The Most Expensive Hobby I've Ever Had Is Staying Alive

The Feral Truth: Healthcare may be complicated, but the bill always seems remarkably straightforward.

I'd like to discuss the shocking cost of existing.

Not thriving.

Not living lavishly.

Just existing.

Because apparently staying alive has become a luxury activity.

Every medical situation comes with a parade of expenses.

The appointment.

The specialist.

The parking.

The gas.

The prescription.

The co-pay.

The follow-up.

The thing insurance doesn't cover.

The thing insurance should cover.

The thing insurance says they'll cover until they suddenly decide they won't.

And let's not forget travel.

Nobody talks about travel.

Sometimes the best care isn't local.

So now you're paying for:

hotels

meals

tolls

parking

coffee required to emotionally survive the trip

By the time you're done, you've spent enough money to qualify for your own economic impact study.

People sometimes ask why financial assistance organizations are so important.

Because illness doesn't just attack health.

It attacks stability.

And it does it with remarkable enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, life continues charging subscription fees for literally everything.

Streaming services.

Cloud storage.

Software.

Groceries that somehow cost three times more than they did five minutes ago.

At this point, I fully expect oxygen to come with a monthly membership plan.

Premium Breathing™.

Ad-free air.

$19.99 per month.

The thing is, humor helps.

Because if I don't laugh, I'm eventually going to end up fighting a parking meter.

And honestly, the parking meter doesn't deserve that.

Yours in chaos,

~Kari, The Feral Caregiver