It's confirmed...

 ... my co workers and I are being forced to go back to work in our office in September, in the new building (that is almost an hour from home, taking heavy traffic into consideration).

We were originally assured that we would be able to maintain the option of working from home, at least part of the time, since we are already set up to do so.

Now, however, they're saying it's not cost effective to set the office up with computers on every desk, while we keep the computers we already have at home.  

They are basically saying you will work at the office, or you will be unemployed.

I already have two computers (one at home, and one on my desk at the current office), but they can't make exceptions for anyone due to special circumstances, like ongoing cancer treatment in an as yet not fully mitigated pandemic.

SO, I am trying to focus on the positives.

My level of gratitude for this past year of working at home knows no bounds.  

Being able to throw laundry into the washer, start dinner, or do little chores -WHILE WORKING- frees up time after work, and on the weekends....The daily walks around the neighborhood on break, working with one of our three cats purring in my lap (or lying near by, on the futon), being able to swear (at volume) when work frustrates me, being able to sit out in my yard at lunch time, and even just go out the back door to pick my lunch out of my little garden, being able to physically eat my lunch whenever I want, instead of waiting to clock out,  being able to flop onto my yoga mat, and roll around on the floor when sitting gets to be too much, being able to sleep later than when I have to get up and go, having a WINDOW to look out of, being able to hear the rain, the birds, and my wind chimes.....  

The main thing that has come out of this is the greater availability of time to relax, and to go be in nature.  We've explored state parks, and gone to local parks, that we simply did not have time for while working outside of the home full time...... it's been wonderful....

But, here we are, with a few months to prepare for the shift back to working outside of the home. 

Dave's office is also saying they will go back in September.   

If he is not allowed to continue to work from home (there is even less reason for him to go back to his office than there is for me), we will be forced to purchase a second car.  

Between my new hour commute one way, and having to buy a car, going back to the offices will put a new financial burden on us

I am pretty sure neither of our employers will give us a raise to make up for this. ESPECIALLY mine.

But....back to the positives.  

The new building won't be flood-prone, and full of black mold.  Interacting with people other than Dave will be good for my mental health.  Having less time at home will be good for my mental health.  I have learned that my desk will NOT be in the new call center, and this is HUGE.  Being forced to drive will help me heal the PTSD I have from being hit so many times since moving to OKC. I hope... and I hope more driving won't attract more distracted drivers to hit me even more frequently. 

I'm working on it. 

In other news, another delay on the closing for the condo came through.  

We did not close, again, this past Thursday (third week in a row it's been delayed).  The issue remains that the buyer's employer keeps filling out the employment verification forms incorrectly.  For some reason, it took three weeks for her attorney to step up and say that he will walk the employer through the process so that we can end this ordeal once and for all.

I also got closing paperwork that shows that selling this property is costing me $13,000.00  I will get MUCH less pay-out at the end than I had anticipated.

I blame myself for this, because I let my anxiety rule me, and, instead of seeing to my own best interests at the beginning, I let Dave and my friend initiate the process. 

There should have been an argument about the selling price, and there should have been some shopping around for a more AFFORDABLE realtor.

But, done is done, and I just want it over with at this point.

SO this past week was not great. 

Looking forward to better news next week.  At least the positive test rate for covid 19 is below 4% in Oklahoma right now.  

We will continue to wear our masks when going indoors anywhere, whether they're required or not.  Our status as high risk hasn't changed, and we KNOW that people who are anti maskers to begin with are going to lie about their vaccinated status.  ESPECIALLY in Oklahoma.

I am off to get some breakfast on this cloudy, lazy Sunday.  I get my injection and my port flush on Wednesday, but nothing else is on the agenda for the coming week.