To completely change my life?

[GoodforMonica]

My DC will have all gone to university in a year's time and I simply can't imagine continuing with the same old routine of work, home, dinner, TV, bed once they're not here. I have hobbies a couple of nights a week and meet friends at the weekend etc but it's the day to day tedium I can't stand.

I'm not talking about just changing careers (I could probably continue to do my part-time job from anywhere) but a real change of life like moving to a Scottish island www.bbc.co.uk/.../uk-scotland-highlands-islands... or running away to join the circus (not really, I'm too fat to be a trapeze artist). I'm married but I could probably do with some time on my own.

I've been looking at signing up to something like www.workaway.info/ which could be a way of getting out of my rut. But I'd love to hear from others who've been in this situation and totally changed their life. Or any suggestions from people thinking the same thing!

Just me then…

You can of course do that but don't forget your uni age DC will be home for a long time during the holidays (DC1 home now til October).

Does your husband know you fancy time on your own?

Sounds amazing and very tempting. I totally get the urge to change everything and see who else you can be.
I say go for it ( and post on here so I can live vicariously ).

Oh wow I love this. Well done you. I think it's so important for people to keep living their lives, having adventures and excitement.

What does your husband say? Would he join you or would he be behind you getting a break or would it spell the end for you two?

Years ago my friend told her partner she wanted a year away from him and their relationship. She said they got together when they were young, he had other experiences and she didn't. He went for it after a good bit of thought. She travelled for eighteen months. He stayed at home. They are still together years later and possibly the happiest couple I know.

Do a Shirley and go to Greece

@Bridezillamaybe That’s really interesting to hear about your friend’s experience. We’ve also been together since we were young, we get on fine but I don’t know what a break would do to our relationship. I wouldn’t mind him coming along, he’s alright , it’s more that I need a really drastic change.

@CoRhona My DC are back and forth between uni and home, friends and family. My sister lives near a big employer and one DD spent last summer with her so she could get lots of paid work. So I think it would be okay from that side of things.

I have reached a mile stone birthday. Realised I wasn’t happy neither was Dh. Depression.
I have taken to working only part time, gone back to something I love - but not really seen as a worthwhile thing to do, but the hours and money suit. We’ve been honest with each other about what we want and made compromises for the future.
I’ve decided to ‘be me’ not Dh ‘other half’ and not a society mandated me. So yes to small things like wearing what I want, eating or not as I want, doing what I enjoy. Saying yes to new things and giving them a go, but allowing myself to be honest and say I didn’t like it etc.
Not as far reaching as yourself - but reinvent as much of your life as you want. Happiness has to be worked for.
You never know, your Dh might be thinking the same.
We are both happier than we have been for a few years.

DH and I lived in different countries for about half the year for several years, before having our son. It worked very well for us — he liked London (as did I), but I was also living and working somewhere remote and coastal that really suited me. I still tend to take off for some solitude from time to time. I camp on an uninhabited island where I once worked as a bird warden, or I go on writing residencies.

You should totally change things.

[quote GoodforMonica]@Bridezillamaybe That’s really interesting to hear about your friend’s experience. We’ve also been together since we were young, we get on fine but I don’t know what a break would do to our relationship. I wouldn’t mind him coming along, he’s alright , it’s more that I need a really drastic change.[/quote]
Yes they faced a lot of criticism and they both said they couldn't guarantee that it wouldn't be too much to move past when the eighteen months was up.

@GloriousMystery working as a bird warden on an uninhabited island or a writing residency sound like the sort of thing I'm thinking of. I need to take @Bargebill19's advice and just say yes to these things (without always putting family first).

Go and work a ski season in the Alps. You’ll be with a bunch of 18 year olds who will do plenty of drinking and shagging, but you’ll have a lot of fun. We had a couple of older people when I did them and they brought a nice balance to the dynamic.

[quote GoodforMonica]**@GloriousMystery* working as a bird warden on an uninhabited island or a writing residency sound like the sort of thing I'm thinking of. I need to take @Bargebill19*'s advice and just say yes to these things (without always putting family first).[/quote]
Absolutely. I mean, there’s absolutely no reason not to, right? Your children don’t need babysitting, so it’s not a matter of having to juggle childcare with your DH. (DS is only young,so we still have to, but I absolutely prioritise my desire to do stuff.)

@MaskingForIt. It's certainly worth considering! There are more options out there than I've thought of, it's a matter of finding them.