It’s been a hot minute since I last posted, but my life has become extremely busy lately, for no particularly good reason. Please forgive me. I shall do better in the future.
If this were a shopping mall, we would find ourselves in front of a map of all kinds of rectangular(ish) shapes and a red dot proclaiming “YOU ARE NOW HERE!” But it’s not, so I shall have to tell you where I am in my preparation process.
- I have received my new passport.
- Copies of said passport – along with letters of Power of Attorney – have been apostilled
- I am now waiting for the next paycheck so that I can send the bound document to my lawyer fella in Kyiv, and he can start the process of registering a company in Ukraine on my behalf.
The initial process of getting me to Ukraine is a bit more complicated than it would have been if Russia did not decide to start a war in that country, but it is still doable, if more time-consuming. The waiting period is good, as it affords me time to learn enough of the language not to get too stuck and a chance to properly declutter my life, not just of things, but also of wrong attitudes and feelings. I also have to think deeply about what I am going to DO once I land in Kyiv, pet (or two) in tow, to earn a proper income for myself and the kitties.
It might be a good idea to travel the country for a while, volunteering on various projects, before settling down. If I record those experiences properly, I might have enough material for a properly monetized blog site or even a YouTube channel! Considering I want to repurpose a van into a camper, it could make for an excellent adventure vlog. Many people have camper-building videos and homesteading videos – I need to give my offering a bit of spice and combining topics may do the trick. That said, I shall try my best to keep the different streams apart enough so as not to be confusing. Or maybe on separate channels altogether!
An above-average city salary in Ukraine is about two-thirds of what I am earning now. And yes, it’s still way less than $1000 a month. That means that between my books and any other internet project, I shall be able to live comfortably without having to dig into my savings. That is my goal. Self-sustainability. I don’t want to be a burden on my new country any more than they want me to be one. On the contrary, I want to be able to make a positive contribution to the lives of people in Ukraine and help to rebuild their broken country.
The other advantage of having to wait before I can leave is that I have time to skill up in various areas. I have already mentioned the language, but if I want to live in a 4×4 van for a while, I shall have to learn to drive it properly, on all road surfaces. I shall also have to learn to convert that van into a decent camper for one person. And a well-insulated one, too! Apparently, Ukraine is a cool place in winter!
I don’t particularly like my own face or voice on photos and sound recordings, either! So the choice is clear: get better or get out! That means photography, videography, and interview skills as well. There are many amateurs out there and while I might not become perfect, there is a certain level of professionalism that I would need to achieve and sustain. A bit of spice to the general blandness, if you wish.
On a different note, my garden is definitely on the decline. Sadly, I have neglected it as well, and I am hoping that this winter season would help it to recover, along with some focused attention from me. It frustrates me that I am busy with too many projects at a time – both work and personal – and don’t get to give everything the attention it deserves, especially at home. That needs to change. Priorities and decluttering.
I have many ideas with regard to my apartment homestead, which I shall also start implementing shortly, regardless of what happens in Ukraine. If there’s something the past five years have taught me, it’s to “Praise God and pass the ammunition!” Have faith and trust, yes, but also be prepared, because life happens when you least expect it to.