Marginally
End of Day 2 update:
Money spent in 2 days : $0
Number of tickets recieved : 1
Number of times I have kicked myself for not renewing my registration: 30+
That's right folks. Day 1, on the way to see a friend play a free show at a coffee house, I was pulled over. The first thing I said (well, the first coherent thing after a string of muttered expletives) was "Not on Day One!". I was not speeding, not driving erratically, I was simply driving with an expired tag. Here is why: I could not afford to get my tag renewed. That is one of the hardest things about living paycheck to paycheck...you have no margin for error. I can scrape by, as long as my expenses stay pretty much the same. Add a bill for $139 and I am screwed. So, I did what I always do; I ignored it. I talked my way out of tickets, I pleaded with cops with tears glistening in my eyes, shamelessly. Then it caught up with me. This one was not letting me sweet talk my way out. What?! Doesn't he know how it works? I keep doing this until i can afford the tag. He did however, allow my until Oct to renew my tag and put a note on the ticket that he recommends throwing it out if I comply. So, it is not as bad as it could be.
Unfortunatly, I still don't know how to pay for the tag. It is things like this that undo me, make me realize that maybe this lifestyle is not for me. Perhaps I should swallow and go back to the corporate grind I left behind. Why not? I was good at it, successful, made good money. Here is the reason...I did not like who I was. I recently told someone when they asked why I left (this question comes up alot) that I felt like I had lost my soul. He replied (rather charmingly) "Have you gotten it back?". That stopped me. "Yes" I told him, surprised and pleased that I meant it. I HAVE gotten it back, and I intend to keep it. Being broke is hard, but waking up every morning feeling that I was contributing to all the things I believe are wrong with society was harder.
Things like tickets are going to keep happening, and living without any margin for error is hard, stressful and at times seems ridiculous. What I do have is my soul back, my feeling that while what I am doing may not be saving lives, it is probably not outright hurting them. Finances: no margins, Soul: intact.
Money spent in 2 days : $0
Number of tickets recieved : 1
Number of times I have kicked myself for not renewing my registration: 30+
That's right folks. Day 1, on the way to see a friend play a free show at a coffee house, I was pulled over. The first thing I said (well, the first coherent thing after a string of muttered expletives) was "Not on Day One!". I was not speeding, not driving erratically, I was simply driving with an expired tag. Here is why: I could not afford to get my tag renewed. That is one of the hardest things about living paycheck to paycheck...you have no margin for error. I can scrape by, as long as my expenses stay pretty much the same. Add a bill for $139 and I am screwed. So, I did what I always do; I ignored it. I talked my way out of tickets, I pleaded with cops with tears glistening in my eyes, shamelessly. Then it caught up with me. This one was not letting me sweet talk my way out. What?! Doesn't he know how it works? I keep doing this until i can afford the tag. He did however, allow my until Oct to renew my tag and put a note on the ticket that he recommends throwing it out if I comply. So, it is not as bad as it could be.
Unfortunatly, I still don't know how to pay for the tag. It is things like this that undo me, make me realize that maybe this lifestyle is not for me. Perhaps I should swallow and go back to the corporate grind I left behind. Why not? I was good at it, successful, made good money. Here is the reason...I did not like who I was. I recently told someone when they asked why I left (this question comes up alot) that I felt like I had lost my soul. He replied (rather charmingly) "Have you gotten it back?". That stopped me. "Yes" I told him, surprised and pleased that I meant it. I HAVE gotten it back, and I intend to keep it. Being broke is hard, but waking up every morning feeling that I was contributing to all the things I believe are wrong with society was harder.
Things like tickets are going to keep happening, and living without any margin for error is hard, stressful and at times seems ridiculous. What I do have is my soul back, my feeling that while what I am doing may not be saving lives, it is probably not outright hurting them. Finances: no margins, Soul: intact.
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