I want… extraordinary… not mediocre.

So let me give you a little context. I just broke things off with a BF of 3.5 years. You can read what happened in my history of this week if you want. My daughter 17 flies the nest this summer as she got into her top school early decision. I’ve owned this house with my now ex for 1.5 years. So we are here til she flies, and I’ve moved into a room down the hall.

^thats not what this post is about.

I’m going to be a pretty young empty nester (39) and as I’ve reflected over the past few days a couple of things have stuck out to me. One of those is that I’ve lived my life trying to find love. And because of that I’ve been willing to overlook a lot.

I am SO many more things than someone just looking to be loved… so I’ve decided to take the next 7ish months to really plan and prepare for what’s next for me.

I have a few thoughts but here are some non negotiable:

I want music back in my life, I’ve let that go in this relationship because he wasn’t into music like I was.

I want adventure and travel.

I want connection with people.

I need to be able to get to my daughter in a relatively short time just in case she needs me (so working on a cruise ship is out for now, though I did seriously consider it 🤣)

And I need financial stability. This is the third time I will have owned and sold a house within 3 years of owning (this being the first time I’ve ever had another person on the note). I don’t need to own a home per se but I do want to build net worth and a legacy for my daughter.

Things I know already:

• I’m going to get back my remote job in tech. I’ve worked remote since 2017, I know the market is insane right now, but without a mortgage my salary requirements aren’t as high as they were. But it will be remote.

(You should also know I have 2 dogs and 2 cats that I had pre relationship and are taking with me.)

So here’s where my mind is at:

I’m thinking I want to do pop up food (like food truck or food trailer) at music festivals all over the country. I’m entrepreneurial but I want something more “side gig” instead of full time and the food truck idea is one I’ve pondered for many many years.

While doing this I could either

• have a home base at my besties in CA, while I plan events during spring - fall. I could stay at her main house or her vacation home and she’s already ok’d it. I can bring dogs but not cats which I do not like but beggars can’t be choosers.

• I could live in a house I purchase here in the town I’m in now. I’ve made a lot of good friends, I’d be close to daughters school. And I could travel for the festival season but be in my home for the winter months. And I think this gives the animals the most stability, because my besties house only lasts so long, not forever.

• I could do some tv living for a year or too. Travel with house to the festivals and then park in a place I like for the winter/ off-season. This sounds like so much fun to me. I though have never RV’d before let alone did the living in it and I’d be doing it alone as a single woman… though I’m pretty brave and self sufficient.

I know someone is gonna say this is so eat.pray.love but know I’ve never seen the movie or read the book, I’ve only watched the trailer and even if it is… so what.

Anyway, I’d love some other perspectives. Thanks!

TLDR: going to be a single empty nester. I get to plan the life I want now with more freedom. Looking for advice.