Am I working?

[george]

I also usually go with self-employed. I am not currently employed by choice so I do not consider myself unemployed. I suppose retired would also work but I am quite young for that label and I will probably go back to work in the future so am not really retired.

Deciding what to do next would be a good statement if it ever was offered but in the absence of that I go with self-employed as I consider that the nearest option to doing what I want to do!

[theabsinthefairy]

My OH and I are I guess 'retired' even though we are in our 30s - we moved out to rural France to be self sufficient ish - as much as we can be - with a very small minimal stipend from our rented house in the UK that we are extremely frugal with and therefore live on the tightest of budgets of anyone else that I know of.

I create and craft items to sell hopefully in my online shop I am setting up - but I find that I have the greatest trouble with my OH.

He sees me knitting or sewing and does not see it as work - he thinks that I am sitting around for a couple of hours enjoying myself and does not see that this creative time has to go into each item before it is available to be sold. If I shut myself away to paint, or to craft jewelry he is constantly nagging me to do something else.

Sorry - having a moan - bad monday night - going off to finish knitting my beanie hats now while everyone else is in bed.

[Sally Jane]

theabsinthefairy-I'm so sorry that your husband has difficulty appreciating that your being creative is not just big girl's playtime. That must be very hard to cope with when you're actually doing your best to add to the household income in the way that your individual talents allow. Hopefully he'll come to understand that it is work, and just as valuable as any other form of labour.
I wish you every success, and only wish I had some artistic/creative talent like you clearly have.

[theabsinthefairy]

Thanks Sally Jane - was having a downer yesterday after being constantly interrupted to go do something else, when I have Christmas gifts still to finish - would not have felt so bad but it was gifts for his family who don't appreciate them either.