Kansas

Well, I managed to get my butt up to Kansas when I said I was going to. Now that I'm here I realized how much all of my friends back home meant to me and how much they did to keep me going, even if they didn't realize it. Not that I don't love my sister but I have no one besides her and that's very difficult for me because I'm a social person. Granted, I love alone time, but for the most part I have to be around people that I know. But I know that this move is going to be good for me. I needed to get away and get on my own and start my life and this is probably the best way to do that.

So far since I've been here (today being the second day) I have secured a part time job at the YMCA, I have taken a tour of Kansas Wesleyan University, talked to an admissions councillor, financial advisor and a professor. This seems like it might be the place for me to be. KWU is a very small school (850 kids total for this past school year) but they seem to have their ducks in a row, which is good. Also, a good thing about them is that they're a Yellow Ribbon School meaning that since I'm eligible to receive the Post 9/11 GI Bill my tuition and books are paid for and I'll receive BAH :] (for those of you who don't know what BAH is, basically it's a housing allowance that Active Duty Military receives). Not too shabby I suppose. My plan right now is to start in the fall but if everything falls into place soon then I might start in the summer. 


Next step is to find a place to live. Right now I'm staying with my sister and brother in law, but I can't stay here forever. There is an efficiency apartment across the street that's not too bad for a starter place, especially being single, but it's teeny tiny. And they're asking $375/mo. for it plus electricity. That wouldn't be too bad if the place was a little bit bigger or if I didn't also have a car note and insurance to pay every month. I'm just going to have to see what all my expenses are/will be and then go from there. Depending on how much I make at the YMCA and how much BAH I get I might be able to swing something like that. I would like to have a little bit more room than that, but we'll see. Hopefully everything works out and I don't end up homeless on the streets with no car.


Right now my biggest fear is running out of money and having to have someone bail me out. That can't happen. I'm not the best with handling money but I've always managed to pay my car note and insurance, even if that meant not having money for anything else. But add power bills and rent to it, plus all of my other expenses like gas, food, things for my dog, emergencies, traveling, etc. It'll be tight. Maybe I could pick up a roommate and get a bigger place and split everything. That wouldn't be too bad I suppose. I'll just have to keep my eyes out for a good deal and then snag it.

I just really, really hope everything works out for me. So far it has but it's only been two days.