Enjoy it, and Best to Jen!

I'd kill to be out of the working poor class..
I know that there is no retirement for me.. no chance in hell that I get out of this world debt free..
So I try to get my kicks now.. Enjoy my job, friends, vacations to nowhere..
I have no hope of making it back into the middle class, yet I can dig it..
Enjoy the ride Tobin, and keep on postin..

I'm on pace to make 40k this year. It's my second year on this job. But I do have the luxury of being home every day. Truckers who drive long haul can make 60k a year. I used to do that before I got married. It would break my wife's heart if I were still doing that. It would hurt me, too.

so we are in the same situation..

I too could "do more" (work overtime), to kick up a little more cash.

But how do we ever "retire"?

I've given up on the idea and only hope that my illness allows me to work as long as possible. Grace on earth and a peaceful death. That is what I'm shooting for.

I really don't want to be a burden to my nephew when I'm older; that is my biggest fear in life.

I had some today, myself, and was surprised because it cut through the depression. It seemed like a good idea to put in a garden and maybe start a little flock of laying hens. Went to Home Depot for the first time in five years and it was like seeing an old friend again, lol, because I was never one of those shopping women but once inside a hardware store, well, it's like a free amusement park. The fencing is picked out and the bits bought that are needed to remove the security door and replace it with a regular screen door. Two redwood stringers to build some back steps with so I can go directly out to the as yet unplanted garden without breaking my neck. That's as big a commitment as I've made in all this time. I hope there's no rebound but, we'll see.

And my spirits usually do lift when I can see an end to winter coming. Nothing quite like this has happened to me before to the best of my memory, though. Good luck with the garden!

that's a good thing.

I just re-read your OP.
The fiscal optimistic feelings might make it easier to tuck away some cash. Try it! Try getting to the bank and putting something into a savings account.

Run with this good and hopeful feeling! Find ways to save while still enjoying life.. Now is the time!

i suppose there is no 401k where you work, else you would prolly be in it. but your employer can probably arrange to purchase a federal savings bond automatically for you. worse comes to worse, if your check is deposited automatically, set up an automatic transfer to a savings account.
the important thing is for you to never see the money.
i know you will feel better if you are doing something.

and i would say that this is a pretty constructive worry, which is a good thing.