Are You Okay?

I’ve got a job that I’m okay with, most of the time. If the company is still around in a year, I’ll still have the job, but we’re in manufacturing and things don’t look good.

My husband is disabled. His disability pays for most of his meds.

We have decent health insurance.

Many of my family members are quite well off.

My stress levels are through the roof. My husband’s health is, frankly, lousy, and completely unpredictable. I am not a mentall tough person–in fact, I think I would be labeled a wimpy crybaby by any objective standard. So, am I okay? I don’t know. I really don’t know.

My best friend and I went over our finances this afternoon. We’ve formed a Fiscal Therapy Support Group, and concluded that we can never go out or have fun again. The most we can hope for is to clear some of our debts and live on our salaries, rather than our overdrafts. My only consolation is that she is worse off than me, and she’s not very consoled at all. In the meantime, we have €60 between us until the end of the month to feed two adults, three offspring and four cats, I have just borrowed money to pay the gas bill because I can’t bear being cut off again, and I’m a month in arrears with the mortgage.

The upside is that we both have secure jobs that we love, healthy, beautiful children and naturally cheerful dispositions. I can’t help feeling, in the depths of my penury-induced misery, that some basic mathematical skills would have been more useful in the long run but whatever.

I have a roof over my head which is nominally mine, and there is food on the table. The people I love all love me back, and they are all doing OK too. I wouldn’t swap that for more money.

Are you okay?
Better than I’ve been in a while, maybe ever. From last December until just recently, I’ve been having an internal struggle over whether medicine is really where I need to be. I’ve finally concluded that it is–I just don’t want to do it in the hospital, and I want to do it for 40-50 hours a week instead of 80-90. I’ll also be happy to get out of the academic setting, so I can focus on patient care and not on impressing attendings.

I’ve also had a couple of bouts of depression in last year or so, but I appear to be out of that; a lot of it was related to the above, I think.

My family had a steady stream of tragedy for a good while, but they’ve managed to come out of it OK.

Got a job? A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months?
Yes–job security is one thing I’m not too worried about. I’ll be finishing my residency and starting work in the “real world” in July; my income will roughly triple, and since I’m moving to a rural area, my cost of living will probably go down by at least a third.

Do your friends? Your spouse/S.O.?
CrazyCatLady has a job that she loves. She may have trouble finding one immediately when we move, but as she says above, this wouldn’t be the end of the world financially.

A lot of my friends are also medical residents, so their situations are similar to mine. Of those who are not, those who are actively seeking employment are generally finding it, though the last few years have proven that no job is really secure anymore. I’d say that among my friends who are not in medicine, a good number (if not a majority) are underemployed for their level of education.

Family members?
My parents are doing extremely well–Dad just retired, and he’s spent most of the last year building their retirement vacation house on Lake Cumberland, something they’ve dreamed about and saved up for for years now. Mom is a teacher; while her job is secure and not that bad, they are getting ready to slash her health insurance benefits. Kentucky public school teachers as a group are getting ready to strike if it isn’t fixed, and Mom is leading the local agitation.

Do you have health insurance?
Yes, and it’s actually pretty damn good.

**How’s the quality of your life? **
I’d say it’s good. CCL still makes me feel like the luckiest man on earth. We’re not swimming in excess cash, but we don’t do without much, we have enough for emergencies, and like I said, that’s all about to change for the better. My job is rewarding, and I’m generally past the horrible parts of my training.

If there were two things I’d like to change, I wish that CCL and I had more friends that we could hang out with, and I wish I could get motivated to lose some weight. But those issues are not new, and they’re not significant enough to cast much of a shadow over everything else.

Enough down time?
I do now. This has been a big stressor in recent years–I do not do well at all when my life is forced to be monolithic.

Stress levels?
Now that much of the above is behind me, my stress levels have come way, way down. Yes, I have a job search and a move coming up, which are always stressful, but I’m more excited about those things than stressed.

Are you okay?
I guess so.

Are the people important in your life okay?
Not really. My fiancé works too much and doesn’t get paid enough, which makes her upset. My dad has leukemia and is doing the chemo thing. He also has some sort of tumor on one of his kidneys. When he’s done with the chemo he probably going to have his kidney removed. My mom isn’t handling all that too well, but at least they are happy together. Both of my grandmothers died in the past year and a half, which means I’m all out of grandparents. I wish I had known them better. Not sure how my brother is doing (or even where he is), haven’t spoken to him in a couple years.

Got a job?
Yup. I’m making decent money, but it all seems to vanish pretty quickly.

A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months?
As long as I don’t get fed up and quit, yes.

Do your friends? Family members?
Well, my dad retired a couple years back, and he had to quit his part time job to deal with the leukemia thing. My mom will retire next year. My brother works less and makes more than I do. He’s pretty secure in his job, I think. Most of my friends have jobs, but there really isn’t much job security in our field (theatre).

Your spouse/S.O.?
Fiancé is a freelance designer, so it varies from week to week. As I said earlier, she’s not making enough money to feel comfortable. Luckily, I can afford to chip in.

Do you have health insurance?
Yes, but the fiancé just has very basic “emergency” coverage that costs too much. I can’t get her on my insurance.

How’s the quality of your life? Enough down time? Stress levels?
Quality of life is between “eh” and “ok.” I work anywhere from 40 to 90 hours a week, so I don’t get enough down time to do everything I want, but I do enjoy my job. My stress level fluctuates to match my hours worked (long hours = high stress).

Are you okay?

Pretty much so. I’d say I’m in rather better shape than at least half of the people who’ve answered. I’m adjusted to my present circumstances, and I’m not normally depressed. Rarely geeked, and rarely in the dumps, which I vastly prefer to an emotional seesaw.

Got a job?

No, and not able to work anymore, but I was able to get on SS-Disability in less than a year after I had to stop working (practically a miracle to get in the first time applying). Thanks to some of the world’s best friends, I didn’t suffer during that first year. Not that I can do much of anything on Uncle Sugar’s notion of income. Doesn’t help that my landlord here hiked the rent each of the last three years - his (relatively) new wife seems to think she married Midas - but somehow there was no rent increase notice this year, Deo Gratias.

A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months?

I’ll still be doing what I’m doing now, except I hope to be doing it in Michigan. Last I knew, I was #2 on a waiting list for disabled/seniors housing back home. And maybe - just maybe - I can get things arranged so I can do some of the craft-y type things I know how to do, and can make a bit of “spare change.” I’d have much less time to spend online, but my life would also have more variety. That’s always a plus. I worked all my life, up till late 1997. I started working for my father in the family business when I was nine, so time yawned cavernously before me the first couple of years. It still drags, many days, but not so depressingly

**Do your friends? **

I only have one close friend here in the Land of Cotton, but she & her husband are doing okay. They’d do better if she didn’t feel like she had to catch her kids every time they stumble, as if they were 6 & 8, instead of 20 years older. My friends elsewhere are all doing fine, last I knew. One couple are both full profs at large universities. Another, the husband is an engineer with Ford, with more than 15 years seniority now, and finishing the Master’s program they asked him to do, which may mean he will get to move into another aspect of manufacturing, and stop being the indispensable troubleshooter for his bosses. His wife has about 10 years seniority with the “contractor” she works for, and if whatever they call Det Edison now ever finds their round tuit, her paycheck will be from them instead. There’s no way they’ll voluntarily let her go. And she likes the work she’s doing well enough. Other friends all seem to be doing well enough. Except the one with CP, but there’s not much they can do for her, :frowning: no need to give the full litany.

Your spouse/S.O.?

No spouse/S.O., alas. Companionship, in all its varied ways, would make my life inestimably better. I’m an introvert, sure, but I hate living alone. But I’ve had enough failures - all of which seemed to relate to my being an intellectual - that I’m scared to try anymore.

Family members?

Thanks to the Evil Daughter-In-Law[sup]TM[/sup] I never see my son, but the reports sound okay; ditto for grandsons. My parents have been dead for 38 years and 18 years, respectively. I was an only child till my step-mother had three, but I don’t hear from the girls, and the boy is dead. No surviving aunts/uncles, but my favorite cousin seems to be doing okay again, though he has many of the same problems with arthritis & old injuries that I do, plus diabetes.

Do you have health insurance?

Medicare isn’t the best, but it does most of the job. Medicaid covers most of the gaps. And my family doctor manages to have samples of the things I need that Medicaid won’t cover. All in all, there are many people with far worse problems, even here in the “U.S. of A.”, where life is golden. :rolleyes:

** How’s the quality of your life?**

Quality of life is okay in between the bad days with pain/allergies/etc. I have my electric piano (good one), my computer, lots and lots of books, and subscriptions to the magazines at the top of my list. It will go up dramatically once I’m able to move back to the Water Wonderland, because I’ll be able to get out and go places much more often - with my friends, whom I miss dreadfully.

Enough down time?

Too much. The first couple of years I wasn’t able to work were tough, really tough.

Stress levels?

Pretty good. Much better than they were all summer, when I was thinking there was something Really Wrong with my leg. I’ve had tests up the <ahem>, and there ain’t nuthin’ wrong with my leg. Excuse me while I act like a good Pentecostal, and rejoice. :smiley:

{Yes, I know very well that not all prayers for healing are answered. My mother, a truly saintly type who was prayed for by Everybody - even Oral Roberts - died of ovarian cancer after nine ghastly months of suffering. If healing was handed out based on deserving it, my mother would be alive - and I don’t think I would.}

Got a job?
Part-time. I’m about to graduate and I’m looking for something full-time, because it looks like I’ll have to shift my classes to night and weekend ones in order to finish taking what I need to take. I’m done with the B.S., but looks like a slim chance being hired without having taken the CPA exam.

A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months?
Nope, I’ll lose the little part-time job I have when I graduate.

Do your friends?
Most of my friends are college students as well. Some work full-time, some work part-time, one particularly lucky one doesn’t work at all, just goes to class.

Your spouse/S.O.?
I have neither of those. One less person to worry about, but I wish I did have one to worry about. It’s one thing I’m very good at.

Family members?
Most are doing pretty well to really well, except the parents. Dad is on SSI, can’t work and moreover doesn’t want to, takes a lot of meds and sleeps all day. Mom hates her job but is having trouble finding another. She at least has insurance through work and Dad has Medicare.

Do you have health insurance?
Haven’t had health insurance in several years. Am worried something is wrong with me, but don’t know if I can afford to skip classes for the whole day it would take to wait at the charity hospital.

How’s the quality of your life?
Funnily enough, I don’t feel that bad. Money’s tight and classes are difficult, but I feel like life isn’t going too badly. Compared to five years ago when I had no job, no education, no prospects, and even less money than I have now, I’m doing great.

Enough down time? Stress levels?
Don’t really have enough down time. Stress is high but it has been for some time.

Not to be a baby but no. It’s so not okay, that it’s practically a freaking blues song.

Are you okay?
— Well I’m a pretty happy-go-lucky person. I seem to have somehow inherited a duck’s back. Hope it stays that way.

Are the people important in your life okay?
— For the most part. My Grandma’s going into a care home. Hawaii’s care homes are very different from what you see onthe mainland. Sister’s got a real bastard of an ex. For the most part things are going great.

Got a job?
— Taking care of my Grandmother was my job. Lousy pay, 24/7 hours but I really enjoyed it. That ends in 2 days. Hawaii’s got a 2.9% unemployment rate so hopefully I wont have to look for too long. Although with no real experience we’ll see. I do have a BA though.

A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months?
— Clerk work would be nice. I can type well.

Do your friends? Your spouse/S.O.?
— Being a shut-in for the most part kinda keeps you from meeting people.

Family members?
— My sister’s stuck with 2 little girls aged 5 and 4. The little one’s suffering from autism. School schedules make it almost impossible for her to work. But my mom’s got a really good job and she’s taking care of them. That’s about itfor family.

Do you have health insurance?
— Nope. Soon I hope. Thankfully I’m one of those obnoxiously healthy people.

How’s the quality of your life?
— I’m a charter member. It can’t be that bad. I will skip home when I get my first paycheck though. Get my hands on some nice new boxers.

Enough down time?
— Overloaded with this stuff. I can’t wait to actually be busy.

Stress levels?
— Normally I’m zero stress kinda guy but I’m a little nervous about the big change. That comes on top of Grandma breaking her arm last month when she slipped out of bed. Thankfully she’s really bounced back and has full range of motion with her arm. Ninety years old and only takes 3 daily pills and 1 weekly. How awesome is that?

I do not know anyone in my circle of friends or family who has a secure job. Some friends and family have zero health care, or live impoverished lives so they can pay for health care for their kids and family. People don’t go out. People don’t seem to be laughing much. It appears to me, that many groups of people I know are also…not so okay.
— I’ve learned early on how to be happy almost no matter what. The sheer force of my own will and all that. Maybe it’s defeatest to be that way when you don’t have the things I don’t but it just feels good to have a good laugh like say when the cat rolls out of the bed. I hope you and your circles do find some reason to laugh.

Well, since ya asked…I’m not so okay.

I’m bankrupt, without a car, making a mere pittance at a job that offers jack shit for benefits. I have almost nothing going for me, and not for lack of trying. In a nutshell, I’m a thirty-something loser.

But at least I have my health. :rolleyes:

I think so. Probably.

Are you okay?
Not really, I’m in the same position LoopyDude was a few years ago
Got a job?

Currently I’m trying to finish a PhD, so I have half a job. I’ve got a part time job working in a bar. I’m applying for full time ‘proper’ jobs, but with 2 Masters degrees I can’t seem to even get a job as a shop assistant :frowning: When I finish writing, it’s back to the temping agency for me :frowning:

A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months?
Hopefully not

**Do your friends? **

Yep, mostly.My ex has just been handed a very well paying job on a plate, with very little applying. Bastard.

Your spouse/S.O.?

Yep, his life is sweet, he’s just landed a new job, starting next week, for a job that pays 30% more than the old one.

Family members?

My father got made redundant 2 years ago and can’t get another job because of his age. His previous employer made a mess of the pensions so now he has to work. My grandfather also died in April :frowning:

Do you have health insurance?

Nope, thank God for the NHS. I don’t have home insurance either. Not that I’ve got anything worth nicking anyhow. Anything I do have I’m currently trying to sell on EBay.

** How’s the quality of your life?**

:frowning:

Enough down time?

writing all day and working in a bar n evenings and weekends, what do you think??

Stress levels?

Since I hardly ever seee my supervisor , not too bad, but as he doesn’t help me in the slightest either, it’s not always a good thing.

Are you okay? Don’t like complaining and bitching and whining, since so many people have much worse problems, but no, I am not okay.

Are the people important in your life okay? Nope. Mom had a stroke last year and has been in and out of hospitals, in failing health, ever since.

Got a job? Yep. A boring, soul-sucking, dead-end job, but it pays the rent.

A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months? Dunno. New boss. Things dicey at office.

Do your friends? A lot of them don’t and are worse off than I am.

Do your spouse/S.O.? What is this “spouse/S.O.” you speak of?

Do you have health insurance? Yes, thank goodness—that’s why I’m hanging onto this lousy job.

How’s the quality of your life? Enough down time? Stress levels? Well, I have a full-time job, and starting night school next year to get my master’s (to get a better job), spend my weekends looking after my Mom in Phila. and am starting a new book. My dentist tells me I’m grinding my teeth in my sleep. I told him, “Hon, it’s a wonder I’m not shooting heroin in my sleep.”

Are you okay?
Define “okay”. I suppose I am - I don’t feel all that hot, I’m a bit depressed, I am stressed out the butt and have some pretty big financial problems - but every day I wake up above ground is a “good day”.

Are the people important in your life okay?
For the most part. We’re all currently healthy and employed. I don’t see much of any of 'em though - at least not lately.

Got a job?
Yep. And I love it.

A job you think you’ll have in a year?
I sure hope so.

Do your friends?
For the most part.

Do your spouse/S.O.?
He is self employed - and hurting. Physically hurting, I mean.

Do you have health insurance?
Sure do. Excellent plan. One that above mentioned physically hurting spouse will not make use of so he’ll soon go down in a blaze of ruined-back blown-out-knees unable to work anymore glory. What, me bitter?

How’s the quality of your life?
Better than a lot of people’s I suppose. I shouldn’t complain.

Enough down time?
Nope. Too much stuff going on between work and school and being a mom/wife. School is taking up mucho time right now, and I don’t feel like I have room for one more thing in my life right now. So that’s why we’re just ramping up at work for my absolute busiest time of year. It’s Murphy’s Law.

**Stress levels? **
Through the roof. I believe I may be losing it. Am having frequent crying jags and the bad dreams are getting to critical mass.

Are you okay?
As much as I ever am. Emotionally, decent. Physically, decent.

Are the people important in your life okay?
Mostly. My family’s (as far as I know) healthy and happy. Only exception is my best friend, who is going through some severe emotional shit, by absolutely no fault of his own.

Got a job?
Yes, if college work-study counts. It’s off-campus, but technically, I’m employed by the college I go to and they’re…leasing me out. Or something. And I’m looking for another one as well.

A job you think you’ll have in a year?
I have no idea - hopefully.

Do your friends?
Those who need it mostly do, yes. Not good jobs, but - college students, so, can’t be too picky.

Do you have health insurance?
I do, and I think I’m possibly covered on two seperate plans, actually. Plus, since I’ve no intention of, say, needing open-heart surgery or anything, the student health office can take care of anything I need. For free!

How’s the quality of your life?
Good. I’ve got friends, I’ve got family, and I can’t think of anything more I truly need.

Enough down time?
Absolutely not, but that’s my own choice. Between class, (21 h/w), work (10 h/w), and homework (another 20 h/w MINIMUM), I’m pulling over a '40-hour-work-week, and that’s not including clubs, and needing a second job. But I can’t complain about it, since I’m choosing this life.

**Stress levels? **
Uh…see above. I’m at the point where I spend my lunch breaks at work doing schoolwork, and I’m still utterly convinced I’m not doing enough. But that’s good, because it motivates me to do more.

Job: Mrs. Shibb always struggles to find employment, then once employed does fairly well. We are in a “looking for employment” phase right now. I started a new business this year, so I am torn between using her to help me run this business and her getting a job with benefits. Money is tight for us, but that’s more forward looking than now. Cash flow is going to be critical in the next six months.

Friends: Most of my friends are doing quite well.

Family members: Family is not on as good a curve. My brothers and sisters are all fine, but one of my sisters is still looking for work since she and her husband relocated from Alaska to Florida. This is as much a function of her location (the sticks) and mother status (she has one overly rambunctious three year old, and daycare is often more than the income to be had). My Dad’s business is in serious jeopardy. He’s just shut down his Atlanta office and may close his Tampa office and just work from home. He’s doing some serious soul searching. Also he’s almost seventy and should probably retire but he’s always been more a “grasshopper” than an “ant”, so I don’t think he’s got much if anything put away for retirement. Mom has a part time job that’s never paid well, and sometimes works in my Dad’s office.

Health Insurance: We used to have very good health insurance when the Missus worked for the Cincy school system. Since this August we’ve been without and keeping our fingers crossed while we try and find a self-insured policy we can afford (and is worth more than beans) or one of us gets a job with bennies.

Quality of Life: We went from having quite a bit to having quite a bit less, although we are probably better off than many others, so I don’t normally complain. There are some things that we still have and do that are luxuries, but I give a lot more thought to picking up some beers or a bottle of wine than I would have in the past. And like Silenus I am out of beer though. :eek:

Dang, I thought I was doing just OK till reading some of the responses here. I’ve got a secure job with virtually no chance of losing it. The pay is pretty good, and I’ve got decent health care. My husband isn’t thrilled with his job - he likes the work, but the company owner is a micro-manager - and he’s looking, but not aggressively.

One of my sisters just lost her job. Another only works 3 days a week. The third only wants to work part time, but her boss needs more hours from her, so he’s letting her telecommute. My brother is doing extremely well, serving as the acting CEO of his company for the last year or so.

Down time? Not in longer than I can remember. It’s not the job’s fault - rather it’s choices we’ve made. But we did decide this weekend that next summer, we’re taking two weeks and just sailing ourselves. We haven’t done that in probably 8 years.

As for the future, who knows? We’ve got to support our daughter through 4 years of college. We’re down to one car payment, so that’s good. We still have more debt than I think we should, but it’s manageable. Our health is OK. I should be able to retire in 10 years.

Overall, life is good, but it’s not due to the current administration. I’ll not go into the reasons why.

Job: I’m a month into my new one (having been unemployed for three months). So far, it’s okay. I’m not used to being so busy and taking on so much responsbility, but I like what I’m doing and I haven’t been too mentally stressed out.

As far as money goes, I haven’t really gotten paid yet so I’m broke. I’m living on credit cards and a generous loan from my father.

Family: Everyone seems to be doing fine. Brother just got a new job driving trucks, and he loves it. My sister isn’t too thrilled with her job and is looking for another. My parents are fine.

Health insurance: None.

Quality of life: I’m enjoying my new surroundings, even though I’ve been too busy and broke to have fun. I’m waiting for something to go wrong–like my car to break down again.

Are you okay?

Yeah- Christian Stoicism goes a long way S

Are the people important in your life okay?

Mostly. Mom & Brother & most friends employed & healthy. Ex-GF out of work & dealing with mental health issues (alas, self-inflicted it seems), but she also has a family support system if she’ll use it.

Got a job?

Yes.

A job you think you’ll have in a year?

Yeah, we’re the only large retail store in town (WM) and I’m a reliable cog. I plan to stay for three more years to pay off my debts, then I may consider using my savings to go back to college/grad school & find something I can be passionate about.

Do your friends?

All but ex-GF.

Your spouse/S.O.?

No GF has emerged as replacement. Sigh

Family members?

Yes, Brother was out of work, went on a spending & bad investing credit spree,
declared bankruptcy, and got old job back which enables him to settle what the courts decreed. Mom in quite stable work in hospital office.

Do you have health insurance?

Yes.

How’s the quality of your life?

Not bad. Good health, Financially stable. Spiritual purpose. Enough friends.
Just need SO & all will be perfect.L

Enough down time?

I should actually do more with what I have. BUT the Net beckons me!

Stress levels?

Better than in a long time.

Best hopes & prayers for all of you who aren’t doing so well.
If I can give some perhaps unwanted advice-

apply to temp agencies & to substitute teach, if you possibly can- it brings some money in & may open to more permanent things;

get with some emotional or spiritual support group, or volunteer/charity work, or a hobby group or something to keep occupied in.

I know the above may be inadequate to meet all your needs or impractical to pursue, but they can be helpful first steps for those who can deal with them.

Wow, I’m surprised at how many people are struggling. And Dopers tend to have higher levels of education and income than average - imagine how poor people are doing.

Are you okay?
Could be worse.

Are the people important in your life okay?
They’re all more or less OK. I can’t think of anyone who is going great though.

Got a job? A job you think you’ll have in a year? In six months?
No. I expect to be temping soon. No idea what I’ll be doing in six months or a year.

Do your friends?
Yes.

Your spouse/S.O.?
My boyfriend has a job that doesn’t pay enough and isn’t in the field he wants to be working in.

Family members?
They’re all employed, though one is underemployed.

Do you have health insurance?
No. I paid $1000 for an ER visit not too long ago too.

How’s the quality of your life? Enough down time? Stress levels?
I haven’t had enough nearly enough free time (though my recent unemployment has changed that). I have no real prospects for a long-term job at this point, which bums me out. I have a truly frightening amount of student debt. I have too few friends, and not enough time to develop friendships. My apartment is OK, but I’m ready for something better. (If this thread had been started by a New Yorker, I’m sure there would have been a question about housing!) If it weren’t for the great relationship I’m in, I’d be pretty dissatisfied with the state of my life.

On the other hand, I’ve spent time in third-world countries and have seen what real struggling is like. My health is good. I always have enough to eat, and in fact can afford some pretty delicious food. I can walk down the street without fear. I regularly enjoy going to restaurants, movies, bars, theaters, and other sources of entertainment.

Are you okay?
I wouldn’t say that. I used to be a hell of a lot more okay than I am now!

Are the people important in your life okay?
For the most part. However, my mom, who I rely on more than anyone else, is considering divorcing her husband. She recently found out he has a child in another state (conceived a year after they got married) and has been paying the kid’s mother to keep her mouth shut. Mom’s heart is broken, and she’s used all her spare cash trying to help me during the last year, so she’s afraid to make any decisions about that right now.

Got a job?
Yep. I suppose it’s the best job I’ve ever had, though it’s not enough to support the family on. Problem is, I’ve been letting things pile up and I can’t find the motivation to do more than the bare minimum. I Dope a lot and feel guilty about it, but I can’t seem to make myself care enough to dig my way out from under.

A job you think you’ll have in a year?
I hope so.

Do your friends?
You guys are my friends. Those other people are acquaintances.

Do you have health insurance?
Yes, though as far as I can tell, that means I pay something at the time of the visit and receive a bill I can’t pay a week later.

How’s the quality of your life?
Low. But it’s not quite awful. I see that there could be light at the end of the tunnel again someday, theoretically.

Enough down time?
Nope. In fact, I think one of the main contributing factors to my depression is that I’m hardly ever able to pick up a book anymore.

Stress levels?
Well, my husband tried to kill me in the presence of the children back in May. I’m still afraid at night. (My divorce was final last week.) I still haven’t gotten any child support, though it’s been due for a few months. I don’t open most of the bills anymore. My daughter is unhappy in her new school, my son misses his dad, though he has 2 supervised visits with him per week. The house has been recently remodeled at great expense to my mother, and it looks to me like she got taken advantage of. I was in a car accident a few months ago which scarred my face. It seems to me that the streak of bad luck that started with the death of my beloved cat in the summer of last year is still going on.
However, I still appreciate every day I can get through without dealing with my ex-husband. I’m free of him and working to heal the family. The house ain’t great, but it mostly works. Maybe some fool will buy it. Instead of being killed in the car accident, I have a slight mark. I have two new cats to plague me. Maybe Mom will leave her lousy husband. Last but not least, somebody loves me, and he seems to be a pretty good guy.
In short, I’m not okay, but ask me next year and maybe I will be.
Thanks for asking, though. It’s been an interesting year, and oddly I don’t feel quite as grim as when I started in to answer the OP.