“One must climb the stairway to adulthood with one’s own feet, step by step.” When Yano says it, she probably refers to romance, but in real life it mostly means learning to pay one’s own bills on time. Or that’s my impression, especially today.

Low-density entry again. I am still alive, long may it last, and I seem to have recovered from the bout of sickness earlier today, but I still have the inflamed gums to remind me that I need to stock up on sleep and meditation.

So anyway, today was bill-paying day, a couple days later than usual. Which probably says something about my current forgetfulness. Or perhaps we could spin it more positively, like not being concerned about earthly things. In any case, it certainly isn’t for financial reasons, since I got my pay the 12th and don’t expect another until the 12th of April.

In related news, it’s been the coldest winter in decades here in southern Norway, according to the utility company. They wrote this in a small leaflet they sent along with bill, and for the occasion offered to split the bill in two installments for those who so desire – against a small fee. Ah, everyone wants to get into credit these days. In Norway, that is, not elsewhere, from what I hear.

I would certainly have considered it, if I had not already arranged financing. After all, it does not come entirely like a black swan from a cloudy sky. I have paid my own bills for many years and I do know most of the predictable ones well in advance. This is a good thing, especially on days like today. The bills, including electricity for two houses and some moving costs, amounted to about $3000. A fairly moderate amount by Norwegian standards, admittedly, but I still only keep about $2000 a month after tax. So some preparation was obviously necessary, or panic would have ensued.

This comes after four months of double rent, which admittedly was more or less my choice for the last three of them, as I gradually moved over to the new place. In any case, next month should be the first “normal” month with no leftovers from the moving period. It should also be the first since October that I run a surplus again, if all goes according to plan. Which all rarely does, but it is not certain that it goes entirely off in the wild blue either. Those who live will see. I still hope to be one of them. Even if that means sleeping away seven hours a night for a while…