Being Prepared vs Control Freak

I have mentioned that I’m a bit of a control freak in some of my blog posts, but that is probably inaccurate terminology so I though I’d better clear that up before you get the wrong idea.  I am not a control freak like my husband Randy is. I am not paranoid obsessive or controlling in a negative sense. I am not jealous or a stalker either. Things don’t always have to be my way or the highway. If you know a more efficient cost effective way let me know. I am open to new ideas.  What I mean by control freak is I like to be in the drivers seat. My parents brought me up to think for myself and to plan ahead. And plan ahead I mean be prepared for anything. My dad is the type of guy who has a whole tool chest in his trunk. You never know when you may need 4 inch nails, a hammer, duct tape, rope, pliers, screwdrivers of all sizes, leather gloves, a Maglite, etc.  Plus you should always carry a full change of clothing in the car including a winter jacket because in California you never know there might be a blizzard.   My parents also taught me to have savings for a rainy day. And I’m not saying just a few extra bills lying around the house, I’m talking about 6+ months mortgage saved up because you never know if you might get sick, injured or laid off.  In addition I also went to college and was taught to always read the fine print. So, when we bought our house I was the annoying person that read every line of that loan document, analyzed it and asked a million questions.  Our loan officer was a bit perturbed by it, but what can I say? We’re not the ones that got into one of those interest only loans or one of those loans that you had crazy balloon payments that somehow snuck up an surprised people after a few years.  Apparently those people didn't read the fine print before signing their life away.

I really need to stop saying I’m a control freak and just say that I have a tendency to be a back seat driver. 

You may think I'm a bit obsessive when it comes to being prepared, but I have to say my preparedness has given me freedoms others wished they had.

I remember those last few days before I left Randy, I kept my clothing and stuff in the car so just in case I had to leave I could. My girlfriend taught me well, she said you should always carry a “to go” bag with you.  I never anticipated using it. Things were rock for sure, but still every time I walked back into that apartment or met up with him after I unofficially moved out for a date I hoped things would be different. Call me a hopeless romantic, in all the marriages I have been though I never got married to get divorced. I never thought well, if it doesn’t work out I could just divorce him. I signed up for life, as crazy as my reasoning to get married was I was in it for the long haul.