I've certainly needed the help. This move was tremendously rash. Especially considering the immediate future, it was in no way financially sound. While I knew about the higher costs in Alaska, I did not fully comprehend the financial strain this move would put us, and the people who have helped us, under. I didn't know (and still don't fully understand) the way that medical insurance and retirement would change because of the move. I just believed that things would work out.
This is a part of my arrogant nature. I expect things to work out for me, and when they don't, I count on others to help me out. My plans usually focus on what I want rather than what is practical, leading me to often ignore information that disagrees with any conclusion that I have already reached. I've been working at getting better at this, but there are any number of items in this move that show I haven't yet learned my lesson.
Case in point: I want the next house that we live in to be the last house that we move to until I retire (or even longer). With that in mind, I want it large enough to be a jump-off point for any family or friends who want to visit or even move up here themselves. I want it to be large enough that all of my children, and at some point--grandchildren, can stay with us. I want it to be a place where my wife has the space to work on the art and projects which she loves so much. With the high price of housing in Alaska, this means looking at houses that are beyond what my salary can afford (especially considering the 12-13 years of paid experience that I lost in the move).
To balance this, I have been looking at houses that have some sort of rental possibility attached to them. The idea is that this will both help the house pay for itself while also offsetting some of the costs that living up in Alaska has. Unfortunately, this means an even more expensive house, not to mention taking on a task that is entirely unfamiliar to me. I want this plan to work, and that doubtlessly leaves me blind to other problems and pitfalls.
Especially considering what I've just said, please do not judge me too harshly when I say that we looked at Tower house today and I was smitten. There are some issues that we noticed and probably more that we will not know unless the power is restored and an inspector goes through, but all I could envision was the potential that I saw in the place. We still have a great deal of discussion ahead of us, but I worry that I already have decided that I want it to the point that I might be ignoring some valid questions and concerns.
Like I said, I'm working on this particular fault of mine; I certainly haven't conquered it.