Week 4 Stationary Update...Job Search & Money - 4/16/20

Hello out there!

How is everyone doing? Hanging in there? Bored, napping, writing a book, loving this time at home, hating this time at home, gardening, drinking? All of the above? I probably go through 23 different emotions in a day right now. Here is a list of emotions I have gone through today.

1. Boredom
2. Anxiety
3. Worry
4. Exhaustion
5. Confusion
6. Curious
7. Happiness
8. Frustration
9. Grateful
10. Love
11. Annoyed 
12. Excited  

It's also only 4:30 PM in Arizona. So, a couple of hours to go and about 10 more emotions to go through. Ha! Just kidding (I hope) Time to update you after last weeks semi depressing post. Sorry about that by the way. Some times I worry when I post too many entries that are more on the negative side. I don't want to chase anyone away from my journey or for people to think it has ALL been bad. Because it has not. There have been a lot of good moments recently but I think there is some good in sharing even the 'bad' moments. I hope that my entries are not only entertaining but helpful. Even if me sharing my journey; good and bad; helps only 1 person per entry...then I will take it. I know I am already helping myself by making the time to write and taking the time to acknowledge my feelings and emotions. So, if you also get a laugh out of my entries or maybe they help you feel like you are not alone then I am succeeding.

Chibi - It's been about 2 weeks since Chibi has passed. I won't say that every day it gets easier. Because it doesn't. But, we are doing good. I think of her every day. Some days I still think I can hear her moving on her bed or coughing in the RV. I have her heart medicine that I can't bring myself to throw out and I still need to pick up her paw print from the vet. Life is just weird without her. Charlie is doing great. She doesn't like it but she will sit out back by herself for a few hours and nap. She usually curls up in a ball by one of the two doors. She sleeps by herself in the living room all night and wakes us up when she has to pee. We go on a walk once a day and she's still eating like normal. So, things are getting better!

Casa Grande - For the most part we are isolated and I spend a lot of time outside. Walks with Charlie, working out at the local football field, suntanning, sitting by the pool, etc. We only go out for groceries or take out food. Plexiglas has been installed in grocery stores and restaurants, everyone is in gloves and masks, capacity limits are enforced, and stock is running low in most places. It's probably the same everywhere but I like to share only because it is such an interesting time. I believe this will change aspects of our lifestyle forever.

Finances - This is my 15th month without income. Wow! In Oregon I did make a few hundred bucks by delivering for Walmart and DoorDash. I received one pay check from my workamping job but the majority of that job was my services in exchange for a free place to park. I did budget to be off of work for this long but it's starting to wear on me. Having to stay still during this time has been a blessing and curse. Originally it was going to take $2,500 and 3 weeks to get to Kentucky at the beginning of April! Well, because of COVID my 3 week Kentucky road trip moved to a 3 day migration to Arizona and cost me about $500. Since being stationary in Arizona I've spent maybe a couple hundred bucks on groceries and food (not counting taking care of Chibi) So, I've definitely saved money due to the virus. Which is GOOD! Guys, let me just tell you. My habits have changed DRASTICALLY in 15 months. In late 2018 I was spending upwards of $800 a month on miscellaneous SHIT. Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Amazon, Zappos, Macy's, and the list goes on and on. I had so much stuff that I didn't have time to use it all or wear it all. Now I spend about $80 a month on clothes, shoes, decor, and all miscellaneous things...and I don't miss it! I don't miss that lifestyle one bit.  I was spending money out of boredom and to keep up with everyone else. Now, if I purchase something I have to ensure I have space for it and that the item has multiple proposes. I will also wear the same outfit for 3 days now. -shameless emoji here- So, saying all of that. I am saving money. But, I'm still not bringing in any money. And that's the important part.

Job Search - Last week I spent 10 hours looking for remote/virtual/work-from-home jobs. This week I really need to buckle down and probably spend twice that amount looking for jobs. Have any of you ever had to do this? I had no clue the time it would take to update my resume, update my linkedin account, make phone calls to old co-workers, search for jobs, apply for jobs, take assessments, and delete rejection e-mails. It could take up to 1.5 hours to complete a search and apply for one job. That 700 other people are applying for. Oh, and those other 700 people most likely have at least one degree or diploma...that I do not have. Just the reality of the situation. I've applied for everything from a Virtual Assistant, to Amazon jobs, to medical transcribing jobs. I need to write an entire post on my job search experience because it could take up this whole post if I continued writing. So, you get the point. I'm not at the point of 'PANIC' but I am at the point of saving every dollar I have so I do not eat up my nest egg and retirement fund. I would say searching and applying for jobs that are virtual or remote is three times as hard as finding a stationary job. I know that if I go home to Kentucky, I could find a decent job within a week but then I would have to stay there...for the job. Which is not what I want. It is something that I will not look into until I hit that panic phase and I have no other options. So, if you need a virtual assistant or if your company is looking for remote customer service or human resource representatives reach out to me! -once again, shameless- Until then I am going to keep searching and applying!

Those are the major updates I have for this week! If you made it to this portion of the entry I want to say thank you! Thank you for your support, time, and encouragement. Everything is going to work out and I know this. It's just a process. I am going to attempt to post 1 entry a week to work on my consistency and to stay engaged! I am also thinking of sharing some articles I've written recently for other websites. I've submitted two articles to two different companies within the past week. Neither article was published but that's okay, practice makes perfect! Keep an eye out for more updates next week!

I hope you all are doing well and taking care of each other!
-
Cara Ostara