Day 2 Lawyers *ack*

Only day two and I’ve had my first set back (financially). I received a notice in the mail informing me of a court date requested by the ex to lower the child support payment. I wonder why he would bother since he hasn't paid me the court ordered amount since, well, ever. Also, he our daughter 5 figures in back payments and didn't show up to the last support hearing or the divorce proceedings. I called a lawyer and she quoted me $1500 for her retainer (gotta love the legal process, perhaps I’m in the wrong business). Now we shall call his bluff to pay less support with raised bet of contempt of court. There's talk of hiring a private detective to determine where/how he makes his money and what he does with it. This could get juicy. I don't expect to see any more money out of him but I just can't let him get away with being obligated to pay less or nothing at all without a fight. Perhaps I am just being bitter. We shall see.

On a positive note, business is going well for the BF and me. I paid off a credit card and cancelled it so I'm not tempted to spend (instead of save for the cabin). Now we each have only 1 card just for emergencies. This is a step in the right direction and could potentially save us more than what I’ll end spending on the lawyer (in the long run). Maybe it's not such a negative day after all. I suppose it's all about perspective.

I continue to search for properties on line. I'll be taking a trip up north this weekend for a family reunion so I'll try to have a look around at land as time allows.

The more I research the more I talk myself into early retirement when we move. Perhaps it might make more sense to plan on having a job and see how important that money is to our budget when we've lived in the area for a while. Right now I’m weighing the pros and cons of how much it 'costs' to work. First, I think about the cons; the price of gas and a 2nd car, the clothes, the lunches and the inevitable stress. I consider these aspects against the pluses; outside human contact/possible friends made, purpose/a reason to get out of bed in the a.m., benefits and, of course, the money. There is not a clear cut winner yet between these two lists. I hope my path becomes clearer as time goes on.