Challenges are what make life interesting, usually. When I was making up the list of things to write about, I decided to include this category even though, at the time, I didn’t really know how I would approach the topic. The operative word in “big”.

That brings “weight” to mind. My weight is indeed a challenge, but that has stayed pretty much the same for the past three years or so and perhaps gone down slightly (only enough that I would notice … because of how a particular pair of pants buttons at the waist). Consequently, weight will not be the “biggest” challenge for this year. Maybe next year?

Some people have trouble finding enough to do when they’re “retired.” I don’t have that problem at all. In fact, I think I’m busier than I ever was when I was working. Between Rotary, working every Friday at the Idaho Falls Temple, my Church calling on the High Council, and building and maintaining websites, I feel like my life is very busy.

Another challenge has been the change in disposable income. Our income has certainly changed. Rather than one income stream from an employer, we now rely on several income streams from different sources. So far that has worked out well enough that we haven’t had to make too many lifestyle changes. Perhaps the biggest change has been that we’re vacationing in the United States rather than somewhere overseas.

While all of those have presented some amount of challenge, in fact our biggest challenge has been something that has been a very hot and passionate topic for the past nine months: health care.

We have very poor health insurance. After I was laid off we had the ability to continue our health insurance under COBRA. It cost us about a thousand dollars a month out of our own pocket for eighteen months and ended last December. Attempting to replace that turned out to be futile. It would cost about $2,400 a month. We eventually found some insurance that’ll help a bit with routine stuff, but should anything major happen, we’re on our own. It’s only marginally better than having no insurance at all.

Our health insurance system is badly broken. It needs to be fixed. I have to get through another four months and then I’ll be eligible for medicare. As broken as medicare is, it’s still significantly better than anything else available. Nina has to get through another sixteen months before she’s eligible for medicare. As bad as her knees are, that’s going to be a major challenge.

All the rhetoric about health care and the vitriol directed at the Democrats seems to be coming from people who are comfortable in their employer-provided health insurance. I truly think they’d change their tune if they were in our position.

So, that’s the biggest challenge that we’re facing: The lack of credible and affordable health insurance.

Ta ta for now!