Just noticed that you are 50 and married for 17 years. In that case, alimony until you are 65 is quite a good deal! (Unless, as I said, you are disabled or something).
One value in having an attorney of your own, even if you mediate, is they can tell you what is a good deal or not. It may be that your H is offering something quite good right now out of guilt - if so, try to get him to sign on the dotted line ASAP as they almost always become much less generous as time goes on.
