I make no secret that I’ve had a negative total worth for nearly my entire life. Well, not really. My retirement is bigger than my debts. But the difference isn’t big.

Tomorrow everything could change. Probably will change.

Tomorrow, baring the unforeseen, I’ll be signing on the dotted line. My single-income will be stressed like never before, and it will be stressed for a long long time. For tomorrow, I make the real first step to home ownership.

It’s not a big house, and in the scheme of things it’s not even an expensive home. But it’s the largest purchase I have made in my life, and it is a commitment to the town I call home. I only hope that the town (and more importantly, the employer that pays me) is similarly committed to me.