Winter in Kyushu, Onsen and My Second Life

When I arrived in the mountains of Kumamoto by train from Fukuoka, Kyushu in December, the cold moisture pierces my skin outside. The cold unique to the mountainous area drifts in the air, and the guide of the small inn in my hand is made of retro paper that my ex-husband liked, and I have a little memory, but my chest is no longer painful.

I was divorced in the spring of three years ago, twenty years after my marriage, when my children became independent, I was suddenly told that there was no point in living together.Until then, I was just a "wife" who helped his company keep books and did household chores.I easily believed that savings were in his name and future plans would be "planned by him." All I got in the divorce arbitration was a small apartment and a small compensation. At that time, I realized for the first time after living at the age of 42 - a woman will lose everything if she does not "invest" herself instead of depending on something.

The inn is a renovated old private house, and when you change into slippers at the entrance, the scent of pine reaches your nose. My grandmother greeted me with a smile, saying, "Thank you for waiting," and let me sit by the fireplace. When I look at the mountains while drinking hot cocoa, my grandmother asks, "Are you alone?" When I answered, "Yes, I came for a short break," she nodded and said, "I also protected this inn after my husband passed away at the age of 50. In the past, I couldn't do anything, but little by little I learned the preferences of the guests and began to adjust the temperature of the hot springs myself."

At dusk, I headed to a secret hot spring in the mountains. In the mountains at high altitudes, there were only a few traces of snow, and the leaves at my feet were hardened by the cold air, making a small sound every time I stepped on it. The moment I soaked in the bathtub, the hot water of about 40 degrees enveloped my whole body, and the pain and fatigue of the past three years flowed out at once. The moon after the bath was particularly pure in the darkness of the mountains, and the sound of insects around me was full of silence that could be heard far away.

What I remember here is the anxiety immediately after the divorce. How to use the compensation money, how to build the future, and I couldn't sleep at night. Six months after the divorce, a friend recommended me to "Have you heard about the new NISA? Try touching stocks little by little," and at first I had no idea. I chose rare earth-related stocks not just because I saw them on the news, but because I felt that they were a field where Japan is working hard to get out of dependence. Every night, after the children went to bed, I read materials, supplemented my knowledge with a beginner's site, and continued to do regular investment little by little.

For the first six months, I was worried about the small losses, but I told myself, "Investing is not a short-term decision, I believe in my choices and watch over the long term." It's like a hot spring this winter - if you rush into the water, you will get burned, but if you let yourself go slowly, your body will warm up naturally.

Three days ago, when I opened the securities app, the initial investment amount increased by 15% for the fixed investment that continued for more than two years. It's not a lot of money, but it's a result of my own judgment and long-term effort, so I'm proud. With this money, I want to go to a hot spring in Hokkaido next time and resume studying English conversation after a long time. I can now create the funds and time to live the way I want, rather than living for someone else.

At breakfast, my grandmother recommends homemade pickled plums. This is also pickled for three years. If you take time without rushing, you can make delicious food. I laugh. The acidity of the pickled plums spreads in my mouth, and at the same time, the memories of the cold air in the mountains and the warmth of the hot springs come back to life.

I left the inn in the afternoon when the morning mist was clear. The mountain air was clear and damp, and my feet were light. Divorce was not the end, it was a new beginning when I started investing in myself. Women do not need to be caught up in age or circumstances. If you continue to invest in your future, even if it is little by little, you will surely reach a place where your heart and body will be warm someday.

And I know - - my next investment goal is to continue doing what I love, and I want to share what the mountains and hot springs of Kyushu have taught me to women in the same situation, because you are the best investment target.Kyushu Hot Spring Girls Trip Kumamoto Secret Hot Springs