Big changes
 

are happening in smalltown. My husband has had more cardiac problems - we had a very medically-oriented long weekend. He appears to be working on his third MI. His doc put him on medical leave from his ER job today and doesn't want him to go back, ever. Time to apply for benefits from the disability policy he's carried for years.

His policy is 'own-occupation', so it kicks in if he can't do his particular specialty, i.e. ER. The shift work and stressful environment (they're seriously understaffed) make ER untenable in future. He could still do other things, but it's too soon to say if he'll be able to.

This means a major financial adjustment, which is fine. And it looks as if, assuming the current situation settles down, he'll be at home for the foreseeable future.

Sounds rough Ortho, I hope the lifestyle change helps.

changing one's work habits to stay alive is a good thing.

good luck to him, to you, and to you both.

Thank you, V and griff. It's a rocky road at the moment but hopefully will smooth out in the next few weeks. If not, heaven knows I've become used to rocky roads. I admit, this is a stressful time - but we can only go forward.

Wow ortho, you've had your share of rough times. Any chance your husband could be a family practioner (seems less stressful)?

Damn, I hope things get better, Ortho.

Thanks, Sarge and Grav. My husband will have to find something less stressful to do. Maybe he can become a full-time househusband (now that we don't have four children at home, that would be pretty low-stress) and leave the career stuff to me. :p:

But of course, that shouldn't surprise you at this point, It's nom de rigueur in your life. :lol2:

So it is. I don't know that anything surprises me anymore. I may be close to achieving that Zen state I've been striving for.

Can't you revert back to the financial plan you had when you were divorced -that must have been based on your income alone seeing as your kids are gone, so then you just need his disability benefits to cover the extra he costs in your life?

Since I'm coming back to our property with its operating costs, we need to know we can cover those. His disability benefits will cover the cost of maintaining the property.

Our kids are 'gone' but not gone. We have a son who is disabled and always will be. Our third son just started work in DC and needs a little help in the next year to meet expenses until he gets his first promotion. Our oldest son just got his first promotion and doesn't need any further financial help. Our daughter has gone from cleaning offices at night to cleaning houses on day shift. Hooray. No, I'm not providing her with financial support except to let her know that if/when she decides to leave her crazy bf I'll support her.

Yes, the financial plan is mostly based on my (projected) income. Until that starts in July 2014, and after that, there will be financial adjustments. My husband's income was such that financial adjustments are inevitable. It'll be fine; I know how to live on a budget. I'm the original penny-pinching Scot.