I had a dream . . .

[Alan]

Right, to the dream analysers out there. I had a really interesting dream and I'm keen to know what it means. Dream analysis does give you an insight into what you're really thinking.

Not at the start, but where I can remember, I am speaking Italian to some girl's father/grandfather. I can't speak Italian in the dream, but I'm giving it a go anyway, with a little success. The granddaughter is gorgeous, and my age. As I leave the house, the motto on the side of the door (in writing from top to bottom, so you have to turn your head to read it) says "Carpe diem". Now, I do not speak Latin and I did not know this until I woke up and looked it up, but it means "Seize the day". Did I know this or have I just seen it somewhere?

Next thing I know, the Italian girl is on a ferris wheel, going round and round. I'm on some sort of rope swing that is able to approximate the ferris wheel's arc at the bottom. I catch up with the girl, she grabs onto me and we jump together into a small pool of water - curtailed from the sea.

For some reason, I post pictures of us together on the Internet and then I think of how my current girlfriend feels. I try to delete them - I regret it. I want things back as they are. Then, the Italian girl is no longer part of the dream and I make back up with my current girlfriend.

Any ideas? :)

[Marbella]

I am speaking Italian to some girl's father/grandfather. I can't speak Italian in the dream, but I'm giving it a go anyway, with a little success.


You have clear ambitions to master a second language. You are motivated in this instance because you want to talk to the girl.


...the motto on the side of the door (in writing from top to bottom, so you have to turn your head to read it) says "Carpe diem". Now, I do not speak Latin and I did not know this until I woke up and looked it up, but it means "Seize the day". Did I know this or have I just seen it somewhere?


You have seen Carpe diem on the forum recently so it could have been placed in your sub-conscious from where your dreams will resource their themes. But, I think there is more to it. 'Carpe diem' is an anagram of 'Dream epic'.


Next thing I know, the Italian girl is on a ferris wheel, going round and round. I'm on some sort of rope swing that is able to approximate the ferris wheel's arc at the bottom. I catch up with the girl, she grabs onto me and we jump together into a small pool of water - curtailed from the sea.


Easy. You are at odds with the world. The Italian girl on the wheel represents all the ambitions and challenges you have now. They are moving in a circular motion. You however are swinging backwards and forwards. You get a taste here of what it will be like to make the jump you really want to make. The small pool of water here is a warning however. Like a circus high-board diver miraculously diving into a tiny pool of shallow water...sometimes it works but sometimes it can go horribly wrong.


For some reason, I post pictures of us together on the Internet and then I think of how my current girlfriend feels. I try to delete them - I regret it. I want things back as they are. Then, the Italian girl is no longer part of the dream and I make back up with my current girlfriend.


You are carrying a lot of guilt for feeling like you might like to change your life. You want your cake and eat it, you want the chance to try something diferent with the option to return to your old life if the new life doesn't work out.

[Ben]

Spot on. It's all connected to your earlier post... and the Internet picture posting guilt bit is connected to subconcious worry and guilt about that previous post (http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3221#post3221) and your girlfriend reading it... ?

[Alan]

Marbella - thanks for the analysis. I have had another opinion which I don't have time to type out just now, but I'll get round to it later. I don't think the opinions contradict each other though . . .

Ben - I'm not worried about my girlfriend reading this :) I'm not saying anything on here that I don't say to her myself. She's not daft - she can read me like a book! :D

[ValenciaSon]

I may be responsible for planting the carpe diem expression into your subconscience: http://www.notesfromspain.com/forums/showthread.php?t=404&page=2

[Alan]

Yeah, I did a search myself :) I pay more attention to you than I thought! :P

[Brian]

Marbella's uncanny ability to interpret the dream might just lead to a new profession! ;)

[ValenciaSon]

Maybe you met an attractive woman from Italy recently, certaintly not beyond the realm of possibilities ;) .

[gary]

Dont worry about dreaming - in 10 years time you could well have a nice semi in Hamilton, wife , three kids and a job. You will be working so hard to make all the payments that immediately your head hits the pillow you wake up and its morning, theres no time for the relaxed drifting sleep that enables us to remember our dreams, you go straight into tha abyss and stay there til alarm goes off.

Dont worry too much - as the kids get older you get your life and your finanial stability back - about 2036 should be your time.

;)

[Brian]

You will be working so hard to make all the payments that immediately your head hits the pillow you wake up and its morning, theres no time for the relaxed drifting sleep that enables us to remember our dreams, you go straight into tha abyss and stay there til alarm goes off.
;)

Heh, what's dreaming? It's been a while.

[Alan]

Dont worry about dreaming - in 10 years time you could well have a nice semi in Hamilton, wife , three kids and a job. You will be working so hard to make all the payments that immediately your head hits the pillow you wake up and its morning, theres no time for the relaxed drifting sleep that enables us to remember our dreams, you go straight into tha abyss and stay there til alarm goes off.

Dont worry too much - as the kids get older you get your life and your finanial stability back - about 2036 should be your time.

;)

. . . thanks :)

[gary]

. . . thanks :)

I presume the same will apply should yo make the jump....thats life!
At least the weather will be better

[Alan]

Yeah, I suppose :) I have some big decisions to make . . .

[richardksa]

Yeah, I suppose :) I have some big decisions to make . . .

Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. You know you'll regret it if you don't. No one will blame you if it doesn't work out and you have to return home, but at least you will have tried. The first step is a big one, but once made all the others will follow on.

33 years ago, aged 23, I made that decision. I was scared and excited at the same time, but I had some good advice, which was to make the step and give it at least six months before making any other decision. That was wise as in those first few months I really doubted whether I had done the right thing. Then it all fell into place, probably at about 5 months and 28 days. Never looked back. Since then I've seen lots of the world at someone else's expense.

Other people, also experienced in the ways of the world, (Greytop, help me here), will tell you that there will be other decisions and they don't get any easier.

Some airline has the slogan, "When was the last time you did something for the first time?" Believe it or not, it was that slogan that spurred me to visit Madrid for the first time. That was 14 months ago. Since then I've been back five times, (sixth visit in 22 days), met more than eighty Spaniards from many backgrounds and kept friends with many of them. (It was with one of them I made my bet to learn Spanish in a year!!) I've also met an equal number of English speakers from all corners of the world. You should have seen my in-box last christmas and new year! The last year has been a ball - all because I took another step.

If no one said this, then they should have:- It's OK to fail. It's not OK to never try.

[ValenciaSon]

Live your life to the fullest because you can:cheers:

[greytop]

Do it. Do it. Do it. Do it. You know you'll regret it if you don't. No one will blame you if it doesn't work out and you have to return home, but at least you will have tried. The first step is a big one, but once made all the others will follow on.
The man who never made a mistake never learnt a thing worth knowing!

Other people, also experienced in the ways of the world, (Greytop, help me here), will tell you that there will be other decisions and they don't get any easier.
The last time I "jumped" I was 60. Sold everything in UK, packed wife, cat and chattels into an old minibus and set off for Spain. I´m still here 4 years later but could just as easily reverse the process if it all goes to ratsh*t. Well the cat died since but she was 20 years old... and I might not pack the wife next time.

If no one said this, then they should have:- It's OK to fail. It's not OK to never try. back to point 1 above!

[Alan]

It's not as simple as that guys. I'd love to go. My girlfriend is not so keen. We're also talking about getting a place together, I'm trying to get a job. I'm almost skint broke (and still getting away to Spain for a couple of weeks).

I don't want to split up with my girlfriend because she is not in a position to move over right now. And I don't know if she ever will be.

. . . and thanks for the artwork ValenciaSon :)

[gary]

I don't want to split up with my girlfriend because she is not in a position to move over right now. And I don't know if she ever will be.

its always difficult to get a perspective on a relationship whilst youre holding hands and have mutual support to keep each other to the party line.

A strong relationship will work over distance, you probably need to get Spain out of your system, if your relationship survives and matures past the star crossed days into occasional stormy water (as they all do) you will throw the fact back at her that she stopped you realising your dream every time you have a row. All people long term relationships have rows in which they drag stuff up from the past like handfuls of mud to sling at the other partner.

As you are skint you have little to lose, if you could agree to maybe a year to let you do your thing she could immerse herself in her studies and visit regularly - flight only is cheap!!

Received wisdom is that (to make it stick) guys are not ready for long term settling down until their mid-20s have passed, and suffer more from the trapped thing. I was 28 before I put roots down and would have been insufferable had I done so at your age, which I guess is circa 21 from your recent qualification. I am lucky, my wife has supported me and believed in me throughout our 26 years of marriage, more than I do myself sometimes. When I was 32 and hated the job I was in as a head of department in a large secondary school, she simply told me to pack it in. At the time we had house car and two children under three the job was worth £29000 then (about £46k now). We went off to be professional entertainers and toured the country for 6 years as singers and I worked some supply teaching during the day, building sites, maggot farms, sold T-shirts, anything to make ends meet. I never quite regained the salary levels until the last three years or so but I had the one thing money cant buy - peace of mind.

I pointed out a job in Torrequebrada the other day and Gill suggested I apply, I'm not because the time is not quite right, but I might easily do what Greytop did when the time comes. the mistake is to think tht you have to have money behind you to make the jump - maybe at 60, but not at 21.

Yes, you are on the horns of a dilema, but when you sort this onen there will be another, and another...ad infinitum.

Needless to say I envy your youth - but not your situation.

Hope it all turns out well, but whatever happens it turns out....!