Hi, I'm Simon. To all appearances, I'm an 80-year-old guy in a wheelchair, but my sense of myself is a bit different. My mind is very similar to the 40-year-old version (aside from the need to wait 30 seconds for a name to surface!), and most of the time I'm hardly aware that I'm confined to a chair.

My immobility is due to a "benign" brain tumor I hosted for 20 years before it was removed in two operations.

My career was mainly in the editing of magazines and books. For several years, I worked at the BBC in London. I immigrated to the U.S. in 1978, and since 1985 have lived in California, first North, now South.

I'm resident in an eldercare community (assisted living) but have run out of resources and face a housing crisis, despite some financial support from the State. Without additional help, there's a high probability that I'll have to say goodbye to my comfortable nest and the "family" of seniors with whom I've formed close ties.

In recent months, several generous friends have rallied around to assist me in staying current with my rent, but obviously there are limits and I can't expect them to keep me afloat indefinitely. That's why I'm turning to GoFundMe and its circle of responsive donors -- in other words, to you!

If you decide to contribute, you'll be easing the burdens of a disabled elder in the latter years of his life. I'll be deeply grateful.

Wishing you a year of radiant health and fulfillment in every sphere of your lives . . ."