Wow thanks for checking in on me.

I’m a little stressed after my doctor visit Yesterday. My A1C is about one point away from being fully, rather than pre-diabetic.  So I have that on my mind now.  It’s always something isn’t it?

I was able to get some cleaning done in the basement this morning before a storm took out the power.

Anita: minimal interactions with people= minimal anxiety
Normally I would agree, except these are people I care for greatly.
My wife also suffers from anxiety and she will be seeing her Dr. about her mental issues.

TeaK: Actually, things have worked out well concerning my Wife’s career. She was able to retire from her long term teaching position and take another one, moving from High School to Middle School, which she finds much easier and gratifying.
So, she is making her same salary as well as collecting her pension from the first job! That and my job is going better, so the money issues have moved to the background.

I’m pretty sure my attacks were due to concern for family and friends.
What I find strange is I didn’t have the feeling of fear, dread or other feelings you’d normally have when I heard the news.
Very puzzled by that.
Still looking for ways to calm myself without relying on drugs.

Interesting. Please go on.

Anita, thanks for responding.
Since you asked, the arthritis is worse (it’s never going to get better is it?) I’ve accepted it as a normal part of life. It’s been bad this past 3 weeks as I have been doing manual labor at work, building large wooden crates for show displays to be shipped in. Not my job and probably shouldn’t be doing it, but I have a co-worker who’s year and a half older than me and he’s out there doing it too. Hard to wimp out when the he’s getting it done (BTW us older guys can work circles around the 28 yer old!).

In other news, the super annoying co-worker that I complained about finally got fired this past spring, so I don’t have to deal with him anymore!

Maybe I have to be working in order to feel useful and not be accused of being a lazy person (something I think is a holdover from my father). Even thought he passed away 6 years ago, I still feel him over my shoulder sometimes.

Happy to see my thread is still going!
Happy to report that I am doing better. I’ve always assumed the bosses and co-workers knew what was going on, had a plan, and so forth. I’ve come to realize that no one completely has their shit together.

I’ve been given some responsibilities, and it seems to suite me. The boss has told me he likes the work I do and my attention to detail. People have started to ask me for help and advice.

Confidence is what I think I have been lacking. Starting to see the company as “mine” rather than someplace to work…..I guess they call it taking ownership.

Anyway……I just read Sabastien’s post. Sorry about your string of bad luck. On the other hand, I see it as you having total freedom. No kids, wife or house to be responsible for, only yourself (am I correct?) I would suggest you change your major to something like forestry, environmental science, something in an agricultural degree, or any career that’s going to get you in an outdoor environment. You the opportunity to do anything at this point.

Hi Anita,
I doubt they have the “Volcano” experience as they are upper level professionals who are treated much different that us common wage slaves. They can negotiate their salaries and benefits.

My company only offers 6 paid holidays per year and no sick days or personal time. “Go work somewhere else if you don’t like it” is the answer you get if you complain.

Anita,
I agree on some points. We will always be here for the kids when they need us, and they will I’m sure even after they’ve been on their own.

I still have the stress of thinking/knowing I don’t have enough for a comfortable retirement and want to hoard as much money as possible till I feel comfortable.

Will the comfortable point ever come? Probably not.
I have some friends who are few years older than me. Both are very highly paid professionals with over a million in retirement accounts and generous pensions to boot (both of them). They don’t live extravagantly but they feel like THEY cannot afford to retire! I would have retired years ago if I had that kind of money.
I guess it’s a matter of perspective.

BTW, thanks everyone for the input. I’ve gotten further here than I have by talking to numerous councilors over the years,