travel and that foreign countries are welcoming to tourists. On September 18—this Friday—DW and I were supposed to travel to Europe. We had our flights booked and our accommodations reserved. Now, none of that is happening. I hope that in another year, we'll be able to re-book our flights and hotels, and can do what we had planned to do this fall.
A year from now, if all goes to plan, our other child will be heading off to university in the program that she's been working towards for the past several years. I hope that this year, her final year in high school, is set up to help her succeed. If all goes to plan, she will leave DW and I as empty-nesters. It will be quiet in the house.
A year from now—perhaps sooner—DW and I will be debt-free. No mortgage, no car payments. We'll be able to properly plan for our retirement, though that won't be for several more years. Maybe, by the time I reach 60.
Already, DW is looking for a 10-year plan. Will we sell our house, buy something smaller, on one floor, in one of the outlying towns? Will we stay in Ottawa and just get a smaller place, such as a condo? Will we invest in a place now, where we can rent out, and then take over when we can no longer look after our existing home?
Years ago, DW and I joked that we would liquidate our assets and travel the world, working as professional house-sitters. We would look after someone's home while they were, themselves, travelling elsewhere.
I've talked about switching careers, about finding a house that I could convert into a photo studio, each room providing a different setting or backdrop. I could rent out the various studios (belonging to a photo meetup group, I know that we are always looking for studio space).
The future holds so many possibilities, each with a new and exciting path. But it starts with the next year, and what that holds in store.
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