I couldn't afford to live locally with only half the proceeds from the house, it is a small place and the house is close to the school, and so I would lose my 50/50 of the kids if I lose the house. That is why I have to save the house.
W doesn't need her half of the money from the sale of the house. 2 years ago W gave some money to her parents to help buy a bigger house locally. I hadn't known W had given them money towards that (seems typical of a WAW to plan 2 years ahead), there's no mortgage on that house, and she's now living in it.
