Summer starts this weekend. At least that’s what we tend to think: Victoria Day to Labour Day, that’s summer. Ask anyone in the seasonal tourism industry.
The highways will be crowded, to be sure, as people try to stretch out the season as long as possible. Campsites will be full. Marinas will be busy.
Others will avoid the crowds, doing the exact opposite. They’ll stay home to attend to such chores as cleaning the yard, power-washing the house or driveway, or planting gardens. Or just relaxing after more than a month since the last holiday.
It’s a reflection of the differences between people.
One says: “I’ve spent all winter cooped up here; I’m getting out of here as soon as I can.” The other says, “Here’s my opportunity to make the place I call home so much happier a place.”
That’s how it is in so much of life.
One says, “I’ve worked hard all week; I’m going socializing on the weekend.” The other says, “I’ve been in public all week at work; I’m cocooning on the weekend.”
One says, “I want work that’s challenging and entrepreneurial.” The other says, “I want employment that’s predictable and secure.”
One says, “My curiosity demands that I expand my horizons, explore new ideas, places and things.” The other says, “I want to reflect on, dive deeper into, those things that I am already comfortable with.”
One could go on and on . . .
If you’ve read this blog for any length of time, you’ve probably figured out that I fit the first of each dyad.
Notice I used the word “dyad.” One definition for that word is “two corresponding things designed for use together.”
And that’s the point: We’re better off because of—in fact, I’d go so far as to say, we need—the two together. One enhances the other, sharpens the other.
But they can also lead to conflict, especially when you’re trying to navigate these contrasts within a relationship. What happens when one person consistently falls on one side of these contrasts and the other person falls on the other? How much do you weigh off the benefits of “making each other better,” with finding a way to “survive conflicting interests?”
Millions of people know the challenges that entails. Millions know the array of outcomes that follow their attempts to navigate these contrasts.
Victoria Day weekend may be a microcosm of our diverse world.
At least, that’s how I see it . . .
Rent 2 Own tip
If you want to get into home ownership, you will need a good credit score and a good credit record. But many find that word totally confusing. “I always pay everything in cash,” some say, “I don’t want to get into credit card debt.”
Sounds good, right? But it will absolutely kill your chances of getting a mortgage, and thus becoming a homeowner. To get a mortgage, you will need a good credit card with a limit of at least $2000 that is unsecured, as well as at least a second credit line. That’s the lenders way of finding out whether you are a good credit risk or not. After all, if you are asking them to loan you money (a mortgage is just a particular kind of loan), they want to know that you have a history of responsibility in paying off loans (credit). Wouldn’t you do the same, if you were loaning the money?
If you don’t have a credit card, or a history of being responsible with credit, a rent 2 own program can help you in two ways: It can buy you the time to build a credit history, and coach you how to get to the acceptable level of credit worthiness within the shortest possible time.
It’s your choice: If you want to show the banks you can be responsible with credit, we can help you do that. If you don’t think you can be responsible with even $2000 of credit card debt, then you should likely abandon any dream of home ownership.
