Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Nature of the Beast

So I just arrived back in Fresno yesterday. Tomorrow I'll register for my classes that I will start in January to complete my credential program.

It's true that I HAD started my teaching credential program in May of 2009, but due to the fact that I wanted to focus my time and energy on my mom I withdrew from the program. I'm extremely glad that I did.

Luke and I got married in May 2010, about a month after my mom passed away. We moved to Colorado Springs, CO where Luke has a pretty sweet internship at a golf course I'm still not allowed to name online.

I worked at a daycare. I loved the kids but quickly learned that daycare franchises are NOT for me. Especially ones owned by incompetent people. (Over 38 people were hired and left in their first year and a half of operation. Scary!)

Luke and I began to have many conversations about where does this put us, what do we want to do?

Contrary to the popular belief that golf pros are rolling in the dough...they're not. Especially not the ones at the bottom of the totem pole. They do what they do for the love of the game, and free golf. Maybe 5, or 7, or 10 years down the road they get somewhere with a decent salary and maybe even some benefits but right now, not so much. Which puts me.....working again.

Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against working, but if I'm gonna work, I really really really would like to be doing something useful feeling, that I'm good at, that leaves me tired from a good days work but energized because it's what I love to do.

Which leads us to me getting my credential.
So here's the thing, I have a scholarship in CA. At Fresno State. This scholarship covers nearly all of my fees and even some of my books. I can get done in three semesters here, and have a credential that reciprocates in 40 other states. That's virtually the same as a National Credential which you have to be teaching 3 years to get. If I get my credential in CO, not so much the same story. Plus I have to take all the tests over again in the CO version, and jump through some other hoops that could take as long as a year to get through.

Here's where the nature of the beast roars it's ugly roar:
The golf industry is unpredictable. It is dependant on weather, and people who like to do things on whim. It has one of the highest turnovers second to the restaurant industry. It is based on who you know, and the prestige of what you have in your resume. It forces you to be flexible and potentially move a lot. (Especially in the early stages.) Oh yeah, and my husband loves it! And I love that it makes him happy! And I knew all these things within a month of dating him. I wasn't naive, I knew that this was the nature of the beast before I married him. I knew that we could potentially be living in different locations for months at a time. I'm just glad he's not a pro on tour at a different location every week!

So yes, we decided that it would be beneficial to both of us for me to have a clear CA credential. Yes, this decision means we will probably be apart for significant chunks of time. Yes, we still love each other. No, I'm not back in California because we can't stand each other. Yes, I am very much looking forward to being back with him!

We're just sort of doing these things now before we have other variables that make things more complicated.
i.e. kids (10 years from now) or a mortgage.

5 comments:

k said...

It's tricky business, adulthood and relationships.

When I was looking at grad. schools in the early days of T and I dating, it could've been the finito of us as a couple. Kind of sucktastic considering how fabulous I thought he was even with being so early on, but somehow it got sorted out and he we are.

Sounds like you and Luke are sorting it out and soon, there you'll be.

Grandma G said...

I wish you the best in all your future plans. Don't be surprised if you run into bumps in the road... life seems to hold a lot of those... and the separations will be difficult. But if you have the determination, you'll make it. Just keep 'loving each other' ahead of 'other things', and you'll succeed!

The Luedtke Family said...

I know communication is sooo easy and quick with technology. But, mail is wonderful. It is something to hold that the other person held and has a part of their being (handwriting). I have all of Eric's cards and letters he wrote me when I was in grad. school in a binder. Send the cards and letters to each other!

I have a brother-in-law who is a golf professional. He's done quite well, with a few bumps in the road. You both will get there together.

I think the difficult part for you may be to be in Fresno as a Mrs., not Miss Jessica.

Anonymous said...

Shod lav sweetie.

Becca said...

That stinks, but sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. Distance makes the heart grow fonder! I know you guys will make the best of this situation and everything will workout perfectly!