30 Day Blog Challenge Day 19: Where Do I See Myself in Ten Years?

It's day 19 already! How can this month be going by so quickly? Before I know it, I'll be saying tearful goodbyes to my seniors. But I'm trying not to get ahead of myself. I want to enjoy the time I have with them. In the meantime, today I'm assigned to talk about where I see myself in ten years. It's funny, but when I was in my teens, ten years seemed like forever. Now, though, it feels like it's just around the corner. A mere decade. I'll be well into my 7th by then. So I better hurry if I'm going to get where I want to be. 

First of all, I see myself retired or about to retire from my primary money-making job, teaching. I'll be 62 and eligible for retirement by age 60, but I may have to hold out a couple of extra years to keep adding to my retirement funds. If that is true, I'll have to renew my National Board Certification one more time, but I have to start that process a couple of years ahead anyway, so I'll probably do it either way. Assuming I'm already retired, I would like to think I'll have the money to spend at least part of every winter somewhere warm, like South Carolina or Florida, or maybe I'll just drive my eldest adoptive daughter Jenna insane and visit her in NOLA until she's ready to kick me out. 

The whole when part of retirement hinges on another element of where I see myself in ten years, which is my writing career. I want very badly to be able to be a full-time working writer, meaning I want to be able to make a living wage and be able to retire from teaching without really needing the money. So I hope I can be selling books steadily. I don't need to be a million seller; I just want to be able to sell enough to make a useful amount of money. Don't misunderstand--I'm not against the million seller thing, but I don't need it. I also wouldn't mind making money writing in other venues, like ClutchMOV. 

The part of my future that's really unclear to me is a relationship. I've had friends ask me about setting me up on dates, but I've hesitated. I have such a full life, but there are times when I miss the companionship of a relationship. That special person I can share my hopes and fears and just cuddle with while watching a movie. I honestly don't know where I'll be in terms of that. I still feel really young and feel like, if I found the right woman, I'm young enough to enjoy several years of marriage before I die, but I fear I'm also getting so selfish with my time that I may not ever let it happen. I just don't know. I guess I'll just do what I should anyway and leave it in God's hands. 

So there you go. My life in ten years. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if I look back on this in 2026 and laugh. Or at least I hope I don't cry.