The Inertia Monsters keep saying "You're 53, you're too old to make major changes in your life." It's not like I chose this change. And these changes would be good for me. But that number. It echoes in my head and says "Old." Hell, my mother lived on her own into her 70s.

My god, brains are stupid.

Brains get stuck in ruts and listen to the outside world too much. They need to be gently guided into new ideas like skittish horses. Companion goats would probably help.

It all becomes clear. My brain needs a companion goat.

The Inertia Monsters keep saying "You're 53, you're too old to make major changes in your life."

Not at all too old for changes. I know a number of people that went to college in their 60s. My mom married at 62.

I would strongly suggest waiting a bit before making any big decisions about anything important. Give it some time. No rush.

"You're 53, you're too old to make major changes in your life."

'I could teach you [Minbari], if you like.'
'No, I don't have the time. It would take me a year.'
'And assuming we survive this, how old will you be in a year if you don't learn to speak Minbari?'
'The same.'

My vague plan is to move next year. But having a goal gives me a path through the current morass and urges me on through the nigh-overwhelming task of dealing with Hubby's stuff. I could easily just retreat into my back room with my stuff and let the rest of the house sit. There are corners of the living room you can't get to. That can't stand.

After my mom died, it took a bit, but being able to weed through her stuff and other household stuff was very freeing. Moving from "this was mom's" to "this serves no functional purpose and it isn't my asthetic" was a big step. I still have stuff I keep purely because it reminds me of her, but it is also stuff I like/want to see on a daily basis.

I still have her car though. That is the next big hurdle.

...sure, but isn't the Institute really the client, here, for the subcontractor? So if the Institute was pissed, and made the subcontractor feel that...?

I was thinking the same. The subcontractor you work for can only feel the pinch from its clients. Otherwise they are more or less bulletproof, they don't care if you're pissed as long as they keep getting paid by their client.

That's why we're organizing to petition mgmt as a unified front for a buyout. CSC isn't going to make exceptions for this tiny contract that doesn't even fit their model anymore; but work is run by an org that could buy us out. Whether they have the cojones to is another matter.

Timelies all!

Happy Birthday Sox!