It’s hard to believe the winter holidays are almost here, especially when I have marigolds blooming in the planter box on my porch. I’m cleaning and packing, preparing to go home for a two week break.

It’s true that teachers get a lot of breaks from work. But we had to relocate for Sam’s teaching job, so we have to rent a place to live during the school year, and figure out what to do with the home we own. In the current real estate market, our options are limited.

This may be our last Christmas in the home where we have lived for the past seventeen years. That’s longer than I have lived anywhere in my life. We are gradually settling into our new community, but it is very hard to let go of our old one.

The kids have grown up and are in the midst of establishing themsleves. Now it’s just the two of us. Starting over again is always hard, but we are fortunate to be among those all over the country who are also starting over with new jobs in a tough economy.