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My Credo

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November 1, 2009

Sometimes life leads us to the strangest places. For example, I never thought I would end up as a wedding photographer. I always imagined myself becoming some sort of CEO or you know…president of the world, something along those linds. But, here I am — and loving it nonetheless.

So far I’ve just rode the wave. That’s why I’m in Chile, running my own business in something that I’ve never studied. I like being go with the flow. If I weren’t I’d probably still be trying to find a job in sports management (my college degree).

Now though, I’m kind of wondering if it isn’t time for some kind of life plan. we know where we are going to be — for the next 7 months, at least. After that, everything is up in the air. We are sort of thinking about buying an apartment, but we can’t fully decide whether or not we want to be locked into a mortgage…in Chile, especially.

I normally don’t mind the not-knowing. But, right now it’s hampering my ability to even make decisions. Hence the lack of blog posts this week. I am SO paralyzed right now I can’t even decide what to write about.

We currently live in Algarrobo at Seba’s parents’ vacation home. On the weekends when we come for weddings and sessions, we stay at their house in Santiago. The situation is complicated, to say the least. I think it would be best for all parties involved if we lived in our own space.

So we’re considering buying some kind of small studio apartment. Yes, it would be tiny for two people and a dog. But, it would be tiny and ours.

Only problem is that with the photography business, we are nervous to make the commitment. Things are going really well now — actually better than well. In our first year we shot 2 paid weddings, and this year we’ve shot 11, have 3 more to shoot before the end of the year and have 9 more booked for 2010. So things are actually going amazingly! But, when you have your own business there’s always uncertainty — what if bookings for next year dry up? I definitely don’t think they will. However, I don’t know that for a fact. This is our only source of income so it’s nerve wracking. If bookings suddenly stop coming we will have no way to pay our mortgage. A MORTGAGE. That word alone scares me. We have our savings, but they would be seriously depleted by a down payment to start with.

In conclusion…I have no conclusion. I’m just thinking out loud.

Tomorrow Seba is going to call about the apartment we want and offer them like $15,000 dollars less than what they’re asking for it. Fingers crossed. If we really can get the price low enough that it’s cheap to the point where we won’t be terrified at adding a small fixed expense, we’ll do it.

And if it doesn’t come through, we’ll keep looking, and maybe buy, maybe not.

We actually just watched the episode of Scrubs where the janitor gets fired, and he gets his job back just by showing up, doing the work, and then asking the payroll person why they skipped his check. He’s a very wise man, and at one point he says, “I live my life by a very specific credo–everything works out for me.”

That reminded me — that’s basically the same credo I live my life by as well. So if this apartment deal comes through, we’ll buy it and we’ll be able to pay for it, trusting that the photography business will keep going swimmingly. And if it doesn’t come through, I’m not going to stress it. We’ll figure things out. Because — everything works out for me. :)

  • I think you should stay in Chile for another year...but then again, I'm biased because I really want you as a wedding photogapher next December! Haha. No but really, I wish you luck in whatever the future brings for you both. It always tends to work out in the end :)
  • kyleracine
    haha, Lucie, it's looking like it's going to happen, I'm looking forward to meeting you!
  • amanda
    Oscar wants to know if you want to buy our apartment :)
  • kyleracine
    LOL, I think we're in the market for something more mini. I wish we had the money to buy your apartment! How much are you selling it for?
  • Your credo sounds like that book The Secret. If you live your life like you have what you want then you will. It's so simple and yet so many people get so stressed out about it (myself included).
  • kyleracine
    I've never read that book, but I know a lot of people who have mentioned it to me. Is it good?
  • I love your credo. I try to live by that too. I think it helps to maintain that kind of attitude. I'm convinced that we make our own happiness, and if we're positive and have an upbeat attitude, things will eventually work themselves out. I'm kind of freaking out too, because I have my life planned out up until May, but after that...NADA. Agh, scary!! But oh well, I know it will all work out. Good luck on the decision making!
  • kyleracine
    If we're going to get specific it's actually the Janitor's credo :) I am trying to live by that right now but so far at the moment I'm just really stressing...

    So I guess I''ll see you in May neither here...nor there...in the scary in between I don't know what to do with my life world.
  • Joris Vleminckx
    Hi there! My gf and I are in the same situation (in Santiago as well). A mortgage, even a small one, scares me; it would mean it wouldn't be as easy as it is now to change jobs or even countries...guess it's time to grow up and settle (at least) for a while :-)

    Regards,

    Joris
    CSer as well :-)
  • kyleracine
    Hey Joris, agreed, the m word is terrifying. But maybe you're right. Maybe it's time to act like the old farts that we are and settle down for a little bit :)
  • amanda
    Well, we're not selling it.... yet. Just an idea we're throwing around in case the going gets tough during MBA times. Oscar's mom bought two studio apartments in a new building in Bellas Artes that were cheap cheap cheap and she's had no problem renting them out to young professionals and students. I think it's a good investment. The clave was that she bought them before they were done building, though, which was why they were so cheap.

    One thing you know for sure, at least, is that Chile is a pretty stable economy. I mean, internally at least. They probably won't have a real estate crisis like we did. Even with all the construction, as long as you've got a good location you can't go wrong.
  • kyleracine
    Yeah, Amanda, the problem with the cheap cheap cheap apartments is that to live in there are definitely cheap cheap cheap. Our old building where you guys own has quality terminaciones, I miss it! If we were just buying to rent out, we would probably not care so much about the quality, but for ourselves we want to live in something nice, you know! We actually are going to go ask the conserje from the old building though if he knows of anyone selling an apartment there! I loved that location too, it was perfect!
  • Kyle, you're so talented - you'll have work for the rest of your life as a photographer. Go for it, a mortgage isn't so scary really. At the rate you guys are going, you'll probably be able to pay it off in a few years time.
  • kyleracine
    Thank you Polly, you're so kind. I hope you're right, but the not-knowing is killing me! We're going to see a few apartments tomorrow so hopefully we'll start figuring things out.
  • "Shoot for the moon, and if you miss, at least you'll land amongst the stars." Starting my own business was the most terrifying experience of my life and while there are constant ups and downs it has been deeply rewarding beyond words. Buena suerte con todo amiga!!!
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