Well, we’ve bought a beautiful house, with attendant mortgage payments, and I’ve come back to work to find myself laid off. Fortunately, we’ve already figured out we can afford the mortgage even on unemployment…
and besides, this will give me lots more time to practice whistle and flute… if it weren’t for the limited budget, it’d be a great time to start the uillean pipes! Ah, well, flute has me baffled enough for now.
I’ll be by for more on-topic discussion as and when I can… take care, all.
Ah, Chris, we’re all thinking of you. . .take care, think of the first week as a bit of a vacation, then its off to work again…looking for the next opportunity.
Found out last night that my best friend’s husband is in the same position. Mortgage, two cars, and their second daughter is heading into college in 2003.
As soon as I get e-mail working…
(New town, new ISP… we have networking now, so as soon as I figure out what the mailserver’s IP is …)
Fortunately, I’ve got 10 weeks of severance (2 weeks pay as if I was employed even though I’m not working, 2 weeks normal severance, 6 weeks ‘enhanced’ severance package (aka, bribe not to sue the company…)) …
I’m an embedded systems software engineer by trade, currently (through tomorrow anyway) employed in QA to maintain our test suite. I’m going to apply with the people that do the software the air traffic controllers use, and with MediTech, and other than that, I don’t know. If worst comes to worst, I can always take my whistle to Harvard Square. I’m mostly a Unix/Linux/C sort of person, and can’t imagine too many jobs involving those skills that I can’t do. I’m not so interested in or experienced with the windows world.
I’m very thankful for the expressions of support and offers of assistance! I’ll be back again on the board, and by tomorrow, on e-mail! Thanks again! Blessed be!
My sympathies to you. I’m facing the same probable situation by year-end (for the fourth year in a row!) Everytime I “reinvent” myself, the company turns around and changes the game. I think it’s time to bail. Tired of working for a huge impersonal Fortune-50 company anyway. Life is too short and my kids are growing fast. Oldest started college this year, and youngest entered kindergarten!
But I DO understand what you’re going through: I have been laid off myself. Best advice I can give (and it’s worth what you paid for it): take a little time to take a deep breath. Tell yourself that this isn’t your fault, and it’s simply a new opportunity. Decide what you want to pursue (and why). Draft a plan, then work the plan.
Too many people react to a lay-off and look for work merely to avoid being unemployed. Figure out what you want to do and then go for it!
Well, I’ve rambled enough. God’s blessings on you!
I’m mostly a Unix/Linux/C sort of person, and can’t imagine too many jobs involving those skills that I can’t do. I’m not so interested in or experienced with the windows world.