I've been coming up to Humboldt for vacations for years.

In May 2005 we decided to move here from San Diego. 12 years as a Mercedes parts specialist has me fed up with cars and peoples' wallets. Too crowded, too much of everything.
Four hours after signing the papers for our house up here we find out that we will become grandparents with the kids down there(13 hour drive)
Our condo in San Diego was in a complex where we never saw one for sale that lasted more than four or five days. We timed our sale with the housing bubble collapse and it takes us 8 months to sell it, wiping us out financially. Bad idea I know, now.

2006 I take a bad fall and tear my meniscus. Physical therapy.

2007 I loose my full time employment.

2008 Out of work for 8 months I get rehired part time at my old job. Trouble with the mortgage begins.

Jan 2009 I get hired at Bien Padre Foods. Suppose to be full time with a good paycheck. No and no.

2009 late summer. Having trouble with numbness and soreness in my hands, neck and shoulders. Problem with my Ulnar nerve, send me back to physical therapy. "OK this is weird let's get some x rays of your neck" says my TP. OK get that done.
Fantastic I have bone spur like growths in my C4=6 vertebras, that when I get tensed up push on the nerves and make both my hands numb, weak and my left shoulder feels like it is dislocated. Groovy. So much for doing any carpentry work as vibrations and gripping things also set me off. My only other field of knowledge. Good thing alert, Backpacking helps alleviate the problem somewhat. Can't use poles anymore though. Good thing for a light pack.

Best thing was the first GGG. Met some great people some of who I call friends now.

2010 Just keep your head down and work the best you can. Don't think about how bad it sucks.

2011 More of the same With the added fun of rebuilding my car engine right before Christmas. I rebuilt it after it blew up the week after the first GGG in '09 so can't put the blame on anyone else. Note to self, use Loctite on that crank bolt.

2012 I thought for sure this would be year of changes. Maybe, but not how I hoped. Still at Bien Padre. No raise. In fact the owner is trying to take a $100 a month away from me after talking to him about what I could do to make more money there. Nice.
Now as this year is getting short my wife has brought up the fact that she is thinking about a divorce after 24 years together, putting our older dog down(Hamish and I are not ready).
Still can't find decent work. Now 45 I am getting to "that age" with employers. Ugh. Still mortgage issues with BofA, nightmare.
Low earnings coupled with the highest gas prices in CONUS and the fact that everything is a drive from here means I don't get out nearly often enough. I have the time but no disposable income.

Now I'm not putting this out there to say throw me a pity party. Just working some things out is easier if I can look at it sometimes.

As much as I like it up here the whole experience has been a slow motion train wreck. I just wonder how many cars is that train pulling for me and will I ever get off the tracks?

Looking forward to 2013, kinda.

I take comfort in the fact that many others can tell a similar story.

You can see why I look so forward to the GGGs. It is an escape for me that I need right now. Something that I have some control over that is pure fun.

Thanks to all the great people that I have met through this site. You keep me alive more than you know.

Ken,
You and I have never met, but I've always thought of you as a comforting (maybe not the right word) presence at BPL and one whose insights I have generally appreciated. I hope that things start to look up for you. Best wishes for 2013.
Ike

Mere mortals would be crushed. You, my friend, are tougher than nails. Keep the positive outlook as things will get better.

Lets get drunk.

I'm surprised you have a brain left after living in Humboldt for 7 years...duuuuuuuuudddddddde.

Ken, I am sorry to hear of your troubles. I truly hope things get better for you. I sincerely mean that. I know you and I don't see eye to eye on matters here... Heck I am not one of your favorite folks here. I know how these things spiral out of control..... Seems we have many of the same things occurring... Gotta love BOFA. Just got off of the phone with them and I lost it just last night. Walks in the woods really help. I really hope things work out for you and your wife. Hang in there.

Ken
After having attempted to respond to your comments several times I see if I can finish this time.
My previous tries just never sounded right, whatever that is.
Having put down in writing some of your thoughts and sharing them does help.
A lot of time just talking helps.
Not that an immediate solution suddenly appears but you just unburden yourself a bit.
So yes, hang in there, the constant thing is change.
So far it looks like it has changed for the worst however a tweety bird may wake you up tomorrow morning, the sun will shine , with a well aimed shot you will silence the noisy bird and go back to sleep.
Maybe life is not that bad after all.
Franco

Hi Ken,

My heart goes out to you mate.

I can understand some of what you are going through.

Keep on hiking :-)

Stephen

Edited by stephenm on 09/05/2012 18:46:09 MDT.

Damn Ken, now I gotta try to make one of your GGGs when I am out there doing my annual visit.