Windfall$

I've been thinking about mortality. Not recently, but for some time.  I've no idea what amount we might be talking. I'm not sure how much a person might be fronted on having a novel published-- I've never made an inquiry.

I'm looking it up now--Says the "average advance for a debut author is $57,000!".

*whistle*

(-damn-)

I was thinking maybe it was something like 10% of that, no slight chunk in my estimation.

$5,700 I would lock up into Remy Niko's savings account as bonus.

I have this plan (Remy's Papa says we are never to speak of it), to "secretly" set aside a thousand dollars a year until he turns 21. At that point Remy will have a nice nest egg. If he's wise, as we hope to raise him, he'll have a frugal couple of years of existence secured, so he can do creative work; maybe opt for a camper, travel, see something of the world.

(I fear we won't be there for him, in person, as older parents-- when Remy will be 21, I'll be 61, and while that seems ok, I note my father died at 65. Which again, means nothing, and to be sure Bunny and I plan to live to 99.)

In any case, an extra five grand would serve the boy nicely.

But if we're talking 57 Grand then the calculation is quite different. It is an opportunity for Now, not Someday. Most definitely, I quit my day job. Stop moonlighting in a position to which I am mostly unsuited. Start breathing again. I imagine there'd be taxes involved. There are always taxes, right? After the cuts I suspect it would level out to about the same 40K gross I currently pull. Seems almost horrifyingly selfish to make this leap. Yet I know that many people would benefit if I got out from the death of my daily stressors.

I would (by necessity of personality) dive into more work. I'd pursue my own creative projects, help others with theirs. I'd publish and illustrate works. I'd still teach, but at the right level---meaning college adjuncting-- which pays a pittance and has no benefits save intrinsic value of free mental-exchange of higher-level-thinking, and reward of helping others realize their visions. Sure, I'd do some art classes for children. Short. Maybe summer sessions. An hour at a time is about the right limit for everyone involved at that stage.

I'd reorganize our work and living space (our environment is very much a reflection of our mental state!). Remy unfortunately would still have to go to daycare for a little longer as I cleanup our surroundings. But then, once done, he could spend more time at home-- more quality attention time. And I'd set to work on the next winning-ticket-project so that we could make my husband's big dream come true. He works at a record store, and he'd like to have his own one day-- So, the next advance, would go towards making that a Reality.