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I know what you mean about getting laid off and the time that is wasted, you might fall behind some of your peers. I know I should be further along in life and career than I am, but at least I'm working and although I'm a very long term temp right now, I do bit on jobs that come open where I work at. At least I have a constant work history again, if you off work for a while, many employers would quetion that although if need be, I'd just tell the truth. I was talking to a co-worker and we were saying that it is a "good idea to keep working after getting laid off, even if it in't wat we want." Sure being on unemployment for the first week or two seems like a vacation but as time goes on, it drives one crazy." We went on, "you know when you're up at 3 AM watching movies in your underwear, something is wrong." Well, OK, perhaps once in a while on weekends but at least during the week, I have a job. B-) I worked at photo developing in a drugstore for a while, wasn't the greatest, but at least it provided income, although I needed more, plus I felt useful.

I was out of work for two long stretches in the 90's. I was laid off the first time in August of '94. If I remember correctly, I had a hot prospect almost immediately. I think I interviewed in the first week of September. During the two weeks leading up to that interview, I did a great deal of biking and started some library research on companies that might need someone like me. I had a nice severance package, so I didn't bother with unemployment at first. I was hoping that I'd find something good before the severance stopped. At that time, I didn't have a TV, so there was no late-night TV watching. I didn't have a computer, and I was going to Kinko's to print all of my cover letters and resumes. I remember that I used to go to Kinko's after midnight because I didn't want to be disturbed while I was doing this work. I'd usually finish around one or two in the morning and head to the post office with a bunch of envelopes. I'd put them in the box and go home to sleep. I'd sleep late and then wait for the mail to come or try to make phone calls.

The second time was in '99 when I finished my second master's degree. By this time, I had a computer but still no TV. I was finishing my thesis for part of the time that I was looking for work, so the thesis kept me busy. Afterward, I just took walks around campus and surfed the internet to keep myself busy.

I can't say that I ever really learned to enjoy unemployment. I'm sure that I'll love retirement, but I have a hard time relaxing when I know that something big is waiting for me to complete. I never took a job because I wanted to be ready to go at a moment's notice. Furthermore, I'm not really suited to do anything but be an engineer. In the '94 to '95 time period, I was almost ready to do some odd stuff when I finally found the job at the consulting firm.

Bill