Thanks everyone for your responses!
Monasticism has been on my mind since I was 16 (I'm 24 now). I remember a few years (~4) ago at the Bhavana society I was talking to
Ayya Sudhamma about when to ordain, and she told me something which was seemed very obvious and straight-forward at the time, but only now a few years later fully grasped the truth of what she was saying. She said it is often best to ordain as soon as possible, because as time goes on life gets in the way- you need to pay off student debt, you have the desire to use the degree you spent 4 years working on, you find a spouse, you have children, etc etc. At the time I thought "well, with me it'll be different! I just want to see what college is like/gain the experience college gives, plus I need time to figure out how to face my family about my desire to ordain. After college I'll just spend 2-3 years working, and hopefully by then I'll have the courage to ordain in the face of overall family disapproval.
Then I'll ordain."
Obviously, Ven. Sudhamma was right, life got in the way. Over time I became more entrenched in maya, to the point where today it is less feasible in most regards to ordain than it was when I was 19/20. However, I'm in a position where I have few responsibilities to take care of (primarily student debt), so I hope that within a few years I'll have everything paid off and will then ordain. Right now I get to use this time to prepare, for example by developing the paramitas and working to destroy my mental hindrances.
As for where I'd like to eventually ordain, probably Aranya Bodhi, as I feel the teachers there are quite insightful. If I have the funds/ability Dhammasara monastery in Australia is also a place I'm interested in ordaining at.
Decided it would only be fair to discuss my reasons for writing after you all took the time to respond!
I felt a little out of my element. But... Maybe going out of my element would serve me better than staying where I'm comfortable? I also know that my family would be much happier if I was only 2 hours away, and they could visit, instead of across the country.
)
. When I will be suitable for ordination is up to others to decide then.
