usually there is a big financial penalty for taking money out early from those plans. Also, our current unstable economy has affected many retirement funds negatively since they are tied to the stock market. Many people are getting statements from their retirement funds showing that their fund has lost significant value and they have a lot less money in their retirement accounts than they thought they had. That is both depressing and kind of terrifying. I don’t know if your BFF is dealing with that situation. But there is a good chance that she is.
Maybe this is a good time to take your friendship to the heart-to-heart level. You could say something like “I care about you, BFF, and I can see that you’re struggling with depression. I just want to make sure that you know that you can talk to me about anything.” Having someone that you can trust and talk to can make a huge difference.
I've considered that. I mentioned here before that she went into nursing for the money and the steady income, not because she had a burning desire to help people. That sounds harsh--she's not totally without empathy--but even she will admit to it. At first, she was proud to be a nurse...a little TOO proud, TBH, always working her occupation into any conversation with a stranger within the first few sentences. But I know she feels nursing is no longer considered a career to be admired, despite the bump of approval it gained during the pandemic when people were "clapping medical personnel off to work" and sending pizzas to hospitals. So IMO--and this is JUST my opinion--I think she's fine with losing her identity as a nurse but not as someone receiving a higher salary.
For what it’s worth, I still have a lot of respect for nurses. They have a hard job with immense responsibility and are almost always understaffed. Even if BFF went into nursing for the pay, stability and prestige more than because she loves to help people, I can understand how she might feel betrayed by what has happened to her profession.
As for traveling, does your church ever organize any group trips (either day trips or overnight trips)? If not, maybe you can find a group to join that does that sort of thing. Or maybe traveling with your sis is looking better and better. Whenever you talk about your sis and her travel style (not planning too much and then not sticking to minimal plans), I think you could be describing me. LOL, you would hate traveling with me.
