Getting by one day at a time

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I look at the past few years as a rocky time, but I have survived so far. I have two great kids- 15 and 19 years old. My msrriage is over. I have been separated for a little over 1 year. I have a decently paying, secure state job caring for ret*d adults that pays about 44K, a second part-time job that pays about 6K, and roughly 4-5K a year in investment income. I let my ex take the investment income. The ex has a federal job that pays about 95K.
Well, I let the ex run the family finances, but she couldn't avoid overspending plus she could only woork part-time for a year and a half, as she got sick. We are filing for bankruptcy, and the bank is going to foreclose on the house. I have moved to renting a room, a bathroom, and a corner of the kitchen in someone's house for $725 a month- believe it or not, that is a cheap rent around here- the North Shore of Boston. The ex has a huge apartment- an about 1000 square foot 3 bedroom, for $1,500 a mionth. Again that is cheap for here.
Partly because of my moderate Asperger's, which has by now improved to mild, my father and mother and my sister have almost disowned me. I get along OK with my brother.
I had a mildly underachieving childhood and early adulthood- it took me ten years to finish a bachelor's degree, and I did not get a decent, steady job until I was 29 years old. I also took a year off from college and moved back in with my parents when I was 19. I think that I did well to only have these problems, since I was an almost friendless outcast until I was in my mid 20s, when my Asperger's symptoms started improving. Basically, they feel betrayed by my years of modest achievemenet, so they cannot control their anger toward me. I have two or three tense re-unions with my parents a year, while my sister has refused to speak to me for over a year. She may go to her grave years from now without ever speaking to me again.
I think part of the key to getting better has been to avoid all drugs, and to read self-help books. Also, I pushed myself to do things as a confidence builder- going sport parachuting and joining the Air Force Reserve for 6 years.
Love and Peace to all.

YOU sound like a great guy and seem to be doing pretty well in the circumstances.
Divorce is a terrible thing especially when kids are involved.

Do you listen to much music ??


It is great for the soul ! !

Yes, I listen to all kinds of music. It helps a lot. That and reading and exercise. The good thing about divorce is that once the kids are old enough to live on their own, you can leave the ex to sink or swim, and no more child support.