New beginnings: Change #1

I announced in my last post, when I returned to blogging a week ago, that I am undergoing some major changes.  Both will have a significant impact on my freelance career, although in vastly different ways.

Change the First: In another week, I will be ending the chapter of my life that I began over four years ago, when I started working part-time as a nanny for V. and A.

I knew it would happen at some point, as they were getting older.  I didn't expect it quite yet, but a variety of factors intervened.  Maybe it's a good thing, though, as I've been missing freelancing full-time increasingly more over the past year or two.

I do plan to stay in touch with the family, and they still plan to use me for babysitting (as well as dog sitting) from time to time.  But my regular job with them, as well as the expectation that I put their needs over my other jobs, will be ended.

I'm not sure yet where the next chapter of my life will take me.  Part of me really wants to focus on freelancing, and I honestly might try that for a few months before getting a new part-time job to replace the nanny income.  Or, if I'm able to rebuild my freelance career to full-time, maybe I won't need to replace the nanny income.  We'll see.

Another option is to market myself in the new neighborhood as a nanny, babysitter, and pet sitter.  I've also thought of spending more time at the barn and exercising people's horses for them, perhaps even giving some more beginner lessons on my horses.  I live right next to a school now, not to mention much closer to the barn, so there should be ample opportunities for all of that.

I also applied for a part-time position at the local libraries, although we'll see whether that goes anywhere.  It's notoriously difficult to get hired on at this library district, but it's worth a try.

Wherever I decide to go from here, right now I'm actually enjoying being in this place.  I could decide to do anything.  It's liberating and a little exhilarating.  Adding to that feeling is the fact that this isn't the only change impacting my life right now... but I'll explain the rest in my next post.