First, I have an incredibly loving boyfriend / partner who supports me and what ever dreams I may wish to follow.  I couldn't have done it without his support.


We live in his house that still has a mortgage.  His dream is to be debt free and to retire at the age of 50.  He's 40 years old now and on track to meet that goal - but now he gets to beat it!


We both work(ed) in the corporate jungle.  I was there for 21 years 8 months; he has been there for 14 years 3 months.  


I suggested that I used my 401k and buy his house from him.  I can take a hardship withdraw for the purchase of my primary residence.  He would be debt free and we would still have the house.  He jumped at the chance.


Then, since we only need money for utilities, insurance, etc. He will support us on that end.  As for my health insurance, I'm SOL for 6 months.  Though we've been together for 5 years, we only just got a checking / savings account together about 6 months ago.  The company he works for recognizes domestic partners - in 6 months after 1 year of having accounts together, we will qualify as a domestic partner. (We don't have to be in a same-sex relationship to take advantage of this benefit.)


What I plan on doing with my free time is to do things I want to do...

AT HOME

• Raise chickens for eggs, fertilizer and food
• Raise rabbit(s) for fertilizer and fun
• Plant more fruit bearing trees and shrubs
• Expand our > 700 sq foot garden
• Save seeds from the garden to become self reliant
• Figure out a grey-water system to use the shower & washer waste to water the trees, shrubs and flowers
• Learn to can and preserve the harvest

IN THE COMMUNITY

• Figure out who owns the property on Riverside Drive that used to be the Lakeside Health Resort (It currently is a waste land of weeds and a falling down stucco wall.) 
• Turn that property or another into a community garden where others in the area can come to grow their own food and beautify the area.
• I hope to partner with schools for community service projects which kids are required to participate in for graduation.  This could also include benches or raised beds made in wood-shop.
• I have done a lot of non-profit work in the past and am hoping to put those skills to use in order to get supplies needed to get the project off the ground.

FOR INCOME

• Though I don't 'have' to work for money, it's always nice to have some to call my 'own'... it's seen as a way to measure 'success'.  I am getting a concession trailer and selling food on the weekends at street fairs, carnivals, city events, and county fairs.  Working weekends isn't bad at all.  And we have estimated that once I get into the county fairs (2011 season) I can work the 3 month season and meet or beat my corporate income.  Though that's working full days, and long hours - not just weekends.
• My business is called Minis And More and it's an LLC. The tag line is Yes, MAM!
• How I got the start up money, I cashed in my employee stocks and a friend matched my investment with his own... what he gets out of it - free food for life. 
• I'm selling Mini Donuts, Spiral Spuds (spiraled potato chips on a stick), and drinks.
• I leave Wednesday, June 9 for Florida where I pick up my trailer.
• Once I return, I get a health certificate and insurance and need to get the accounting finalized for payroll - I will be my own employee. :-)
• I already have the LLC, the DBA and the Seller's Permit, a business bank account, checks, credit card and a credit/debit card machine.