Hi all. Earlier this evening, I started in a book called something like Bitchslap Journaling. It is a spiritually-based journaling guide. The original Bitchslap prompt is to write down what you desire, need and expect. The author advised readers to use tarot cards for further reflection.
My initial thought re my desire was related to my care. I desire to experience more, do more fun activities, finally create that standing unicorn…
Then I drew a tarot card on Labyrinthos: I got the Seven of Cups. Cups are about relationships and love. Off the top of my head, I can’t remember what the author of the Bitchslap journaling book said Sevens mean and my Kindle app keeps crashing, but it wasn’t pretty.
Today, my wife had a visit from a person to determine the value of our house because of financial aspects related to our divorce. The outcome of this assessment doesn’t change my opinion on financial matters, but it is yet another reminder that we’re truly divorcing.
Last Sunday, when my wife and I were talking about the divorce, I said I couldn’t care less about it. What I meant is I couldn’t care less whether we divorce or stay married, in that little has changed to make me want to divorce. I was pretty clear when we first got married that we wouldn’t be living together. The thought of living together did enter our minds about a month after we got married when a living place that I’d been on the waiting list for over a year for turned out not to be suitable for me. Regular readers know the rest: after years of constantly making up our minds about whether we wanted to live together or not, I was forced to live with my wife because the psychiatric hospital kicked me out. This is one positive of us divorcing for me: the care agency won’t be able to use my wife as an excuse to kick me out.
Other than that though, even though I know rationally that we never had the kind of relationship spouses usually do, this whole thing makes me feel distressed.
I don’t want to go into the details of why my wife and I are divorcing on a public blog. Suffice it to say that, like I said, we never had the kind of relationship spouses usually do. We were always more like best friends than lovers and that’s not going to change. Looking back, we should never have gotten married.
Still, my wife feels like my safe person and I fear that’s going to change once we’re divorced. The house is only a symbol of that. I know that if I showed up at her doorstep saying I was going to live with her again, things’d be much, much messier than they are now. Still though, it hurts to know I essentially signed myself up for a life in institutions and there’s no going back on that one. There I’m returning to my original desire before I drew the tarot card.
Bear in mind that if you get a financial settlement from the divorce, it might affect what the state contributes to your living. Well, it probably would here.
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I’ll have to figure that one out indeed. Probably my copay will be higher but the care I get won’t be decreased, as it’s based on my needs not my income.
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Good. Certainly a lot here in means-tested.
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Ah yes, I see. The incoming government here wants to do the same to a few services, like housekeeping services for people who live independently. However, there are no plans to make long-term, institutional care means-tested. Even if there were, it’s not likely to affect me personally.
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I’m sorry. Lots of hard things you’re going through. It’s tough walking away from a safe person or situation, even when it no longer suits us.
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Thanks for your kind comment. I agree it’s tough regardless of this being something both of us agree on.
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It is still a form of loss. You are not giving up on the friendship but a change is in process and that can stir up lots of thoughts even when a life in institutions is not involved. You had a possible exit or escape and it is no doubt scary losing that option. I hope the financial changes do not affect you too much. Here I know they practically bleed you dry of money before they reduce the cost of your care. I hope for the best for you and your life changes. Be gentle with yourself and remember emotions are perfectly normal going through something like this.
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Thanks for your kind comment. I know my emotions are valid regardless of the rational reality of the situation. As for the financial aspect, here in the Netherlads the reasoning is that you need a certain amount of money as your monthly allowance and the rest goes towards care. I do however believe they allow for some savings too.
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You’re welcome.
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