Haha nice. We started out amicable but then we got a mediator who sided with my ex and immediately set the expectation that I'd be paying $4,650/month for 17 y

Haha nice. We started out amicable but then we got a mediator who sided with my ex and immediately set the expectation that I'd be paying $4,650/month for 17 years(until she hit retirement age. The marriage was 19 years.). I countered with $2,600/mo and things stalled. Then she got mad one day and took a swing at me, forcing me to sleep on a friend's couch until she vacated the house. Finally we lawyered up. She moved out of state so I got to deal with her lawyer and found that her lawyer thought she was a nutcase. I mentioned the original mediator's suggested support amount and she was astonished. Her lawyer said she should have taken the $2,600/mo and been happy. Right now I'm paying $3,200/mo and that lasts for 3 years, then I pay for a vocational evaluation and take her back to court(for $10k-$100k according to my lawyer). Hopefully the judge will reduce the amount at that point. Fortunately in California the prevailing attitude now seems to be that alimony is temporary and transitional, so I'm hoping I don't have to pay indefinitely.