Fort Collins (Colorado, USA) | A Hobo No’Mo- 14 Mar, 2023

The Health District offices are where I have spent a good portion of my time over the last few days. Exploring how the public health system works in the United States has been very interesting.

While I was at Dazbog Coffee last week, a poster from Larimer County's Health District (HD) caught my attention. The HD was developed in the 1960s and has been helping low-income people in Larimer County meet their healthcare needs since it was created. They offer dental care, mental health, preventative health, and advanced care planning services. Since I no longer have health care and am unemployed, I wanted to explore how this process works. It feels strange to think of myself as low-income. However, I remind myself that I just recently accepted that I am a hobo. 😂 So why not lean into this experience. I aim to schedule a dental appointment to clean my teeth before heading out again.

Monday morning, I met with Roy with Medicaid. Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income people. There is no universal health care in the United States, so programs like Medicaid exist to assist those with income limitations. Roy asks a variety of questions. "I recommend we approach from this perspective since you rent your house. You don't want this to become a thing," Roy says. I laugh. I definitely don't need it to be a thing. I've worked hard to free my life of "a thing," and I like it that way, I tell him. "Even though you don't have a job, I am certain you make too much money to qualify. But since you are working with the dental clinic next door, let's apply to be certain." This catches me off guard. How can I be unemployed and still make too much money to qualify for a program like Medicaid?

After spending the necessary time with Roy, my application is denied. Because I rent my house out, I am ineligible. The rent I collect is considered income. Medicaid looks only at my gross income and doesn't care that my income over the last year was nearly zeroed out by rental expenses. So although I netted only < $650 per month for my house, the gross monthly income puts me over their threshold by $1,500 per month. This is despite Roy's best efforts to help me and reduce my monthly income as much as possible.

I met with Leticia (Let tee see ah) the next day at the dental clinic. I am feeling good about my conversation with Roy yesterday. This should be a simple appointment with Leticia. But, man, was I wrong. None of the information transfers from my time with Roy yesterday. Of course not. Why would it? 😂 This time, Leticia tells me I may qualify for a program that allows me to pay based on my ability. She asks for an agreement with the management company. "You qualify for our third tier. Accordingly, you would pay 35% of the costs," says Leticia. "My first appointment is at the end of May," she says.

This has been an interesting experience that highlights why so many Americans get stuck in the hamster wheel. People work in the United States for one primary reason. Health Care. I run out of fingers and toes when I think of aged people that have told me, "I would retire today if I had health insurance." So they stay in the hamster wheel well beyond their prime. I remember a conversation I had  with my friends Nancy and Joni, before leaving last June . Both discussed continuing to work into their late 60s before retiring, as there was no health insurance without work. Isn't that the shits? People devote their whole lives to working in the United States, then find out the security they enjoyed in their youth is gone once they quit working. Why can't one of the wealthiest nations in the world figure out how to care for its citizens? That's a question I've pondered for a long time. What comes to your mind? It appears that my experience as a Hobo was short lived. According to Health District, I violate one of the criteria that qualifies me as a Hobo. 😂

My culinary classes continue to be one of the highlights of my time in Colorado. I am enjoying it tremendously. It is amazing how a slight change in technique can dramatically improve the taste of food. I've always heard that technique is essential when cooking, but I have never given it the respect it deserves. Starting with the essentials and giving myself permission to acknowledge that I know nothing has made an enormous difference.

The first dish I cooked this weekend was Shrimp Stir-Fry with a Spicy Orange-Hoisin Sauce. Once I stopped "boiling" my food, the flavor of my stir-fries improved tremendously. This is a simple meal to make and extremely quick to cook. This dish was as good as the one I had made previously.

The recipe from ATK for the simple sauce is straightforward to make.
The other dish I cooked up that surprised me was this Pan Seared Chicken with Arugula Pesto Farfalle. Wow! This dish is simple and tastes fantastic. I never thought of making a pesto from Arugula. This herb has a distinct sharp peppery taste and is incredible in a pesto. As my technique has improved, I enjoy the simple things I never cared about when preparing food. Presentation. I want my dishes to look good now that they taste great!

Here's the simple recipe.

Of course, a few simple techniques can enhance the flavors. The first is related to cooking pasta. Add salt to the water. Avoid using oil. And never rinse your pasta when it is cooked. Instead, drain and mix with your sauce. This will preserve the salt that was added to the water.
My time is growing short in Colorado. I am headed to Idaho on Saturday. Before returning to Europe, I want to spend time with my parents and my sister's family.

I am looking forward to seeing them again. We always have a great time, and the change of pace will be good for me. 




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