I have been in Florida almost two weeks. Although I haven't started work, things are progressing nicely. I had my fingerprints cleared and my state application approved. I am scheduled for the state test this coming Saturday. Assuming I pass it, I will have my manager's license. My interview went very well last week. I know I am hired, but they cannot officially do so until I pass the test. The big boss is on vacation this week, so I will find out my official start date no later than the end of next week.

I have been passing the time learning the area with the help of my friend I am staying with. I also have done a little mystery shopping for income (although hubby is working up north and I also have child support). I miss my husband and son terribly, but otherwise things are going very well. Everyone in this area is very friendly!

Things are progressing along here in Florida. I arrived on Wednesday. I got my fingerprinting done on Thursday and was called to do my interview tomorrow! In the meantime, I shopped for a business suit. I got a blazer at Sears that rang up for 4.99! If that wasn't awesome enough, I got a $6 coupon for a future purchase. I cannot believe this blazer was essentially free! It is a typical black blazer that is interview appropriate.

I had found a great deal on slacks at Dillard's for 21.40 yesterday as well.

Other than missing hubby and son, I am happy so far. The weather is a comfortable 75 degrees and the locals are super friendly!

I ended up spending $52 on clothes this past week. I was digging out summer clothes and only found one shirt and one pair of shorts. I was initially perplexed, but then I remember what happened. At the end of the season I had washed my summer clothes. I live in an apartment and my elderly neighbor had used an excessive amount of bleach in the washing machine. My clothes were ruined.

I went to Goodwill to keep it cheap and besides I want to lose some weight. I didn't want to spend the money, but it is in the mid-70's in the Florida panhandle.

I am running around like crazy making sure everything is as easy as possible for my son and hubby while I am gone. With the exception of the week I will get to come home for my car, we will live apart for four months. I head out Wednesday morning on a one-way ticket. I have to take a state test and can't get that date until I am down there. My friends have a third vehicle and insist I use that until I get my car. I also plan to pack "my stuff" when I am back for a week since the boys will have to pack everything else this summer.

I am very nervous, but also excited about my big "adventure".

The HR department for the new job called yesterday. Basically, they want me for the job, but can't do the official interview without my state certification. I have to be fingerprinted to take the test. I had previously understood I could take the pre-licensure course (which I did) and could finish the process if and when I got the job.

I called my friend whose husband has played the key role in the process. She talked to hubby and he said to get down there and get fingerprinted asap while waiting for a test date. He said in the meantime he can give me admin work (after the fingerprints) and if for some reason they have to fill the management position, two more are opening. She told him what I am giving up to go down there on a leap of faith. He said he was 100% sure he will have work for me and I will ultimately have the management position.

Mind you my major income has been mystery shopping lately. There is plenty of that here in New England, but not in the new area. Thankfully, if I need to return, I can pick up where I left off. My lease is good here through July and my husband and son will stay put. That is the toughest part for me is going alone. They will join me in late July if all goes well.

On a positive note, my friends insist I stay with them and they even have a vehicle for me to drive. They told me to fly and not drive down alone. I booked a one way ticket (since I don't have a test date and can't get it until the fingerprints are done). So, I will be leaving here next Wednesday and have no clue when I will be back. I was guaranteed that the job will let me come back for at least a week when I need to so I can get my car and more of my stuff. I hope to do that over my son's spring break in late April.

Right now I am looking at all I need to do in a week (including finishing up tutoring and scheduled mystery shops) and I am totally overwhelmed. It's an exciting, yet very scary new chapter for sure.

I am still in a holding pattern as far as life goes financially and in general. The process is ongoing for the job in Florida. I just took the "psych" test, so I can only assume an interview is next.

Hubby may have landed a part time job an an independent contractor via a friend. He will be a courier in the evenings for a couple of hours. I hope it comes through, we could really use that extra money. He and my son will stay here through July when our lease ends so he has some time to decide what he wants to do. He wants to do the long distance relationship for a year. He thinks I will hate Florida again. I told him this time it's a completely different area and situation. I plan on deciding whether or not it is for me before the lease is up in July. I won't come back after that.

As you can see a lot of major decisions and changes lie ahead. I hope to have some answers asap so that in a month or so I can set a budget. In the meantime I am paying the bills and only spending when I absolutely need to do so.