Options

It's one thing if you have planned for "retirement" at 45 years old. You've worked, saved, invested, planned, and the time comes when you finally hit that magical year and you can now quit that daily grind and live out your dreams. Yeah...that's not us.  Not by a long shot.

Looking at our situation and weighing out all the options has been an interesting endeavor. At first, we didn't consider many options, because if you're dying there's really only the one option left. But since the tide has shifted a bit, we've had quite a few weeks of thinking about the future and what exactly all the options for us are at this point and how we might be answering them.

Questions we've considered include: 1- Can Scott return to his career? 2- If he cannot return to his job, are there other things he can or wants to do instead? 3- Can he take a medical retirement at this point? 4- Is social security disability something he should consider? 5- What if we lose our current health care benefits?

Returning to his career doesn't seem like it's possible at this point, but we don't know that for sure. He is a microwave radio supervisor. Sounds easy enough right? You just turn on the tunes and wait for someone to open the microwave and put something in to cook. It's his job to make sure the light goes off  and food gets done, but not over cooked. We really hate that rubbery microwave food.

You didn't know there was a job like that? There isn't, that we know of. That's not what a microwave radio supervisor does. But it's been asked and we think it's hilarious people would think that. Anyway....he works on complicated high tech microwave radio equipment. You know... the cell towers you see along the road, or off in the distance on a high hill? Those dishes bounce radio frequency from one site to another. He climbs those towers to install or take down that equipment. He maintains a complicated system of sites all over the state that transmits radio signals responsible for wireless communication. Here in Wyoming, this radio system is what the highway patrol uses to communicate to each other and dispatch. It's a big deal.

Along with all the installation of hardware and software, monitoring, and updating the systems, he's required to drive long distances, climb over 100 feet, lift heavy equipment, remember complex electronic codes and be able to trouble shoot problems remotely. This is a super technical job which requires a lot of physical and mental stamina. The doctor will not clear him to drive yet, and will not clear him to climb while taking the anti-seizure medication. Having a seizure while 100 feet up is not in anyone's best interest. 

The thing is, this is a vital, highly intelligent man, with a very specialized skill set which a very few people outside the military possess. He is a valuable asset and very rare breed in his field. I don't like to think his expertise or his talent will be wasted because he can't climb or drive long distance anymore. Surely, there will be someway, he can continue to provide the world with his kind of communication.

Is there anything he can do instead? There are many options for him. Mostly because he can do anything. Remember, he's a hunter. He loves guns and ammo. Scott's been given an amazing opportunity to finally have the time to work on the guns he loves so much, since being home. He is passionate about them and has always wanted to do this as a full time gig. He could definitely make this a career, if need be. Scott Cooley, Gun Smith.  Sounds pretty fantastic. It just doesn't come with the great benefits and co-workers that his current job does, which does make it tough to think about.

He isn't eligible for a medical retirement at this point. We found out yesterday he doesn't have enough years in, to apply. With that, he could possibly qualify for social security disability, but has to be unemployed to apply for that. It takes several months to hear back about acceptance, and when accepted, it still takes 24 months to get any medicare health benefits, which only covers him and not the whole family.

I keep finding hope though. I hope there is an opportunity out there for us greater than our current circumstance. We are making it and we will continue to do whatever we have to. We are a pretty talented bunch. We try and not be fearful of this new uncharted territory. I hope Scott does what makes him happy and gives him the most sense of gratification. I hope we are learning the lessons we are supposed to learn and in return, teaching them well.

For now, we know we will find a way, or ways will be created for us, to continue to support our family and meet the needs of this health challenge. It may not come in the way we expect.... because as we have learned already,  things in life rarely do.