Poll of the Day > End of a decade. How was yours?

(+) Yeah! (+)

In a few months we will be done with the 2010-2020 decade. Looking back it has been an especially challenging one for me, and it encompassed my 40's entirely.

2010 itself was the most challenging time I had up to that point. My wife was diabetic and insulin resistant, and had very bad arthritice in her knees. She could not work and had trouble getting up. She refused to see a doctor to get cortizone shots until about halfway through the year. We got a Micheal Phelps above ground pool in the back, and cotizone shots helped start making her stronger and able to move around again.

Sadly that was the best year of the decade for me though.

In 2011 my wife contracted necrotizing facitice, and most of that year was spent in the hospital for both of us. First at Saint Luis hospital in Gilroy which was a great hospital, but then at Kindred in San Leandro (where I had to commute 2 hours to if I didn't just stay there)...which was not (insurance would not continue to pay for Saint Luis). Meanwhile while at kindred, my mother passed away, but I was unable to get away to save the mobile home I had helped her get, and so it was auctioned off (probably for $5000, which was the lot rent owed). It's currently worth about $120k.

We could not find anywhere to take my wife with such a large wound (it went across her entire front and halfway around her back), so I took her home and took care of her for 3 years, packing her wounds ever 2 hours, constantly monitoring the colostomy bag/changing it and changing the cathedar every 3 days (because having one in so long causes it to back up easily). It was a very hard 3 years from about 2012-2015. Luckily we had the pool in the back with a lift already, and we got a bartan bed that converted into a wheelchair, so I could get her up and around once she was able to actually sit up (she had to stay prone for 2 of the years due to the wound). Right after she got strong enough to move, about 6 months after her wound finally closed, my brother passed away from a heart attack. She was strong enough to travel with me (by car) to LA for his funeral, and to see some of her relatives while there.

Fairly soon afterwards in Jan of 2016, we moved (finally) away from Gilroy (which is a desert and we both love water) to Washington. We were both happy and had great plans to actually start having fun. We worked during the first 10 years being together non-stop and didn't have any time for vacations etc, and then she got sick....so we were going to finally travel a bit and enjoy life.

3 months after moving though she was diagnosed to probably have cancer, they needed to do more tests and we were working towards that when the whole election thing happened. She was seriously depressed about that, but her kidneys started to fail as well, and into the hospital she went for 6 months. In the end, she passed away because of not being able to get dialysis in washington, and having to be transfered to Good Samariton Hospital in Oregon. She developed an infection in her heart and passed away Feb 5 2017.

Since then I have been trying to stay positive, I sold our house, had all our stuff in the house stolen (along with the car we had our whole marriage a wonderful toyota avalon), and just recently my grandfather passed away.

The good thing is, most of the things that could go bad, have already done so......which means perhaps the next decade will be much better.

I certainly hope all of your decades have been better then mine, and that the next one is great for everyone.
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It had its ups and downs. Finished college struggled to get a job I don't hate too much now I'm on the right track. A lot of my classmates got decent or good jobs right out of college.
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JOExHIGASHI posted...

It had its ups and downs. Finished college struggled to get a job I don't hate too much now I'm on the right track. A lot of my classmates got decent or good jobs right out of college.

I've heard conflicting reports about people graduating and getting jobs right now. At first I heard it was horrible and almost impossible to get jobs because there was a ton of people with more experience looking for the same ones.

Recently on the plane to NY I heard google was hiring right out of college along with quite a few other companies, and that there actually are quite a few good paying jobs that are specifically targeting recent college graduates.

Not sure how much of a difference that makes on the grand scale, but at least it seems like there are some opportunities for recent college grads out there. It's good to hear many of your friends found a position at least.

I hope you do as well soon:)
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I thought I wasted the previous decade. Nah. This one was way more wasted. Ugh. Mulligan please.

10/10

Moved to Philly, made great friends, met my wife, changed careers, my mom survived frontal lobe brain bleeds.
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first half was complete shit

second half was better
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Worst decade of my life so far

Looking up from here!
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Finally moved everything in to the new house (began moving at the end of December 09)

Ex-wife gave up custody/all rights of my son so he just lives with me now. This took years of court battles and thousands of dollars

Was so broke, we almost lost the house

Had a daughter. She's 2.5 years old now

Wife started a business

Herniated two discs in my back, so I had to change jobs and get a new career

Started school again and will have my Master's degree in December

Bought, and then sold 6 different vehicles.

Had to put down pets, 2 cats and a dog

I give it 6.5/10. Would be higher but the pain in my back is constant

Raddest_Chad posted...

I thought I wasted the previous decade. Nah. This one was way more wasted. Ugh. Mulligan please.

If you were not suffering throughout, it wasn't wasted, just maybe not used to it's fullest potential. It's so easy to waste time now, with endless tv shows, video games and other forms of entertainment (message boards!!), but I figure as long as you are enjoying yourself and helping others do the same, it's not a waste.

Best of luck to you in the next decade.
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SunWuKung420 posted...

10/10

Moved to Philly, made great friends, met my wife, changed careers, my mom survived frontal lobe brain bleeds.

Wow, that sounds like a pretty great decade to me, congrats!! I hope the next is even better. Super congrats on your mom as well (and your wife!).
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DevilSummoner1 posted...

first half was complete shit

second half was better

Sounds like things have been moving in an upward direction, I hope they continue to do so.
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Jen0125 posted...

Worst decade of my life so far

Looking up from here!

Lol, that is my thinking as well, can't get much worse, so there only way to go is up!!!

With such a cute puppy I'm pretty sure you have at least some happiness coming your way.
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Ten years closer to dead.

I've had 3 kids this decade. Fuck, that's weird to think about.
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CTLM posted...

Finally moved everything in to the new house (began moving at the end of December 09)

Ex-wife gave up custody/all rights of my son so he just lives with me now. This took years of court battles and thousands of dollars

Was so broke, we almost lost the house

Had a daughter. She's 2.5 years old now

Wife started a business

Herniated two discs in my back, so I had to change jobs and get a new career

Started school again and will have my Master's degree in December

Bought, and then sold 6 different vehicles.

Had to put down pets, 2 cats and a dog

I give it 6.5/10. Would be higher but the pain in my back is constant

Ouch!! Ugh I know about back pain, but it doesn't always stay. I was told a few years ago I have degenerative disk desease and they wanted to do surgery. I don't like hospitals and only dealth with them for my wife, so I ignored it. My back still huts a bit sometimes but not nearly as much (It was probably primarily stress related). I hope yours gets better or that you get used to it enough that it doesn't massively impact your life.

I'm so jelous of your kids though, I always wanted them myself, that must be a blessing. Also congrats on getting your masters degree. When I got mine I was SO done with writing papers lol, I promised myself no more school ever lol.

In a funny twist though I was recently recommended to go take some courses at the community college as a way to socialize, and I may actually do that lol (just none that require writing papers hehe).

Losing pets is so hard. Ours were always like our children. I want a new pet sooooo bad, but I'm older and not that healthy so don't want to adopt one and then not be able to take care of it, be around for it's whole life. I may adopt an older one eventually once I figure out where I will be staying long term.

Anyway, sounds like a very eventful and over all very positive decade, just having a daughter alone makes it worth all the rest I think:)
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Questionmarktarius posted...

Ten years closer to dead.

Unless we all become immortal in the next decade or so, in which case, your 10 years closer to immortality.
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EvilMegas posted...

I've had 3 kids this decade. Fuck, that's weird to think about.

Wow, that is amazing. I would have loved to have kids. If I actually ever start teaching and making a decent living again (which I probably won't), I may foster older kids or something. Won't adopt though, but there isn't really anything I want to spend money on for myself, if I foster though at least I can make some kids lives better and give them opportunities. Least gives me some reason to work more then the minimum.

Probably won't happen though, I get stressed out too easily at this point and my eyesight is pretty bad. I might still be able to teach math/comp sci though......so it's possible.

Anyway congrats on the kids!!! If they were all in the last 10 years, then you have a very busy next ten years in store for you lol.
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wolfy42 posted...

SunWuKung420 posted...

10/10

Moved to Philly, made great friends, met my wife, changed careers, my mom survived frontal lobe brain bleeds.

Wow, that sounds like a pretty great decade to me, congrats!! I hope the next is even better. Super congrats on your mom as well (and your wife!).

My mom didn't even need physical therapy after the ordeal. The doctors were quite shocked.
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It was a triumph
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Good:
-Gained a sister-in-law, a nephew, and a niece.
-Gained a really awesome social worker.

Bad:
-Lost 2 uncles and an aunt.
-Lost a good friend of the family.
-Lost 2 dogs.
-Nearly died due to complications from surgery.
-Developed feelings for a married woman.
-Severe mental health issues, exacerbated by the previous two events, landed me in the hospital twice.
-Financial problems.

Overall: Not good.
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Most of it really sucked. Like seriously. But the tail end of it was amazing enough to make up for all of it.


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KeepAnEyeOut posted...

Good:
-Gained a sister-in-law, a nephew, and a niece.
-Gained a really awesome social worker.

Bad:
-Lost 2 uncles and an aunt.
-Lost a good friend of the family.
-Lost 2 dogs.
-Nearly died due to complications from surgery.
-Developed feelings for a married woman.
-Severe mental health issues, exacerbated by the previous two events, landed me in the hospital twice.
-Financial problems.

Overall: Not good.

Wow, that was an eventful 10 years. Its crazy looking back at how much many of our worlds changed in 10 years. It's only 1/5th of my life so far, but by far the most eventful. Hope your next 10 are way better and that you get to spend time with your new nephew and niece:)
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Bugmeat posted...

Most of it really sucked. Like seriously. But the tail end of it was amazing enough to make up for all of it.

Sweet, wish I had a tail end that made up for everything lol....but that bodes well for your future. Glad it ended on an upturn.
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well i was 14 when it started so i guess its good that my dreadful high school years are behind me. deciding to pursue gender transition was also a good choice that improved my mental health significantly, but once that was done i sorta realized i never really thought about what i wanted to do with my life and drifted around for a while. now im on the right track in school and its going well. my next step is to get a good job and move out

overall started bad and ended well enough i think
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TheWitchMorgana posted...

well i was 14 when it started so i guess its good that my dreadful high school years are behind me. deciding to pursue gender transition was also a good choice that improved my mental health significantly, but once that was done i sorta realized i never really thought about what i wanted to do with my life and drifted around for a while. now im on the right track in school and its going well. my next step is to get a good job and move out

overall started bad and ended well enough i think

That was really brave of you, and hopefully it will help provide you a better life in the future. I don't think I could have ever gone through a transition myself. Yeah at this point a decade was like half of your life lol.....so massive changes I'm sure.

Enjoy your 20's as much as you can. I had great friends and did a ton of interesting fun stuff in my 20's....it pretty much went down hill from 30 on....doesn't for everyone, but I think many of us don't take advantage/enjoy our youth enough.

It's a different world now though then when I was 20 that is for sure. Best of luck to you in the next decade:)
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7/10. 23-33(almost) - My Niece and Nephews were born, I worked, I met some good people and overall enjoy life.
The downside? I haven't progressed much in my own life and have developed anxiety issues. Some family members have died(not as major as last decade) and I'm closer to death. I also have a scar down my stomach(like Kratos) due to having a stomach ulcer removed.
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wwinterj25 posted...

7/10. - My Niece and Nephews were born, I worked, I met some good people and overall enjoy life.
The downside? I haven't progressed much in my own life and have developed anxiety issues. Some family members have died(not as major as last decade) and I'm closer to death.

Serious congrats on the niece and nephews, I hope you cherish them. We are all closer to death (unless technology makes immortal in the next decade or so), but hopefully you are still healthy enough to enjoy life for awhile.

I hear alot of people complain or get worried about their life not progressing, wasting their life etc, but I honestly think the most important part of life is enjoying it as much as possible and helping those around you do the same. If you have enjoyed yourself, watched shows that interested you, played video games you loved and spent time with family members, then you progressed your life just fine:)

Dude that scar sounds badass....now you just need Kratos's weapons.....and you'll be set for halloween:)
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wolfy42 posted...

I hear alot of people complain or get worried about their life not progressing, wasting their life etc, but I honestly think the most important part of life is enjoying it as much as possible and helping those around you do the same. If you have enjoyed yourself, watched shows that interested you, played video games you loved and spent time with family members, then you progressed your life just fine:)

I still enjoy life but do want goals from it and reaching those goals seem to be like banging my head against a wall. Can't give up trying though.

wolfy42 posted...

Dude that scar sounds badass....now you just need Kratos's weapons.....and you'll be set for halloween:)

I feel i need to cover myself in the ash of my loved ones too.
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wwinterj25 posted...

wolfy42 posted...

I hear alot of people complain or get worried about their life not progressing, wasting their life etc, but I honestly think the most important part of life is enjoying it as much as possible and helping those around you do the same. If you have enjoyed yourself, watched shows that interested you, played video games you loved and spent time with family members, then you progressed your life just fine:)

I still enjoy life but do want goals from it and reaching those goals seem to be like banging my head against a wall. Can't give up trying though.

wolfy42 posted...

Dude that scar sounds badass....now you just need Kratos's weapons.....and you'll be set for halloween:)

I feel i need to cover myself in the ash of my loved ones too.

With cremations being so common now adays, that might not be too hard.

Goals are good, feel like they are harder to have/get as you get older though, guess that is why I try not to focus on them too much anymore. Best thing is having them though I think, not actually obtaining them.
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18 to 28 decade, graduated HS, college, worked 5 different jobs and battled unemployment to finally get my acquisition job which is high paying with my new promotion! My brother and sister got married! Living with my parents and saving money for girlfriend/wife and kids. Reading is again my favorite hobby it's been 20 years since I used to love reading. Stock investing smarter with indexing long term investing instead of being a degenerate gambler on penny stocks, sports betting, and lottery.
Found love of my life at work but she wants us to be just 100% work friends even though she challenged me to dance battle and booty pops me in private like on her IG and we get along well good chemistry.
Feel confident in myself and ready for finding love and marriage with kids for next chapter in my life, I'm writing books and beating video games and enjoying tennis again!

10/10 so far but it's not over yet!
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wolfy42 posted...

Best thing is having them though I think, not actually obtaining them.

Perhaps. Even if I never have my own family I'm at least experiencing being a part of my niece and nephews lives and watching them grow up. It's the next best thing to me.
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LOUDDOG777 posted...

18 to 28 decade, graduated HS, college, worked 5 different jobs and battled unemployment to finally get my acquisition job which is high paying with my new promotion! My brother and sister got married! Living with my parents and saving money for girlfriend/wife and kids. Reading is again my favorite hobby it's been 20 years since I used to love reading. Stock investing smarter with indexing long term investing instead of being a degenerate gambler on penny stocks, sports betting, and lottery.
Found love of my life at work but she wants us to be just 100% work friends even though she challenged me to dance battle and booty pops me in private like on her IG and we get along well good chemistry.
Feel confident in myself and ready for finding love and marriage with kids for next chapter in my life, I'm writing books and beating video games and enjoying tennis again!

10/10 so far but it's not over yet!

Sounds very positive!! It is a bit weird that your brother and sister got married though, didn't even think that was legal *hehe*. Perhaps if you start dating someone else your love of your life will realize what she is missing, and if not, maybe the person your dating will be your new love of your life.

Hope it keeps on being awesome for the next 10!
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wwinterj25 posted...

wolfy42 posted...

Best thing is having them though I think, not actually obtaining them.

Perhaps. Even if I never have my own family I'm at least experiencing being a part of my niece and nephews lives and watching them grow up. It's the next best thing to me.

I have a friend I have been recently trying to talk into moving near his niece and nephew. I sadly have none, no kids, no relatives with kids etc. I would have loved to be a father or an uncle, but became a teacher which was rewarding to at least work with kids for part of my life. I find it too stressful at this point though, but perhaps I will volunteer later, or work at a private school.

Anyway it's never too late to have your own family as well, if that is one of your goals, I hope you do obtain it, and in that case it certainly is just as important as having the goal in the first place!!
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Met my wife early in the decade. Been happily married ever since.

And that is a BAD thing. Its made this last decade absolutely FLY BY.

I remember having 3 TVs in my living room as a bachelor. Im on one playing W@W and my friend is on another doing the same. And on the third we are watching history in the making as Obama wins the presidency.

The movie SuperBad was only like 2 years old, and McLovin was still a hilarious name. I could eat whatever I want and stay in shape.

Nowadays the days go by like hours. And the FPS genre is pretty much dead. Only good thing about now is that Sony is the undisputed king, and all is made right in the gaming kingdom.
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HornedLion posted...

Met my wife early in the decade. Been happily married ever since.

And that is a BAD thing. Its made this last decade absolutely FLY BY.

I remember having 3 TVs in my living room as a bachelor. Im on one playing W@W and my friend is on another doing the same. And on the third we are watching history in the making as Obama wins the presidency.

The movie SuperBad was only like 2 years old, and McLovin was still a hilarious name. I could eat whatever I want and stay in shape.

Nowadays the days go by like hours. And the FPS genre is pretty much dead. Only good thing about now is that Sony is the undisputed king, and all is made right in the gaming kingdom.

Lol. Yeah time flies by faster and faster as you get older. Amazingly Wow is still actually a thing today, and another expansion is going to be released soon. Going by fast though, as bad as it sounds, just shows that it rocked and it sounds like you really enjoyed it. People sitting in a jail cell or in the hospital etc, probably didn't feel like time went by nearly as fast.

Glad it has gone so well for you, I hope it continues to do so, and for you, that the FPS genre makes a revamp (it's not my genre unless you count borderlands).

I think VR is going to get big in the next decade personally, and that will include a ton of FPS style games as well.
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