I'm in a similar boat. I lost my job of 14 years this past May due to health issues. They were kind enough to give me a decent severance. The company I'm contracting with now is great and I love the new job, but I'm making about $1.10 less an hour than the previous job plus health insurance that is more like a discount program than true health coverage. It had been a couple of years at the old place since I had had a raise on top of that.