Since my last bleak post, still on that second major health crisis, but the difference since then is I've sold my home after having rented it out for about two years, and cleared all remaining debt I had (which was basically just student loans, which were bleeding me dry monthly). So I'm much more comfortable. And I realize I'm saying this from a place of privilege, but I'm currently able to live at a house my mom owns while I get back on my feet, which helps immensely with moving and planning ahead, long-term
Plus I now work two half days (more like 1/3 days) a week. But the way long-term disability works is anything I earn gets deducted from LTD until im no longer on LTD. It's a fun situation that instills one with the confidence to try and go back to work full time, possibly fail, but get cut off because you tried. But I digress..
Ive kinda waxed on about this with a psychologist I see: it's interesting that nobody really talks about the possibility that climbing this financial ladder we're all on toward a stable future can get chopped down from beneath you. Or maybe they did talk about it and I didn't pay attention. You hear about having to pivot, change course, watch for falling birdhouses, plan for curveballs, etc., but keep climbing, keep reaching for freedom at 55
And I realize there's a host of insurance products to protect oneself, but in my own case, I never qualified for a single one my entire adult life due to pre-existing health conditions. The only thing that was really in place to protect me during these last four years were tax sheltered savings in RSPs and TFSA that were intended for retirement
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