I have transitioned to freelance status. This is business world speak for “I’ve quit my job, bought a couple of business licenses and am making a go of it alone.”

A season of change

I’ve never liked being on someone else’s schedule. Also, I’m not sure how much you know about copy editor’s salaries, but let’s just say it wasn’t paying the student loan debt.

More importantly, this has been a season of change for me and my family. My husband accepted a job offer in the Seattle area, a four-hour drive across scenic Washington state from our little corner of the world — Walla Walla. Four hours is a world away when you consider the wall that is the Cascade mountains separating Eastern and Western Washington — separating my family of four from my mom and stepdad. We’re a close-knit group and it’s been an adjustment. But my husband and I have goals.

The marketing agency I worked for in Walla Walla was more than accommodating, allowing me to take my position remote on a part time, experimental basis. They weren’t any more convinced about the long-term viability of the situation than I was. But we were all willing to give it a shot. Part time soon became on call, and on call soon sparked a conversation about freelancing. And here I am. More change. I’m calling it progress though, because perspective is everything in life.

Perspective of progress

Call me stereotypically millennial, but I’m loving the freedom working from home is affording me. I don’t have to wake up any earlier than my kids’ schedules demand in order to tackle the mountain of tasks in our morning routine. I don’t have to shoot anyone a message if I need to step out to take care of something non-work-related. I don’t have to schedule time with my family around a 9 to 5. I can also broaden my skills. I’m loving it. But will it pay?

I’m fortunate to have a spouse whose career is well-established enough (he makes good money) that if I don’t have a bunch of cash flow for a few months, we’ll be OK. But realistically, this is a business — making money is the basic goal. If I find some sort of fulfillment in my career along the way, all the better. I’ll let you know what I find!