Hearts California

Let me tell you why I love California.

I am currently unemployed. For some reason I never put 2 and 2 together to figure out that this means I'm "low income." I went to Planned Parenthood today for a gynecology exam, and, after filling out a questionnaire, discovered that I was entitled to FREE HEALTH CARE. I thought it was free because PP is a nice place that takes care of poor people, but later on I headed over to Walgreens to fill a prescription, which I found out would cost THREE HUNDRED FORTY SEVEN DOLLARS. Out of curiosity I handed them the green card that PP had given me. Once again, my costs were ZERO DOLLARS.

Today I saved ~$600, because California is a nice place. I feel like crying. Outside of K-12 schooling and libraries, I've never taken advantage of public benefits before. It's really empowering to know there is so much available. There is no shame in taking advantage of these things. Sometimes we need them.

Using public health care today makes it very difficult for me to justify expensive dinners and events for a good while. If I'm telling people I have zero income, I should really start acting like it. It's hard to resist when so many people around me enjoy the fruits of their computer labors on lavish meals, festivals, camping weekends, and elaborate parties, but I think today's lesson will help enforce my abstention... at least for a while. Um, not including fnf. Or that campout the following weekend. Or party costs for our housewarming this weekend.

CRAP!