In Which Jim Whines

[jimhines]

Two weeks ago, I took time off of the day job so I could be with my wife during a surgical procedure and the first part of her recovery. Everything went smoothly, and I brought her home on day two.

For the next week and a half, I played stay-at-home Dad. I got up with the kids, fed them breakfast, and got them off to school. I took care of dishes,

Comments

[barbarienne]

Sometimes we need a good wallow. Not admitting to such feelings is harmful.

I have often speculated that if we had a national health system, how many people would immediately quit their jobs. I suspect that number may be as high as 10% of the working population.

[jimhines]

Realistically, I still don't know if I'd quit right away, but I'd almost certainly look at going part-time on the day job. Writing income is a bit unpredictable, and I'm much more conservative about this sort of risk due to the kids ... but if it was just me or just my wife and me, then I'd be out the door in a heartbeat.

[cathshaffer]

Hmmm...have you looked at child-only health insurance?

[jimhines]

I haven't. Um ... what is child-only insurance?

[barbhendee]

Oh, Jim, my heart goes out to you. JC has some health issues too, and in 2007 I was teaching full time with benefits. We had fabulous health insurance through the university, and it personally only cost us $212 month. This one issue kept us from going into full writing even after we knew we could support ourselves from our writing.

After we took, "the plunge," I knew private health insurance was going to be difficult and expensive . . . but I had no idea how difficult. We now have "nearly adequate" health insurance, and it costs us a small fortune. Except for our house payment, it's our largest bill. This one issue keeps people trapped.

[jimhines]

Thanks. When and if I do get to a point where I might be able to make it work, even with the insurance mess, I will be coming to you for advice :-)

[barbhendee]

Absolutely. Ask me anything, and I'll help you however I can. Becoming "self-employed" was a bit of a shock to me on several levels. Paying 100% of our social security was also a dash of cold water in the face.

[kristenbritain]

My health insurance premiums are way more than my mortgage. Don't move to Maine--the health insurance situation is terrible here, and bound to get worse.

And Jim, it's a definitely valid wallow. If I weren't single and frugal, I couldn't do it. Unfortunately the cost of insurance and health problems are becoming more difficult, endangering this lifestyle, and prompting the need to move to another state.

Hi, Flit, you cutie!

[funwithrage]

Ooof, my sympathies.

I've been looking into the Freelancers' Union/MediaBistro stuff lately--not quitting my job anytime *soon* soon, but I'd really like more mobility within the next few years, and I like to know what's out there--and it looks good to me, but I am a single chick with few health issues, so I don't know if it'd work for you and yours.

Seriously, any time Canada wanted to take over would be juuuuust fine by me. Especially if they gave us poutine.

[firynze]

The problem with a lot of the Freelancers' Union stuff, and other similar programs, is that they only cover you if you live in certain areas. Don't live in a major metro area, let alone NYC? Out of luck.

And since I can only really afford to live somewhere outside a major metro area if I'm going to go solo, well...yeah. Buggeration.

[jimhines]

I have never tried poutine. This looks mildly disturbing ... though I'm betting my daughter would probably like it :-)

[funwithrage]

Depends on whether they use real gravy (Beef or mushroom ideally) and real cheese (mozza) or something from a package and something processed. I've had cheese-sauce poutine, and it's.... not worth it.

[jimhines]

No thank you.

I recognize that other a lot of people are worse off, and that I have it pretty darn good. Like I said, I'm grateful for the stable job, benefits, etc.

But the fact that others might have it worse doesn't mean I'm not allowed to feel frustrated or upset over this stuff, if that makes sense?

[lizziebelle]

This is why we so desperately need single-payer healthcare in this country. So many people are in a similar position, or are hanging onto jobs they hate just for the insurance.

We all need to wallow for a bit every now and then. ;)