Is this really a race though?  The purpose of this venture is to extract myself from the Rat Race.  Lets back up a bit…I was given notice that my job with the little post office was going to stop as the little office was to close up.  First it was at the end of October, then it was the end of the calendar year, now its open indefinitely.  What a roller coaster ride have been on.
I was prepared for the closing at the end of October, fitting, I thought, end of the Wheel, new beginnings.  I began to formulate a plan for my life with out the job, mind you I was panicked for a few days, I need to work for the income, not for entertainment.  I explored several options, teaching online, food delivery, people delivery, self employment.  I really felt I needed to creative my ideal position, not fit myself into some one else’s ideal position.  As I grew to accept the fate of the Post Office, the owner’s decided to cash in on the busy holiday season profits and remain open until the end of the year.

I put my interviews on hold, as the busy time really is draining physically.  I went into an auto pilot mode, following a rigid schedule to just be able to function and complete the normal tasks.

December was a nightmare of epic proportions this year.  Mid December, I started to feel weak, feverish, more than a cold that wouldn’t go away, not the flu, just ill.  I do not recall much of December, I just focused on the customer in front of me and not passing out.  I lived on DayQuil and NightQuil, Goody’s, and Alleve, never really able to shake the symptoms.   As it turns out, I contracted Mono, Epstein Barr, the kissing disease, from kissing a two year old, sharing my straw, and generally just Nana loving.  In total, Brantley(2), Amanda(30), myself (51) and Caelin(5) (in that order) took ill.  It was not a good time.  Again, I don’t recall much of December.

As the end of the year approached, I went into high gear in getting my new business venture together.  I have decided to sell my art work, not the actual canvases, but the images transferred to various items for sale.  The set up is slow going, and as I have told a few people about my plans, they are anxious  to see a showing,  I am not there yet.  I am still setting up with the various government agencies.  I have secured my name, my tax papers, and am slowly setting up the accounting side.  These are facets of the business I am accustomed to running, the art side, that is the secret side.

When the owners of the little post office notified the USPS that the business will be shutting down, the USPS objected.  The USPS is reviewing the accounting, it seems there may be an error in the commission checks.  February is also the renegotiate the contract terms month, and the owners have submitted a request for an increase.  My plan for my business is now shifted to part time, as I am full time operating manager of the wee post office by the beach.  One of my staff members retired, so I have one staff member remaining, for now, soon he will be off on the traveling vendor circuit.

I am slowly selling the contents of the room that will become my art studio and merchandise storage space.  I am hoping t generate enough from the sale of various miscellaneous items to pay for the start up of my new venture. At this point, the expenses are far greater than the income, but that will change.