How do you know when...

Anmacc2 wrote:
But time is taking its toll...

but honestly We don't think we have that much time.
I don't know if I'm venting or seeking advice...

I read this part the most.

you are doing both. venting cause your hand in life is being forced in a way and seeking advice on how others might handle this situaiton. realization of bad medical situations coming to a head are super scary. the future can change in a blink and it is not on our schedules.

if your DW is getting worse and you both see this and acknowledge it, then I would go with your gut and act on what you both want out of your last years together.

We are facing this now. hubby works backbreaking job, 12 hr shifts. 4 on, 4 off. nearing 50 this year, with other back issues, like fracture early in life as a youngster from falling out of deer stand and falls from breaking horses etc ....he is becoming more and more of a pretzel with the back. We have done countless medical situations to help, mri, etc and no one really can find a way to improve his back/pain levels.

So we are in the midst of living simple and easy and LESS hard work. We are changing NOW so that when he is in his early 60s and we hit the road full time--he won't be in a wheelchair or something.

When you forsee medical situations in your face and changes 'want' or need to be made, do them while you can :) We are. We are changing our lives so he can quit and work an easier job and not kill ourselves for the pursuit of the almighty dollar anymore (don't get me wrong, we do have alot in 401k, stocks, land etc) but it is super scary to ditch the money and go into an unknown income area at a younger age. But in the end, no matter what, health comes first to us and we intend to do whatever is necessary to help ourselves go into older years without a ton more med problems.

best of luck in what you decide and let us all know LOL

no guarantee in anything in life, we know that, but it is time to work on ourselves and not chase the dollar anymore :)