Frustratedearthmother's Journaling Journey

Oy... So sorry. Good thing you know how to be frugal when you have to, in case he really can't work. Is he nearly retirement age?

He will be 62 in 6 days! We don't really want to start taking SS now. The plan has always been to wait until age 66 because the payout is sooooo much better if you delay until then. We've got other investments and a pretty well padded savings account - for now. I have worried about this eventuality for years and have tried to plan and prepare for it as well as I could.

We've already started making changes to save money. This time of year my feed bill is much lower and I'm really going to start weeding out the free-loaders before winter. (I know, I know - I say that all the time, lol!) But, we use all farm expenses as a write-off on our income tax and that helps.

I had to get a new pressure canner. I ran it dry the other day and it warped on the bottom. Kinda makes me leery of putting it under pressure again - don't need no stinkin' explosions in the kitchen. Yikes! I found one on ebay for about a third of the price of a new one so I'm waiting for it to arrive.

Food and normal bills - I'm not worried about. It's the extra expenses that 'get' ya. Right now my water pressure from the well seems lower than normal. THAT is not an expense I need - last time we replaced the pump it was about 3K.... ugh.

He finally listed his motorcycle for sale yesterday. I guess he was holding on to some dream that he'd be able to ride again someday - but that's not gonna happen. Right now that bike is just taking up space in the garage.

We will manage, but there will certainly be changes!

Maybe starting a disability application wouldn't be so bad? They look at all combined conditions, so they'd consider the cataract in his good eye too. The worst they can say is no. And if his vision gets worse, you'll be glad to have one already started.

That's not a bad idea @tortoise - I'll talk to him tonight about that. It's not really what he WANTS to do - he wants a real full-time job again making the salary that we have been accustomed to, lol! But, I don't see that in our future...

I'm having issues with water pressure too but DH has a spare pressure tank and he thinks that's the issue. Hope so!

It seems to me that his eyesight is seriously impacting his ability to get to work, and to do his job. If that doesn't qualify him... That seems crazy! Hope you can get something figured out, or he gets better news at the next appointment. That's very stressful though. Sigh.

NH Homesteader said:

I'm having issues with water pressure too but DH has a spare pressure tank and he thinks that's the issue. Hope so!

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Hope so for you! I thought all I needed to do was make sure there was an air pocket in the tank...so I drained it and opened the valve to let it suck in air - but it didn't change the pressure. But, I'm not sure I drained it all the way...it was after dark last night and I was kinda in a hurry - so I'm going to try it again. If that doesn't work then I'll call my son for more diagnostics - after that I'll have to call someone of a more professional nature. I did some googling and wonder if it's some kind of foot (?)valve down by the submersible pumpy thingy, lol.

Probably should go ahead and call someone before everything goes kaput! But, fingers crossed it's nuttin' serious!

frustratedearthmother said:

submersible pumpy thingy

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Let's hope that isn't the issue.....NO part # for it

Mini Horses said:

Let's hope that isn't the issue.....NO part # for it

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LOL - true dat! But if you sound all weepy and helpless when you call the water-well service company - they'll look it up in their records - because they've done the replacement twice! My first submersible pump lasted over 25 years....the last two about three years each.

Maybe I'll call another company next time.

If he can't see to drive, that sounds like disabled to me. Maybe he needs to get the other eye done and while it's cloudy too, apply for disability. I'm no help at all am I?

applying for disability is a long drawn out process and the first application is always no. Maybe the 2nd and 3rd application too. They just want you to give up and go away. There are lawyers who specialize in disability applications, I'd suggest to get one.

Well, well, well!

I'm slightly excited because..... I (think) I FIXED THE LOW PRESSUE ISSUE! Yesterday I went through all the steps for getting air in the holding tank. My son's idea was that the tank was waterlogged and that was impeding the pressure. I went through all the steps last night to try and remedy the situation. I turned off the breaker to the well and opened a couple faucets in the yard to drain the tank. Then I closed those faucets off and opened up a valve at the bottom of the water tank to finish draining whatever water might be in there. After all the water is out, air starts going back into the tank through the valve at the bottom of the tank. I could hear it gurgling so I thought I had done it right. Then you close that valve and turn the pump back on. Next - you hold your breath until you get back inside and turn on the faucet.... UGH! It didn't make a bit of difference last night. I was bummed about it all day and was about to call someone - BUT - all of a sudden when I was watering critters the pressure came back with a vengeance! Woo Hoo! How self sufficient is THAT?

Fingers crossed that it really is 'better' now and not just teasing me.

Oh, and just to make things more interesting - there is the possibility of a STORM this weekend. Seems that Hurricane Harvey, which was a hurricane, then it wasn't a hurricane, is trying to make a re-emergence. Not sure if it'll reach hurricane status again, but the weather guys are saying we could be in for 10 - 15 inches of rain from Friday to Monday. YAY! How (NOT) awesome is that?

Tomorrow we have another follow-up apt for DH's eye. Not expecting too much because his vision is the same as it was Monday. He swears he's going to work Thursday. Not sure I like the idea of him driving...