This year I have wanted to move out of my parents house.
I lived out of home for about five years and then moved back when I went overseas on a short term missions trip to Cambodia in 2007.
I was certain I'd move out as soon as I got back from Cambodia. But I didn't.
Instead of moving out of my parents house I saved a tone of cash! And subsequently been on a stack of overseas holidays, doing things I'd always wanted to do.
All things that if I was still renting at the time I wouldn't have been able to do. So I don't regret moving back.
So why do I want to move out of home again? Well, this last year, especially as I'm looking my 30th birthday in the eye at just four month away, I can't help but want my own place again. As friends are getting married, having kids, buying dinning tables, and all those other 'grown up' things, I'm not.
I'm at my parents house. They already have a dinning table, couches, rugs and paintings. I can decorate my room how I want it (to a certain extent) but no further.
While friends are enjoying cooking up a storm, I find myself in a storm if I want to cook because it's my dad's kitchen and only he can use it. It's wanting to do these little domestic things that makes me want to move out of my parents again.
I've prayed about it, looked into working out what's on the market and prayed some more. I've stamped my foot and made the decision - I'm moving out! I even told my Mum that I would move out by the end of the year.
Turns out that working three days a week doesn't provide enough cash to be able to live by myself.
I also discovered that to rent a one bedroom unit is now at least three times(!) more expensive than it was four years ago. The encouragement of friends opened the idea of sharing with other people. And again I went back to God. This time asking for housemates as well as somewhere else to live.
No one was interested in moving. I'm not partial to the idea of living with people I don't already know or that friends haven't recommended either. The idea of coming home from work to find a housemate completed of their head and eating my food is not something I long for in life!
I continued to speak to friends and would jump when people mention they might, maybe, possibly, maybe, might be, are kinda thinking about moving.
But in the end, nothing.
Finally a wonderful lady at my church decided that she wanted to move and was looking for housemates (pick me! pick me!) and was looking to move into the area I was hoping to live.
We chatted exchanged email addresses. I was excited! And nervous about packing up all my stuff. And excited! And nervous about how much of my pay-check it was going to take. And excited!
While on holidays these last three weeks I got an email from her. A sad email. The email explained that the christian bookshop were she worked was closing down. Her friend worked at the same place so moving in together wasn't going to happen, in fact she might be moving back to the country. Horrible news! My poor friend, God was closing a lot of door for her and this news right before Christmas wasn't particularly heart warming for her.
Ultimately, it is all in the Lord's hands and He has a wonderful plan for her.
It also means that I am not leaving home. God is keeping that door closed at this time.
At the right time, the door will open and I'll leave home but until then I'll do what I've been doing all this time. Save, and do the things I wouldn't otherwise be able to do. I will continue to wait for Jesus to open that door. And continue to be as patient as I can possibly be! It's not easy as I'm not that most patent person (I'm sure God is looking at me thinking 'stop tapping your foot, I'm not ready for you to move yet!').
I lived out of home for about five years and then moved back when I went overseas on a short term missions trip to Cambodia in 2007.
I was certain I'd move out as soon as I got back from Cambodia. But I didn't.
Instead of moving out of my parents house I saved a tone of cash! And subsequently been on a stack of overseas holidays, doing things I'd always wanted to do.
- I went to Japan twice to snowboard for five weeks each
- I went to New Zealand twice for more snowboarding, though the second time as hard as we chased the snow we just couldn't catch any decent snow to board on, we did have a fun time trying non the less.
- I went The Sultanate of Oman, Dubai (in the United Arab Emirates) and The Sultanate of Bruni - just got back from this trip.
- I started a music distribution business called You Love Random.
- And moved from full time work to part time work so I can spend more time developing You Love Random.
- And lastly I started a publishing business this year called Ashworth Publishing.
All things that if I was still renting at the time I wouldn't have been able to do. So I don't regret moving back.
So why do I want to move out of home again? Well, this last year, especially as I'm looking my 30th birthday in the eye at just four month away, I can't help but want my own place again. As friends are getting married, having kids, buying dinning tables, and all those other 'grown up' things, I'm not.
I'm at my parents house. They already have a dinning table, couches, rugs and paintings. I can decorate my room how I want it (to a certain extent) but no further.
While friends are enjoying cooking up a storm, I find myself in a storm if I want to cook because it's my dad's kitchen and only he can use it. It's wanting to do these little domestic things that makes me want to move out of my parents again.
I've prayed about it, looked into working out what's on the market and prayed some more. I've stamped my foot and made the decision - I'm moving out! I even told my Mum that I would move out by the end of the year.
Turns out that working three days a week doesn't provide enough cash to be able to live by myself.
I also discovered that to rent a one bedroom unit is now at least three times(!) more expensive than it was four years ago. The encouragement of friends opened the idea of sharing with other people. And again I went back to God. This time asking for housemates as well as somewhere else to live.
No one was interested in moving. I'm not partial to the idea of living with people I don't already know or that friends haven't recommended either. The idea of coming home from work to find a housemate completed of their head and eating my food is not something I long for in life!
I continued to speak to friends and would jump when people mention they might, maybe, possibly, maybe, might be, are kinda thinking about moving.
But in the end, nothing.
Finally a wonderful lady at my church decided that she wanted to move and was looking for housemates (pick me! pick me!) and was looking to move into the area I was hoping to live.
We chatted exchanged email addresses. I was excited! And nervous about packing up all my stuff. And excited! And nervous about how much of my pay-check it was going to take. And excited!
While on holidays these last three weeks I got an email from her. A sad email. The email explained that the christian bookshop were she worked was closing down. Her friend worked at the same place so moving in together wasn't going to happen, in fact she might be moving back to the country. Horrible news! My poor friend, God was closing a lot of door for her and this news right before Christmas wasn't particularly heart warming for her.
Ultimately, it is all in the Lord's hands and He has a wonderful plan for her.
It also means that I am not leaving home. God is keeping that door closed at this time.
At the right time, the door will open and I'll leave home but until then I'll do what I've been doing all this time. Save, and do the things I wouldn't otherwise be able to do. I will continue to wait for Jesus to open that door. And continue to be as patient as I can possibly be! It's not easy as I'm not that most patent person (I'm sure God is looking at me thinking 'stop tapping your foot, I'm not ready for you to move yet!').
