Sandcastles In The Air

Here I am lazing on the same red sofa in my own little space, my mind starts drifting into fantasies once again which may or may not come to pass.

I believe many of us out there day dream at times. If I'm wrong about this, then perhaps there's too much time on my hands compared to other people. But then again, innovations in our modern society are created from seeds of ideas cultivated through dreams or fantasies.

It has been 20 years since I started grinding in this electronic component trading business of mine, serving clients mostly in the Southeast Asia region; except for some from Australia, China, India, South Korea, Taiwan and USA which could just be flukes.

There are good times, and of course bad times running a business. Nothing can be smooth sailing forever and there are bound to be “hiccups” or "storms" along the journey.

Of late, doubts began to surface in my mind whether the business is sustainable considering the present economic factors, making its outlook less optimistic. The word "inflation" becomes heavily used and heard in our daily communication or in the news; causing rise in costs in every aspect from manufacturing to operations. The weakening of the Japanese Yen also has a huge impact on Japanese firms, especially importing material or energy sources from overseas as Japan is short of resources. But on the contrary, foreign tourists have benefits to gain from this if they are visiting Japan.

So came the question… What kind of life do I want in the future? Out of the blue, the thought of being a full-time househusband doesn't seem like a bad idea. Looking back at those 3-months' stay each time I visit my wife in Tokyo, I felt contented managing my business remotely as well as being able to explore the suburbs of Tokyo, having some free time to myself, and not to forget spending quality time with our beloved pet bunny.

Being a homemaker requires a lot of discipline and responsibility, although this "occupation" has been overlooked and under appreciated sometimes. Managing a home is no easy task just as managing a business. Like any other jobs, there are many things to take care of with a given amount of time - making meals, buying groceries, keeping the home clean, caring for family members' well-being, taking care of household chores, managing financials for the home etc.

Perhaps running some side hustles earning passive income while being a homemaker would be perfect for me I guess. Welcoming my spouse to a comfortable and warm home after a hard day's' work, taking care of our fluffy little family member, having an afternoon coffee at a cafe editing photographs or writing blogs, grocery shopping alongside other homemakers and "oba-chans", and cooking up a simple meal are also fulfilling tasks which I deem as daily accomplishments.

Another little enjoyment of mine is going to karaoke in the afternoon occassionally. This is a musical therapy of mine to release the buildup of stress, and I have Live Dam and Joysound to thank for the wide selection of English songs available.

For the time being with Kiyomi Suzuki's soulful "TAXI" playing in the background, I can only fantasise about this little dream as reality shall sink in when dawn breaks in another few hours.

Have a good night and may wonderful dreams come to you in your sleep.