Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200

Currently, my life is like a game of Monopoly. And just like any time I'm playing Monopoly, I lose.

So, we start on Go. We'd have the tophat (Sean), the yorkie (Tank) & thimble (me). (Note: I don't know why I like the thimble...I just do. I'm certainly not trying to support a female stereotype. I do not sew).

Anyway, the tophat & thimble decide to move to New Jersey (the starting point...or GO). The yorkie tags along, as he is essentially the child (obviously adopted because...a tophat and thimble making a baby?) (Yes, we do want children...just to clear that up)

We figure NJ deck of Chance cards were in our favor. It was unlikely we'd get those crappy cards in there where ya know..you have to pay money. Or go directly to jail. NJ will be great! So much to offer!  So, we drive through Trenton - the obvious Baltic & Mediterranean properties in this story. But, we don't live far from Trenton. So, our apartment is the Oriental Avenue. It's not super-cheap & crappy, but it's nothing to write home about.

As we move along the Monopoly board, we get in to the Maroon properties. But, you know what's in the middle of those? The electric company. Who we pay every month and so far it hasn't been bad. But, this month, we rolled a high number. As we continue on, the orange & red properties are out of our reach. We'd like to live here - we just know it's not possible right now. I wish there was a real life Free Parking. I mean...as long as the Free Parking is MY rules - all Community Chest/Chance monies get thrown in the middle & if you land on free parking, you get that money. But, there is no free anything, including parking, in this part of the country.

The yellow, green & blue properties are certainly only in our dreams at this point. I look in the paper at houses in these areas...only to laugh. So, we are back at GO. We've been going around the board for 6 months now. There have certainly been no beauty contest winnings. And the bank certainly hasn't made any errors in our favor. In fact, it feels like we've only been landing on luxury & income tax spots.

After 6 months...we're done playing. We've sold all the properties we owned. We're out of options. Bankruptcy.

Thanks to student loan payments (private, not federal), credit cards & empty promises...we have no other choices. It's flight or fight. Sink or swim time. To keep our head above water, to actually be able to save money. to actually not have to buy gas & grocerices on credit...to actually start a family...we're making this move. It's a move I'm not proud of. But, it's the only move we have left. It's one of the most humbling experiences, so far. Since I won't be done with school for another year and a half (and my school schedule is pretty intense), this will help us get back on our feet. Once I graudate & work again, things will be better. I'm trying to see the positive side of this. Right now...I can't. But eventually...I will. And then I'll be ready to play Monopoly again. Maybe I'll win the next time. Or, at least live around Free Parking.