$2,193: My bi-monthly (twice per month) gross pay last week.
$1,334: My bi-monthly gross pay from here on out.

When it feels good it's called voluntary simplicity, exchanging your full-time all-encompassing job for a part time less-encompassing job. More space in your life, a lighter heart, creative problem solving, living still lower on the food chain.

I did the math. The mortgage will get paid (on paper), I'll be able to buy groceries (on paper). My lifestyle won't change all THAT much (on paper).

Like anything it will probably suck for the first few months. I'm prepared for that. I'm also prepared to document it dollar by miserly dollar. In the back of my mind I'm hoping I'll learn something.

I'm still in denial. This weekend C and I went out for cocktails (and a light Thai dinner), I went shopping with friends (bought two bedspreads), and I'm taking the week off so I'm drinking wine at lunch. FIVE DOLLAR TRADER JOE's WINE! I am NOT giving that up, mark my words.

And I'm not succumbing to a regressive state of taste. We'll just have to see what happens.