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John38 was a good option. He lived down the road from where I lived at the time (useful, no schlepping over the mountain to see him in the future) and was a qualified professional so he would not be looking for a bale out anytime soon. I was sensitive to bale outs at the time as the land of my soul, Greece, was about to fold and I was mortified at the thought of bale outs of any description. #Grexit. You'd be surprised how many chaps ask Mary1 what Mary1 "does". By "does" they mean what work she does, if work is necessary, to presumably place her in a suitable economic box. This is a well-used investigative ploy of us womenfolk, so I know. But it is by no means restricted to women, let me add. I only asked the same of John38 over coffee, but I knew before our date that he was a professional, so that would suffice economic box-wise. Our pre-date discussions augured well for a successful coffee date. No bale outs foreseen and proximity was favourable.
The loveliest coffee shop. Local to both of us. Lovely coffee. Wonderful service (they know me by name, I am treasured). But what a dull affair. John38 lacked joie de vivre. He had no chutzpah. He was "heavy" (skinny in stature but heavy in aura). He was bored. And of course with bored comes boring. I asked John38, as one does, what he does to keep himself amused in the daytime. I discovered to my horror that John38 had not worked in over 20 years. Do not get excited. He did not win the lottery and his granny left him but a couple of unchipped Wedgewood teacups. John38 gave up work. He retired. In his 30s. And has done nothing since. Yes, nothing. And by nothing I do not mean no work but has had a whole heap of fun. I mean nothing as in absolutely nothing. No wild and adventurous international travel. He has not written a book. He has not become a researcher of ancient classics. He has not volunteered at the SPCA. No learning. No adventuring. No giving. "What on earth have you done for 20 long years?" I asked with incredulity. Nothing it seemed. "Well, I couldn't work." he said. "Couldn't?" I probed with raised eyebrows, very raised eyebrows. So raised that I now have permanent lines across my forehead and that startled look upon my face. And I do not subscribe to Botox. I am one of those ageing gracefully types. At the moment, anyway.
You see, poor John38 had had, 20-odd years ago, a CVA (Cerebrovascular Accident) which is, for my less medically au fait readers, more commonly known as a "stroke". Now, a CVA is no laughing matter. Folk are permanently disabled by a CVA in many a case. I know. I work for a disability assessment consultancy (best in the country might I add) and I am privy to the likes of the assessments of CVA claims.
I gave John38 the once over, even straining my neck backwards, forwards and to the various sides to check his posture, leg positioning and foot stance under the table, hand and arm positions when resting and in motion, head agility, et cetera. I did a mini FCE (Functional Capacity Evaluation) visually. "There is nothing wrong with you that I can see!" I exclaimed post-evaluation. "What is wrong with you that you cannot work?" Eyebrows still raised. Eyes boring into his.
You see John38 had had a CVA and was disabled enough at the time of the CVA to claim from his disability fund. That is why we have disability funds. To claim from them when disabled. However, patients have extensive therapy (physiotherapy, OT) and may recover to varying extents. The extent of the disability post-therapy may well vary from what it was pre-therapy. And recovery is possible. Just saying.
In John38's case, he recovered completely. Completely. 100%. "So, why did you not return to work then once you had recovered?" I asked, puzzled (a bit) but I did smell a rat as I am a suspicious type and I know this disability lark like the back of my hand. John38 did not return to work ever again because John38 would have lost his monthly disability pay out if he had gone back to work. One only gets a pay out IF one is disabled and unable to work. One is clearly not disabled if one is able to work, especially in the same profession as one was in prior to the disabling event.
"So, the pay out must be HUGE!" I continued "to justify not returning to your profession." "Not really, not as much as I earned before but it was not worth the effort to work. It was easier not to work." was John38's reply.
I was speechless. Actually I was not. I never am. But I was appalled. This was daylight robbery. This is why people like me pay hefty subs to belong to disability funds. This is blatant abuse of the system. I believe in tax avoidance. But not tax evasion. This was akin to tax evasion but worse. I was so off John38. I started to fight with him. Sparring. This was a juicy topic and I could milk this one. As I am known to do.
Let us leave the moral dilemma aside and move onto more self-actualising ideas for a moment. John38 was a privately-schooled, university-educated man. He was a registered professional. Presumably then he was a thinker, with insight, intelligence, intellect, foresight, dreams, plans, ideas. He would presumably be cerebral in orientation. He would presumably be a seeker of knowledge, growth and learning. And he opted to do nothing. Nix. Zilch. Nada. I find it incredulous that anyone would choose to do nothing. He had (1) a "salary" which by the way facilitated his children boarding at prestigious private schools. He had (2) the time. Time to do as he wished. 24/7. One does not need to work per se. But there are so many amazing ways to spend one's days whether it be in pursuit of thrills, knowledge or in the spirit of giving ... He had time, money, freedom. And he opted to stay at home and he watched TV for 20 years. TV. For crying in a bucket.
Gotta love people. The choices they make. Poor John38, what a waste of a life. Karma. For ripping off the disability fund?