I'm 70, and one of the hardest parts about Katrina was the loss of a half-time job that I really loved--university teaching. I'm still hoping that one of these days they'll need 1/4 or 1/2 an instructor. Meanwhile, I work three days a week at a university Women's Center getting archived material in order. As a volunteer.

Without a scheduled commitment or so each week, I'd have an infinite number of days to put off doing anything. (If I weed today, what will be left to do tomorrow?)

I guess I'm very lucky, Sue, to have my main source of joy my work at home--painting. But I will always feel being forced out of a job because of age immoral. Katrina would be an even more upsetting reason--to see such devastaion and long-term results.