Hi Lunatic Fringe, not saying that you couldn't develop a really meaningful relationship with a partner regardless of the bipolar......but I'm not so sure you want to be finding a relationship as a stage in recovery alone.
I'd say that recovery is going to be much stronger when it doesn't depend on someone else or on a relationship. It does need to be about you.
And if some of that is pretty much based on the positives in a relationship........well you know the score, relationships can often have their less positive times too.........So maybe keep the focus with the recovery more on yourself, a lot less complicated too!!!
But yes, back to a relationship........maybe it's a natural thing that you want a relationship as well???
If so, then having a small house, not working..........absolutely doesn't make you a loser......find the right person and they're going to know that there are so many much more important things in a relationship than money or material things. In fact money doesn't need to come into it at all. So a bit more focus on your good qualities, hey??!!
And anyone who would only want to know you if you had a large house ect. you shouldn't want to know them even if you did have a large house ect.
But believe me not everyone is going to be like that.
Alison