Do we owe it to our spouses? I do. So what am I going to do about it?

Many of us couldn't remain Realtors, Mortgage Brokers, Inspectors, or even remain in this industry if it weren't for our spouses, many of whom work jobs they don't like so we can "do our thing." Lately, (or actually for the past couple of years anyway in Michigan) "Our Thing" or our profession has not been bringing home the bacon like we used to. So anyway, here is what I owe my spouse for allowing me the freedom to be a realtor in a declining market.

I owe her the ability to look at things as they are, not as I wish they were. Sure, It's going to pick up some day, but do I (or any of us for that matter) have the luxury of time to wait it out until it does? I don't, but I wish I did. So what can I do about it? I can look at other options that are out there, something that is not real estate related, something that is not declining, but growing. Something that is not effected in a negative way by the economy. I need to "swallow my pride" and do whats right for her. Do I have to like it? No. But I've made a lot of money through the years doing things I didn't like, just to keep the boat afloat. Prices of Food, Utilities, Clothes, Medicine, Health care, College Tuition, Cars, actually everything has gone up, including our real estate dues. If we are not making the money we were in the past, who is sholdering the burden?  Our Spouses!

Am I getting out of Real Estate? No. I've learned as I've gotten older not to burn my bridges. I'm just taking on a "Growing Option B" to take up the slack for my "Slowing Option A" because if it weren't for my wife, (and many of you are in the same boat as I) I couldn't afford to be a Realtor for another year.

So, when Deb gets home from work tonight, I'm going to have a hot bath waiting for her and I'll Thank her for the sacrifices she makes for me. You never know. The way the economy is going, she may lose her job, (or your spouse may lose their job) and that "Option B" I've been working on will be the only thing that keeps us going.

Just thought I'd share my thoughts. Hope I didn't step on any ones toes. Rose colored glasses are nice, but I believe they give us a unrealistic picture of the present and the not so distant future. I don't know about anyone else, but financially I can't afford to wait it out. I have to act, and act now. If not for me, for Deb.