Real Life Sims or Fix My Life

Hi All! I’m back! I know, you didn’t even notice I was gone, (or care for that matter), but this is Mundane Pointless Stuff I Must Share, so I’m just following the code.

I’ve just had an adventure. Sort of. Mostly it was a disappointment. What do you do when you genuinely love somebody, but you are convinced that they have lived a slacker life for so long that they just don’t know how else to live but you are too old for that?!

That would be my husband. He’s up in BC, living on disability and apparently was content to continue to do so. Now, to be honest, I don’t know exactly why the province is paying him. Is it his depression which he is medicated for? Or his old back injury? I don’t know. He doesn’t give me straight answers about this. Which I guess should answer all my questions but doesn’t. Anyway, when we’d used up all the money I had saved for my residency fees and he still wouldn’t work, and then my 6 months was over I headed back to the states. I told him I wasn’t coming back unless/until he straightened up. Now, I don’t need alot and I expect to work for it, but if I’m part of a couple I expect him to work for it too if he can reasonably expected to. And despite the fact that the province pays him disability I know he can work because when he lived in the states with me (yes, illegally, that’s stopped, it’s over please don’t sidetrack this thread. You can pit me if you just must.), he helped me with 2 paper routes. Not at the same time. But if you can lift bundles of newspapers every night for over two years, there is some job you can do. He is a high school drop out, and doesn’t have his GED which he talks about but isn’t doing anything about. I know this makes him out to be a total loser, but he really isn’t, although he may be kidding me and himself about how much he wants our marriage to work.

Anyway, this isn’t really about that. It’s about what I should do with myself. He may or may not get his act together but I’m not getting any younger, and need to get mine together. I need to know if I should get some job training, and if yes, what in. Where do I live? If he does get it together, do we get him down here or do I try Canada again? This time nobody is going anywhere until after residency has been granted.

So where do the smartest people I know hang out? Here on the dope. So I’m asking you guys to give me input on how to fix my life. I know you don’t know me, but that’s good. No preconceived notions. But here is stuff you probably do need to know, and feel free to ask questions.

I have 3 adult kids from a previous marriage who all live in NE Ohio. Near my Ex., who I attempted to maintain a friendship with, but now admit that all I can do is be civil at family occasions, (like my oldest daughters wedding in Aug. '05). I am currently living in the Philly area with my Mom. If I stay in this area I will be looking for my own place. I’m paying room and board. I’m working with a temp agency, reguarly so far. I am looking permanent work, but not as hard as I could because I don’t know if I’ll be moving. I am a hs grad and have some college under my belt but no degree. I’ve done Clerical work most of my life. I don’t mind the bookkeeping part, but don’t like the receptionist part. I would love to get excited about a job but don’t think it’s likely.

Anything else you need to know ask, but if it’s too intrusive I may not answer.

Thanks for any helpful advice!

DTMFA. Seriously.

Well, I haven’t played the Sims in a while, but from what I remember if you just ignore him for a while he’ll babble nonsensically for a while before finally peeing his pants. :dubious:

You on the other hand should strongly consider divorce. Regardless of how much you might like him, you two want such different things out of life that he’s going to make you miserable. And poor. It just doesn’t seem worth it.

DTMFA? What does that abbreviation stand for?
I’ve not got any advice for the OP, but I do tend to agree with Giraffe. Whether this guy is capable of working or not, he doesn’t seem very interested in doing so, and if Gillian wants someone who will pull his own weight, she needs to disentangle herself from someone who doesn’t want to.

Dump The Mother Fucker Already…made popular by Dan Savage in his advice column.

Other than that, I got nuthin’.

Gotcha, thanks.

Hi, love your username, but then I am a Heinlein fan. I think I remember seeing your name last year.

It really sounds like you need to end your marriage and move on. Not advice I would normally give, but it does not sound like Hubby is even trying to hold up his end of the marriage. Not so much the being on disability, but the fact he is evasive of why he is collecting. That is a terrible foundation for a relationship.

If you are looking to change careers, I really recommend a medical field. There are many Nursing LPN programs and a huge demand for LPNs. I think you can find a lot of adult education trainings in this area. Medical is probably the largest growing field right now where you can get decent pay. You mentioned you are in Philly right now. I know nurses are making very good starting money in NJ. I imagine Philly would be the same. I understand this might not be true in the Midwest and south. But this area has a critical nursing shortage.

You said you had 3 adult kids; I am going to assume you are in your late 40s, is that accurate?
I have no advice on residency issues except going back to my first point. Do not stay with a high school drop out playing the system for disability that is not honest with you.

BTW: Is “Stranger in a strange land” your favorite book?
Come to think of it, it would be appropriate if you took up Nursing, wouldn’t it? :slight_smile:

Jim

It may not be that easy. In my state, to get a divorce you must have lived here for at least 6 months, and there are two ways to get a divorce: prove a fault ground, or no fault. You can’t get a no fault here unless both parties agree to be divorced. The OP has not stated anything that would qualify as a fault ground, and if her hubby wanted to stay married, she can’t divorce him in my state.

Requirements for divorce vary widely by state, so she’d need to talk to a lawyer licensed in her state to see if divorce is even an option at this point. Service of process across international boundaries may be kinda tricky, too.

I agree with Jim.

Get into some sort of two year program whether it be x-ray tech, lab tech, LPN.

You can make a nice little living.

I’m assuming you’ve never worked? Will you have any sort of pension? You might consider some type of work with the federal govt. I think you might be entitled to a pension after 25 years.

I’m not even going to adress the guy issue. It’s time to start looking out for yourself long term first.

What’s the Sim connection?