And it's July!

The year is half over, and the month has kicked off with interesting astrological events and advice.

Today's Solar Eclipse can be a harbinger of an energetic shift within your family. You could bury your head in the sand and be totally surprised by what happens, or you can co-create your future by living the change you seek. Start by sitting down and writing a list of resolutions, as if it is New Year's Day. Focusing your intentions during the eclipse plants significant seeds of thought in your fertile imagination.
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Well, that is sound advice - my birthday is just about exactly halfway through the year, and I usually do treat it as a second New Year's Day and assess where I am at the mid-point of the calendar year. Where I am is...still trying to get my feet under me in my new career, because I'm in a new career that has a HUGE first year wash-out rate, and doing it in a new city and in a highly challenging real estate market. Nothing to it! It's all fun and games and excitement! Yup.

I sat down with a financial advisor today, to finally roll over my two orphaned 401k accounts from previous corporate jobs into an IRA annuity that will not risk the principal but hopefully earn more than the "coffee can buried in the backyard" rate of the basic IRA account right now. (Not that I have a backyard at the moment, or even, come to think of it, a coffee can. Can't bury your life savings in a Keurig cup.) So that's done - but it's sobering to sit down and talk about retirement and try to figure out where I'll be in, oh, 15 years or so. I think I'll be okay - I really do. I am already living where I hope to retire, and I don't need a McMansion perched on top of a mountain. And I really do believe that I will be successful here, though my start-up time is on a longer trajectory than people who have been here all their lives and have a huge database of potential clients to draw upon. I know this because half the successful agents I meet in this town are from elsewhere, and nearly always from FL or NY, and often have been here less than 4 years themselves. So if they could come here when the tide was turning and make it work, so can I.

I know I know my stuff - I'm not a "sales-y" person who spouts smooth sales talk but I know how to listen. I know the real money is earned in the contract to close phase, and the issues of title and survey and inspections and repairs are my thing. I can herd a deal through the process like a well-trained sheepdog. I am the broker who will show up for inspections and talk to the inspector, not bitch because my client wants me there for the inspection (as I heard one who shall remain forever nameless do the other day). It's what I'm there to do. I am reassured that I know my shit every time we have a meeting to discuss challenging issues that arise, and I know the answers to the questions asked by the other "newbie" brokers. But knowing one's shit and applying one's shit in a new market is not as easy as "Oh hey, you have a job with a real estate broker!" I don't "have a job"; I'm self-employed, paying to hang my license with that office and use their marketing materials, etc. It's a whole new world.

I'm not sure what to make of July's horoscope for Cancer:

These two paragraphs jumped out:

This eclipse, July 1, is about what YOU want for yourself - not what someone else thinks you should want, but perhaps reflects hopes, desires, or changes you've long wanted to make but for any number of reasons pushed aside. This eclipse is a strong one, so you won't be able to push aside those thoughts much longer.

I don't think I've been pushing thoughts aside - if I have, I've been doing it so thoroughly, I haven't thought about them at all - recent conversations have both assured me that I'm not nuts and reminded me that I do know my chosen new(ish) career very well.

If that were not enough, Uranus in Aries, now in your lofty career sector, will get in the act too, adding completely unexpected professional news that may make you reassess your future, or even your future involvement in your present career. Rather than put more time and money into a situation that will apparently require a lot more effort, you may decide to cut your losses and leave. Or, your boss may quit and you may wonder how things will play out now that you no longer have your boss there to protect your interests. Your nerves may be on edge by what comes up - don't have too much scheduled so that you can divert your attention when necessary.

Not sure what that career news means. I don't have a boss, I'm self employed, and have no plans to cut my losses and leave. Did that last year, and I have no regrets about bailing on THAT disaster. But I will try to be available to divert my attention to whatever it is in there that applies to me, here and now. At least as available as I can be while doing all I can to get my working life running on all cylinders.

I'm getting out and meeting people who are not brokers as much as possible, and last night saw a great local band. I had felt some mild trepidation, because they were described as bluegrass - I am NOT a fan of traditional bluegrass. Back in my formative years in the mid-late 70s, there was some sort of bluegrass revival fad in the DC area and I found it quite painful and avoided bluegrass performances ever since. That's a long time to hold a traumatic grudge and I would still say I'm not a bluegrass person. So I was coming from "not a fan and ready to be open-minded and tolerant, but with low expectations."

I really, truly loved these guys - they are a sort of hip bluegrass mixed with just about everything - a little Miles Davis, a little Paul Simon, definitely eclectic. (Edit - they really need to update the links on that site, because their performance last night was SOO much richer and more complicated than that version.) They are skilled musicians who sing gorgeous harmonies, and watching them play was absolutely hypnotic - we were right in front of the stage, and I had to drag myself away when my sadly early bedtime approached.

Meanwhile, in Knitting World...

I finished Supergirl's Super Sundress and handed it over to her mom without getting a picture, which I think may be enough to get me kicked out of Ravelry. I haven't updated a FO there since...I have no clue. Next time I see them I will see if I can stuff her into the dress to get her to model it. It turned out great.

I have finished 1.5 charity hats. I am using a 4x4 rib on the one in progress and it will be a substantial hat. Charity hats in round and round ribs are the best TV knitting ever. I've been up too late and then too early too many days this week, and anything more complicated than a hat in the round is just too much to ask.