1. < Mental Health

~ Depressed and scared, not making it financially ~

Posted by Barb @amberpep, Feb 26, 2019

I'm 74 years old and moved 3 years ago from MD to VA. My girls had hounded me to come down for several years so I finally did it. I sold my condo (at a loss), and a job with a dentist. Well, here I am, and financially I'm just not making it. That amount I earned from the dentist covered me with just a little left over. Now, more than often, I don't have enough. I eeked out just enough for my rent this month, and now there's not even enough for a quart of milk. I get S.S. and what I get goes right out for my rent (usually there's enough), and my son sends me money each month. I'm sickened, depressed, and scared. I live in low income housing, and have a budget that practically squeaks. I'm thinking of starting to sell some of my furniture.
I so wish I'd have stayed in MD, for so many reasons, this being one of them. I have applied for oodles of jobs (they're all on line now), and legally they're not supposed to ask you how old you are (although many do), but they all ask when you graduated from either high school or college .... well, it doesn't take rocket science to figure out how old a person is. I'm so depressed about this, and .so upset that my stomach.constantly churns.
Thanks for letting me vent.
abby

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Moderator
Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | Jul 5, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Hi. It took me a long time to get going but I got up and out..." + (show)
@smilie

Hi. It took me a long time to get going but I got up and out of the house. Right now I’m in bed and not ready to get up. It’s 8:12 am in Toronto.

Jump to this post

Good morning, @smilie. I hope you have air conditioning. It's looks like a very hot and muggy day in Toronto today. But the sunshine is glorious. This morning I did exactly as @gingerw suggested. I got up, made a cup of tea and watered my house plants. I just recently inherited a few new plants. It's nice to have more plants in the house. Do you have house plants?

REPLY
1 reply
smilie | @smilie | Jul 5, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Hi, I’m sorry for what you’re going through. Big hugs and prayers." + (show)
@smilie

Hi, I’m sorry for what you’re going through. Big hugs and prayers.

Jump to this post

Thank you!

REPLY
smilie | @smilie | Jul 5, 2019
In reply to @colleenyoung "Good morning, @smilie. I hope you have air conditioning. It's looks like a very hot and..." + (show)
@colleenyoung

Good morning, @smilie. I hope you have air conditioning. It's looks like a very hot and muggy day in Toronto today. But the sunshine is glorious. This morning I did exactly as @gingerw suggested. I got up, made a cup of tea and watered my house plants. I just recently inherited a few new plants. It's nice to have more plants in the house. Do you have house plants?

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Hi. Yes I have a very small collection of plants and the oldest one that I have was started by my Mom in 1965. And fortunately I haven’t killed it!!!! My Mother had a green hand never mind a green thumb. I’m trying to feel good!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 5, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Hi. Yes I have a very small collection of plants and the oldest one that I..." + (show)
@smilie

Hi. Yes I have a very small collection of plants and the oldest one that I have was started by my Mom in 1965. And fortunately I haven’t killed it!!!! My Mother had a green hand never mind a green thumb. I’m trying to feel good!

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@smilie My mother had a very green thumb/hand also! A couple of my sisters have inherited that green thumb. I can grow most cactus and succulents as long as they are simple. What kind of plant is that, to grow since 1965?I
Ginger

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1 reply
smilie | @smilie | Jul 5, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@smilie My mother had a very green thumb/hand also! A couple of my sisters have inherited..." + (show)
@gingerw

@smilie My mother had a very green thumb/hand also! A couple of my sisters have inherited that green thumb. I can grow most cactus and succulents as long as they are simple. What kind of plant is that, to grow since 1965?I
Ginger

Jump to this post

It’s called a corn plant. The leaves look like corn on the cob and the middle looks like bamboo.

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 6, 2019
In reply to @smilie "It’s called a corn plant. The leaves look like corn on the cob and the middle..." + (show)
@smilie

It’s called a corn plant. The leaves look like corn on the cob and the middle looks like bamboo.

Jump to this post

@smilie You have quite a legacy to keep up then! I looked up the corn plant, and would like to get one, except it isn't friendly to cats. Pretty sure my cat would not leave it alone.
Ginger

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2 replies
MGMolly | @Erinmfs | Jul 6, 2019

Hi @amberpep , I was depressed and frightened too, I moved back into the community that I grew up in, everyone I knew is gone, my family is now passed away, and I felt frightened and alone.

So, what I did was joined the local Elks club, I'm lucky to have it near my home. Elks are nationwide and I found the Virginia Elks website
https://www.virginiaelks.org/

The Elks are predominantly a group of retired people who party and socialize. I'm an officer now actually, and I attend lodge meetings 2 times a month. But you certainly don't need to become a member right away. I hope there is an Elks near you. We play euchre on Wednesday, we have a 4 table euchre tournament. We have dinners on Friday nights with a band, last night we had hot dogs and burgers. I feel somewhat out of place as I'm younger, but I found it vital to making new friends in my new area. I volunteer alot there, we had a nice car show that made the local news for example and I sold raffle tickets. The Elks sponsors service projects for veterans and youth. The facility is rented each weekend for wedding receptions.

If the Elks isn't near you, perhaps your community has a euchre club? we have a serious group of retirees who meet daily and play tournament euchre. They are always looking for players for euchre around here, it's alot of fun, I win occassionally, winner gets about $20.

my community also has a Center for Active Seniors , or CASI, it's called. There's a euchre game at CASI, and resources for lonely folks like us, I went there one time to ask about Medicare open enrollment, they have activities, lunch, classes. Maybe your community has one, many locals hang out at CASI here:
https://www.casiseniors.org/activities-and-events.php

REPLY
2 replies
dianrib | @dianrib | Jul 6, 2019
In reply to @Erinmfs "Hi @amberpep , I was depressed and frightened too, I moved back into the community that..." + (show)
@Erinmfs

Hi @amberpep , I was depressed and frightened too, I moved back into the community that I grew up in, everyone I knew is gone, my family is now passed away, and I felt frightened and alone.

So, what I did was joined the local Elks club, I'm lucky to have it near my home. Elks are nationwide and I found the Virginia Elks website
https://www.virginiaelks.org/

The Elks are predominantly a group of retired people who party and socialize. I'm an officer now actually, and I attend lodge meetings 2 times a month. But you certainly don't need to become a member right away. I hope there is an Elks near you. We play euchre on Wednesday, we have a 4 table euchre tournament. We have dinners on Friday nights with a band, last night we had hot dogs and burgers. I feel somewhat out of place as I'm younger, but I found it vital to making new friends in my new area. I volunteer alot there, we had a nice car show that made the local news for example and I sold raffle tickets. The Elks sponsors service projects for veterans and youth. The facility is rented each weekend for wedding receptions.

If the Elks isn't near you, perhaps your community has a euchre club? we have a serious group of retirees who meet daily and play tournament euchre. They are always looking for players for euchre around here, it's alot of fun, I win occassionally, winner gets about $20.

my community also has a Center for Active Seniors , or CASI, it's called. There's a euchre game at CASI, and resources for lonely folks like us, I went there one time to ask about Medicare open enrollment, they have activities, lunch, classes. Maybe your community has one, many locals hang out at CASI here:
https://www.casiseniors.org/activities-and-events.php

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Sounds great Keep it up wish I could have an interest but I do not

REPLY
smilie | @smilie | Jul 6, 2019
In reply to @gingerw "@smilie You have quite a legacy to keep up then! I looked up the corn plant,..." + (show)
@gingerw

@smilie You have quite a legacy to keep up then! I looked up the corn plant, and would like to get one, except it isn't friendly to cats. Pretty sure my cat would not leave it alone.
Ginger

Jump to this post

Yes I do have, but if only I could be good with plants too!

REPLY
1 reply
Mentor
Ginger, Volunteer Mentor | @gingerw | Jul 7, 2019
In reply to @smilie "Yes I do have, but if only I could be good with plants too!" + (show)
@smilie

Yes I do have, but if only I could be good with plants too!

Jump to this post

@smilie Keeping that plant alive for so long shows you have a green thumb for that type, anyway! My cactus plants like me most of the time, because I leave them alone ;)) Keep up the great job! What are you doing today for yourself, to enjoy the day? Will you share with us? We care.
Ginger

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