I'm jobless again. After two tumultuous years of working like a dog with canine compulsive disorder, the powers that be finally put me out of my misery. When the news came down friday, I stared bewildered into the teary eyes of the two that get paid to bring the pain. Only I had no lump in my throat, no waves of emotion. I was complimented that I was acting incredibly professionally at such a horrible moment. One friend, laughing at this story said "Hadn't they figured out how incredibly cold you are?" Actually, any one of my colleagues would tell you that I was incredibly hardworking and managed the worst of the worst of our clients with aplomb.
I had often remarked that this was the first job, after a lifetime of work (literally stretching back into childhood) where I truly enoyed the company of my co-workers. Prior to this gig, I had worked for 16 years for the most American of corporations, opting to take a severance out. Surrounded by my weeping Union brothers and sisters, I remember checking the clock dispassionately waiting for an opportune moment to walk out the side door without fanfare. For the next eight months I enjoyed, for the first time in years an incredibly happy, healthy and creative time. I just didn't have a job to go to.
I am by no means a lazy person. I live alone in NJ suburbia and wake up on any Saturday morning around 8AM. That's after waking up at 6AM and remembering it's the weekend. I don't have to get up to milk cows or feed babies, I simply put in my 40-50 hours a week. I manage a home with the usual bills, mortgage, and taxes and have even scraped up enough to have some savings in an IRA. I probably have a little more than most of my friends, who have their own struggles.
It's downright un-American, but by gum, I'm old enough and worked enough years to say it: I'd rather be unemployed! Not sitting-around-drinking unemployed (not that I'm opposed) but actively, creatively, joyously not having to answer to anyone for the exact period that unemployment insurance will allow. I hear alot about how people define themselves by their work and losing a job somehow equals losing oneself. I just never understood this rationale. How could I define myself by my work when I work for someone else? I am the spawn of two civil servants whose anger and resentment towards their government employers factored into a personal philosophy I've always had about work: It's only a means to and end.
As far as company benefits - healthcare specifically, I more than used my share last year. It was spent on the following: That time I had an anxiety attack at work and took myself to the emergency room, then, because my immune system was repeatedly compromised by stress and long hours, I was fighting infection then flu for most of Jan-Feb, ending up again in the emergency room. Apparently I'm just not cut out for low-paying overstress because normally I'm healthy as a goddamn horse. In fact, I must admit I'm feeling most exuberant right now. I'm gonna go write some songs, then talk to people who need a friend, have dinner with the elderly in my family, clean up this house which I've let become undone and just enjoy this ride until some lucky employer snatches me up!
yess, please enjoy your current unemployment for the rest of us! what, are we saving all our money perpetually until we're too sick of life to enjoy anything that money might bring?
i'd say after a while a job is helpful in that it presents something time-wasting/annoying that propels you to treasure your free time, but that doesn't mean you ain't fulfilled without one!
SEIZE THE DAYTIME
Posted by: m | March 18, 2008 at 01:30 PM
Right on, Pseu!!!
I went through the same experience three years ago. My management job at a non-profit (lest you think I made the big bucks... HA...) was the victim of a reorganization and I was cast aside like an old sock. Fortunately for me, I saw it coming and prepared as best I could. Although I've always lived frugally, I put away more $$$ than usual and stayed out of debt. Thus, when the poop hit the fan blades, I was in relatively good shape.
Despite my preparations, I still suffered the grinding angst of joblessness. Feeling lost, scrabbling and flailing about searching for work, feeling sorry for myself, still identifying with my old gig, letting the whole situation erode my sense of well-being into dust. A few months of this did nothing but make me crazy.
I eventually saw what was happening and said ENOUGH. I found myself an on-call temp job to cover my bills, one where I didn't have to accept work if I didn't want to. I then set about doing all of the things I didn't or couldn't do when I had a full-time job: visiting friends, fixing up my house, planting a vegetable garden, finally getting into long distance cycle touring, getting into shape, learning how to play the guitar. I had one of the best summers I can remember as an adult. And the best part: solo budget vacations! I spent two weeks camping out at my favorite mountain, another week cycling up to a friend's beach cabin (where I got to stay for free in exchange for some car repair work). And lots and lots of daytrips.
Mind you, it wasn't all roses and I knew the fun would end if I wasn't careful. I was so tight with money that I squeaked. Paying for health insurance alone damn near wiped out my budget each and every month. My resume took a hit and I'm still patching it up. That said, given the same circumstances, I would do it all again in a New York minute.
Preparing for and then taking the time to get off the employment train was one of the sanest things I've ever done.
Savor your break, Pseu, and enjoy every minute of it!
Posted by: st vincent | March 18, 2008 at 01:40 PM
Welcome back to the ranks of the jobless! Unfortunately, my unemployment insurance just ran out, and I've used up a lot of my savings, so I'm scrabbling around trying to find some work. I hope I don't end up wearing a paper hat down at the local Burger Boy.
But worse than that, I don't think I've used my time of unemployment very well, except for seven weeks spent overseas, and a few days volunteering for a certain wonderful radio station. I haven't even seen my friends lately. And even though I've always been extremely frugal (due to largely rejecting most of the principles of our sick consumer culture), I'm getting tired of being "so tight with money that I squeak" as St. Vincent put it. The rice-and-beans thing is getting old. Time to smear more resumes all across the web.
Posted by: Ike | March 18, 2008 at 06:59 PM
Oh my Gawd! Pseu, your words speak to me like YOU KNOW NOT HOW. I have never used health insurance more than I have lately, and it's all because of work-related stress and illness! Those full-time, permanent gigs will kill you (I can hardly breathe as I type this.) People look at me cross-eyed when I say it, but now that you've put it in print on BoTB it must be true—my job makes me sick, hence health insurance is required—it's really that simple. Can I please be fired, too?
Posted by: WmMBerger | March 18, 2008 at 09:27 PM
Sleep late a few days, you've earned it.
Posted by: bartleby | March 18, 2008 at 11:01 PM
Excellent news Pseu! And hopefully yr future work-for-money will be rewarding without the stress.
Check this out:
http://www.worklessparty.org/
also:
http://www.slowdownnow.org/
Posted by: Brian | March 18, 2008 at 11:11 PM
We'll all be joining you soon enough. Bush and his cronies have wrecked the economy and wiped out whatever modicum of a safety net the country had left. Hard times follow Republicans. This is just the beginning. People truly don't understand how bad it is.
Posted by: Banjo | March 19, 2008 at 07:47 PM
good for you to enjoy the break and see it for what it is. that's why we listen to your show faithfully...you've got eyes and can see the forest for the trees. just be sure to give in to the urge to shred your ambitious to-do list for a lifestyle of booze and dark chocolate.
mazeltov on your sabbatical!
Posted by: sean | March 21, 2008 at 01:46 PM
Happy Unemployment Day! do they have a hallmark card for that?
Posted by: Cyber Rainbow | February 26, 2009 at 06:14 PM
What health care problem should I address in a statistics assignment?
Posted by: Cpr For Health Professional | January 23, 2013 at 12:18 PM