For the foreseeable future has come to its apex. This Saturday will mark my sixth week selling succulents at the farmers market and my last (for now at least). The market has been going really well, but upon closer inspection, every week I've been making a profit of about seven dollars. Even though I'm breaking even, I still have to pay for supplies and keep it all up on a weekly basis. I knew that would be the case going into it and it's never been about the money, but I've reached a financial turning point in my life that needs to be more aggressively followed.
There is something about being in my mid-20s that suck. Ever since I finished college it's been like this. Just because I'm married doesn't make this annoying, unsettling "where am I going and why don't I have the career/money/experience to get there faster?" point in life any easier (my husband's in the same boat). Although the succulent business is something I'm still pursuing whole heartily, there is a precipice looming yonder that can switch my life from limbo to feeling a hell of a lot more in control.
My husband and I have a dream and it's a big one, we want to buy a house. Like any normal newlyweds we dream of a cozy little home to own, but always thought it would come 3 or 4 years down the road. Upon further inspection of our finances that dream can come a lot sooner than we anticipated. If we skimp and save every single penny, we can start looking for our dream home by Thanksgiving. I repeat, November, turkey and stuffing, Autumn, orange leaves, and there we'll be getting approved to start shopping for the biggest purchase of our lives.
I've wanted a house to call my own for as long as I can remember. I moved a lot as a child and as an adult, I can't say there has ever been a time where I've truly felt at home. Maybe I just have control issues, or lack thereof, but when you own your own home and live in your own house no one can tell you what to do (maybe I just need a psychiatrist rather than a mortgage). Even if I sound a little crazy, this dream trumps all, even my fledgling succulent business.
We don't want any old house, we want a homestead, at least half an acre where we can have a huge garden, a barn/workshop, chickens, and maybe even some goats. If the property is big enough, when our family expands, so could the house, and the potential to never have to move again is possible. In North County San Diego (the only place I could really call home) there are some neighborhoods that are convenient to everything, but retain that citrus orchard feel with reasonable prices.
a girl can dream
For the record, I am not quitting on my business, no sir I am not, I'm just scaling back and heading in a slightly different direction. Here are the next 4 steps for little grey gull:
1) I want to expand this blog. I do a lot more than grow succulents and buy junk. Expanding my posts to include more of my crafts, cooking, and general life would be a good use of promoting my brand. I guess it can't hurt the internet to add another young woman blogging about her life as an eco-friendly do-it-yourselfer.
2) I want to promote and sell my vintage succulent arrangements for more specific purposes, like events or businesses. Tailoring my pieces to act as centerpieces at a wedding or restaurant is the whole reason I wanted to do this in the first place.
3) I'm looking into an Etsy shop for "assemble it yourself" vintage succulents arrangements and my block printed canvas totes.
4) I am not done with the markets, I just think it would work a better on a seasonal basis. Probably around Christmas time, I will do some craft shows or markets to sell my stuff as holiday gifts (if I'm not too overwhelmed by being a new homeowner).
So, long story short, come see me for the last time at the farmers market this Saturday, and get ready to see a lot more posts about my forcibly frugal life.
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