Dear So and So

[Blueberry]

Dear Volkswagon:

You suck. Your customers are tired of being patient. I tried to trade my 2011 diesel Jetta yesterday (since I had wanted to trade it since before your little indiscretion became public for reasons like - repair cost). We have one income and a boatload of med school loans coming in. The fact that this car basically can't be traded because you cheated is infuriating. It's insulting that you are now considering offering 1200 in gift cards, most of which can't be spent anywhere but VW for your overpriced service. We found the very rare perfect used Subie yesterday. Now I have to decide whether to take a 5k bath on this car, own 2 cars, or let a car that I won't easily find again go. You are leaving me no choice but to dust off my law degree and use it.

[Blueberry]

You have a law degree and are in medical school?!

Holy. Crap.

Hah. Yes. I practiced for 9 years, and realized I didn't want to do it for the rest of my life. Went back to the drawing board, took all the pre-med classes, and I'm in my first year of Med School. I call it my mid-life crisis. Sometimes nuts, but so worth it.

[rebeccaC]

Guess I still kind of want a masters in creative writing, but I actually know how to do that, it would be just for myself.

Do it when you have the time!!!

Lifelong learning with things like credit or non-credit academic courses, community service and volunteerism, educational travel etc. can expand awareness, self-fulfillment and truly create a multi-dimensional life. Listening to or taking part in stimulating discussions can also help us open our minds and understand better the other side of an issue.

The on-line formats of free continuing educational courses today also helps to ensure that learning activities are accessible to anyone that is interested in participating.

[Crankin]

I got my second master's (in clinical mental health counseling) at age 55, so it's never too late. But, I've always been in school. When you are a teacher, it's part of the plan. I love going to school, so I never minded. Finished all but the internship for a Certificate of Advanced Grad Studies in Ed Admin, then decided I was done with teaching. But, I learned a lot in those classes, and I don't regret it. I also was involved with a Spencer Foundation grant (my boss said we would never get it!) on teaching creative writing, and did 2 years of stuff around that; workshops, and retreats that were awesome. It was a ton of work, to justify the 20K they gave us.
Blueberry, all things about cars suck...

[ny biker]

The VW situation is appalling. I know two people who are affected -- one just bought his car a few months ago.

My degrees are in marketing. When I changed careers to software development I took classes in a continuing education program at a local college. It was not inexpensive. Now I am wondering if I have a future in this field or if it's time to find something else, but I don't want to go into debt for more schooling. I also don't feel like I have the mental energy for it anymore.

[Pax]

The VW situation is appalling. I know two people who are affected -- one just bought his car a few months ago.

My degrees are in marketing. When I changed careers to software development I took classes in a continuing education program at a local college. It was not inexpensive. Now I am wondering if I have a future in this field or if it's time to find something else, but I don't want to go into debt for more schooling. I also don't feel like I have the mental energy for it anymore.

That's where I'm at here, having zero luck finding a job so giving some thought to finding a program that might offer better opportunities... but I just don't have the mental energy anymore.

[Helene2013]

I thought Pax that when you were moving to Florida it was for retirement. Sorry you are having a hard time finding a job.

[emily_in_nc]

That's where I'm at here, having zero luck finding a job so giving some thought to finding a program that might offer better opportunities... but I just don't have the mental energy anymore.

I totally feel ya, Pax! I am taking online Spanish lessons, and even that is enough for me. I just can't imagine going back to school for anything significant at this point, and I'm "only" 54. "That ship has done sailed," as they say in the south!

I also get the health insurance thing. DH and I are living on such little income now (by choice) that we qualify for an extremely good and low-cost ACA plan (silver with cost sharing). We are toying with the idea of buying a nice RV next year, but if we do so, we have to take money out of one of our retirement accounts (which we haven't touched yet), thus increasing our income and having to pay a lot more for health insurance premiums, plus more out of pocket for any care we might need. It's a real dilemma, and we have to decide by Dec. 15th. Since we like living kinda spontaneously at this point in our lives, having to decide what we are going to do mid-next year is challenging.

Ah well, I am not complaining. We are super fortunate to be early retired and not have to work, and I don't take that for granted for a minute.

I wish you well in your job hunt!