Down & Out In Silicon Valley - Like striking it rich, being 'almost homeless' can happen to anyone

sfgate.com/San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Sunday, October 13, 2002 | Stephanie Salter, Insight Staff Writer

[Redleg Duke]

My ex and I moved there in 1981 and I finally escaped in 1994. Didn't leave anything back there I need to go for.

[scripter]

I can't believe the callousness of some freepers. We have friends who have lost their house in Brentwood and both cars (one was paid for) after being out of work 6 months. We paid their mortgage and car payment one month but that's all we could afford.

My last good paying job ended October 2001 and up until 2 weeks ago I was working 3 jobs for a total of 1/3 of what I was making a year ago. If we didn't have a years worth of expenses saved up, we'd be selling everything we have and renting.

At least now I have a good job until 2/28/3 but that's not even guaranteed. I also do the Altamont every day, Tracy to Cupertino - supposedly the worst commute in California. We'd move but the family is here and the wife's parents are elderly. We may not have a choice early next year. Times are tough as a software engineer so while I was working those three jobs I passed my real estate license test. At least now I have a backup in real estate or finance.

Since we home school the wife doesn't work - things are really tight!

[UnBlinkingEye]

AMEN brother ... AND that day just might be just around the corner ....

Me and my family have turned that corner.

I have worked in the past as a newspaper boy, lawn mower, busboy, Merchant Marine deckhand, fast food cook, work room aide in surgery, steel worker, virtually every food service job and fourteen years in software development. I paid my own way through college, paid off my student loans and now find myself in the aforementioned situation.

Needless to say I have little faith in our political class and despise many of the opinions expressed on this thread.

[Kevin Curry]

Hang in there. Not all FReepers are so callous as to laugh at another's unemployment misery and bankruptcy. These are rough times for many.

[scripter]

Hang in there. Not all FReepers are so callous as to laugh at another's unemployment misery and bankruptcy. These are rough times for many.

Thanks for the encouragement. A rare treasure in this thread. :-/

[potlatch]

A few months ago I would have declined the idea of joining those folks,

Any Federal or Civil Service job is usually good, with benefits and job security. Look at the 'mailmen' sitting in the backroom having a coffee-break, while we wait in a mile long line!! They can't be fired.

[UnBlinkingEye]

Hang in there. Not all FReepers are so callous as to laugh at another's unemployment misery and bankruptcy. These are rough times for many.

Kevin, I am revising my opinion of you. I still disagree with many of your positions, but this post deserves applause.

[pyx]

I passed my real estate license test. At least now I have a backup in real estate or finance.

Is it steady income ?

A tractor trailer driver can earn $40K+/year. A Raymond Reach or counterbalance forklift operator can earn $30K to $35K per year as a shipper receiver.

[clamper1797]

I live in Byron and commute to South San Jose. Traffic is bad but better than going to Cupertino.

[clamper1797]

Re Post 122 about Barstow

[FITZ]

Did you care when it was blue-collar workers losing their jobs? I think there is a feeling that the yuppies did not care then but think their situation is somehow different. Maybe losing a $300,000 home is worse than losing a $70,000 home.

[scripter]

Is it steady income ?

Around here it is - this area is growing too quickly. Thanks for the tips.

[Kevin Curry]

Politics and ideology on the abstract level are one thing. I'll willingly engage in blistering flame wars over ideas.

But personal kindness and empathy for others in distressing situations is something else entirely. There is no justification for being rude or cruel to someone who is out of work and trying to survive and provide for a family.

[scripter]

Hey neighbor. I can throw a rock and hit Byron road.

[clamper1797]

A tractor trailer driver can earn $40K+/year. A Raymond Reach or counterbalance forklift operator can earn $30K to $35K per year as a shipper receiver.

If someone will hire the ex Silicon Valley engineer for 1/4 of what he's used to. Sure he'd be happy and thankful for the driving job but would be a fool not to leave that job for a job in his own industry when times get better. Employers know this and WILL NOT HIRE these people for this (among many others) reason.

[clamper1797]

Byron Hiway ???? By the Leightons ??? How's Dean ????

[clamper1797]

Actually your in Tracy. My mom is just off Corral Hollow

[luckystarmom]

Strouds is a discount linen store. Her point was that she wasn't living extravagantly.

I live in Silicon Valley, and we know of a lot of people that are having lots of hard times right now.

We know quite a few that retired (in their 60s) and had to go back to work because they lost money on their investments. They've sold their homes and moved away.

We know a lot of people that have lost jobs. It's a very scary time. We're in our 40s and we don't know the young dot-com types. The people we are talking about have lived out here for at least 15 years, and have worked very hard during those years.