[Sca-cooks] OT Why I'm not going to Pennsic (Was Re: Florilegium formats and Pennsic class

[ranvaig at columbus.rr.com]

>
>
><<< Have fun at war, wish I could be there. >>>
>
>I'm sorry to hear this. I know you've made it to Pennsic before.
>

I haven't been able to go for the last couple of years because of 
money issues.  My husband was disabled and unable to work, and was 
appealing Social Security. It took 3 years to get a hearing. He just 
won his case and should start receiving benefits in 90 days.  Which 
puts it almost 4 years after the accident.  He'll get back benefits, 
but much of it will need to replace the IRAs we had to withdraw.

<rant>
This is the wrong place to discuss this, but there is something wrong 
with making people wait that long.  I think they just wait for people 
to die.  The lawyer said he had clients living in their cars.

Thank goodness I was able to work during this time, but I lost my job 
and the new one just barely paid rent and utilities.  I'm disabled 
myself.   My old job was working for the state, and they don't pay 
into SS.  I lost their disability coverage with the job, so I will 
have to work another 2 1/2 years before I'm eligible for SS 
disability, and then likely wait another 3 or 4 years for benefits. 
So far I'm able to work, but it is often very hard.
</rant>

Since I work Saturdays and evenings I cant attend SCA events or the 
local meetings, so only mailing lists like this have keep me involved.

I'm hoping to attend Pennsic next year, it appears that the money 
issues are over.  My daughter wants very much to go, but its too late 
to get time off from work and single camping is too far away for me 
to deal with.

Ranvaig
(the soap opera continues)