They say a measure of a man is not the accomplishments that he makes, however more so the way he handles adversity.  Well I can say there are days and months and years that is no truer saying.

For the dream I love so much that I give myself to it in any way that I can, however that volunteer part can often come with some many real life struggles as well.  Rent, food, electric, cable, and any outstanding creditors also must maintain their lovely payments.  There is some that have told me directly that the economy is improving and im sure that it is, in many areas I can just fathom to think that is improving, the issue is that the cost of living based on the area you live is not meshing.

Now in some cases you can say that some people weep what we sew.  Granted, I will give you that one however let’s take out the student debt equation and concentrate on the bare bones part of this shall we?

Rents around the area for where I live for a 1 bedroom (regardless of efficiency or bigger) range from $1000 – $1700 [these are shown on rent.com search just for a 1 bedroom].  At the same time jobs such as the one I have as an engineering technician is about $1300 every two weeks.  (you may think that is not to bad totally affordable however that is before taxes), so let’s look at it after State, Fed, 401k, Social Sec, and what not get their share.  $970.  And that is below the margin set in for the apartment rent search.  This is not including, lights, food, and cable for just internet, oh and let’s not forget cell phone.

Now, why do I give all this background info?  Let’s just say for many friends that live the dream, I envy the fact that they can balance the funds to go to their favorite events Known World Heraldic and Scribal, and keep the lights on.  Now, a couple of friends say that they are able to do so barley because their partner helps financially (where they both work so the cost on bills is lesser and after which becomes easy to finance trips).  Or some have said that it boils down to location, location, location.  Ok I see the point there, however what if you like the location that you are currently living, well then you are a subject to how living is.

Mind you it might seem like I am on a rant and complaining, and in many ways you would be correct however, in this case as one that is doing all this on his own, trying to find the balance between the real life commitments and volunteer hours to the dram  I want to give can and often become a challenge in itself.

There is some many give and takes that are out there, I will continue to give all I can and then some, and I share this with you because I wish to share if I say “I need some time however I am continuing to work on it.”  There are often other forces at work and here they are.