Hi Catrin and All.
Many thanks for including in SSi and all of the work that you and all at SSi have put in to make it such a continuing success.
Catrin, for what it’s worth, my feeling from what you have shared is that are great at what you are already doing (family and work) and that your welcoming nature as well as your considerable work experiences will allow you to excel in your continuing venture, especially regarding the bootcamps. I expect that it will only be in the time between camps that you will be able to find time for your writing and crafts. As mentioned by others, you will find which of these activities can become profitable. I am sure that some of these will be. Something that has just come to mind is that in the future you might even be able to use your class room as a very occasional meeting place for SSIW-ers and friends, with minimal catering duties (say tea and snacks only). Perhaps you could also use this as a display outlet for your creative work. Some friends of ours who breed alpacas do a sort of parallel to this a few times a year, billed as open days, volunteer days, etc. Another friend runs “pop-up” vintage tea meetings and fayres and also supplies local visitor venues with home made delicacies.
You will be the best judge as to whether it would be practicable for you to support yourselves in the short term by perhaps seeking some interesting part time paid work. You will however, need to be careful not to take on too much. Again, perhaps only take on something that pays a realistic rate. I hope that helps without me being too bossy.
OK, now my introduction, folks:
I am not too adventurous, but am more of a throw-back plodder with “stickability”. I tend to apply this to my pastimes, which are outdoor car/cycle/motorcycle related and also my employment. I have had the same “job-type” and motorcycle since the 70s. Come to think of it, same jumper also. .
Finally, here’s what I’ve done for a living -
I work full time partly from home, partly in my employer’s office/lab, but mostly on construction sites.
My first job for three years was in a medical lab (blood transfusion), with site visits to blood donor sessions. Since then I have been in construction materials testing; on construction materials, such as soils aggregates, concrete, tarmac etc. Although I have done this for decades, my employers have changed on a regular basis (comes with the work type) and I did run my own business doing the same thing for many years. Now I am happy being an employee again.
I attended state schools and colleges (part time) but didn’t go to university. However, I don’t recall having ever stopped studying on a part time basis, which is probably one of the reasons why I enjoy SSiw so much.
Fortunately, I’ve never been seriously ill, but true to form, have just battled through minor problems. I have a knack at delaying illness until holiday times.
Last one - work and family life: I work long hours and am often away from home, but I was fortunate to have a local job during the time when my daughter was growing up.
I’ll leave it there for now, hoping that this has been a not-too-boring summary of who I am.