Living Car Free - A jobfree moment

Today, I got hauled into the conference room and told that my contract with my current client would end at the end of June. As this was said to me, my mind did not go into panic mode. Rather I started having visions of:
- a trip by bicycle into Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- some extended camping along the bike paths west of here.
- early morning rides to watch the workers scurry jobward.
- ability to put some serious work into my vegetable patch.
- maybe devote a few more hours for the bike co-op.

Is this fantasy normal? Should I just panic instead? P

roblem is, I've been working for so many years and am getting really tired of it.

If it were me ...

1) I'd seriously consider downsizing my things (household possessions, etc.) to make myself more versatile and mobile.

2) I'd have a good look at my education & experience background to see if there is anything I could do to make myself more marketable in a variety of areas and places. I'd update my resume and create a portfolio ... and possibly sign up for a night class, or volunteer somewhere, or pick up a pt job in an area of interest ... or something along those lines if necessary.

3) I'd have a good look at my budget, and work on paying down any debts ... this may require picking up a pt job for now.

4) I'd look at what it would take to hit the road ... to either live on the bicycle out of panniers for an extended period of time in my own country or in others ... or perhaps in a small RV or van. :)


But even if you are kept on at your job, or if you immediately find another job, doing the first three things are beneficial steps for anyone to take.

Downsizing for sure. The less you need, the less you need to make.

Today, I got hauled into the conference room and told that my contract with my current client would end at the end of June. As this was said to me, my mind did not go into panic mode. Rather I started having visions of:
- a trip by bicycle into Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- some extended camping along the bike paths west of here.
- early morning rides to watch the workers scurry jobward.
- ability to put some serious work into my vegetable patch.
- maybe devote a few more hours for the bike co-op.

Is this fantasy normal? Should I just panic instead? P

roblem is, I've been working for so many years and am getting really tired of it.

Depending on your financial condition it maybe panic or? I am in decent shape job wise (at the moment) but if the occasion arises I will be hitting the road for some serious quality touring time. FWIW I anticipated this downturn in the economy a few years ago and started planning for it. So I am better prepared than probably 90% of the American public. I also live a relatively simple life and have been putting money in my savings on a steady basis for years, and have the advantage of having someone around to care for the homeplace.:thumb:

Aaron:)

Sorry to hear the news. Ain't gonna be no bailouts for us common folk. The stark statistical reality is that lots of folks who go out looking for jobs these days aren't going to find anything for a good long while, and it won't be because they lack skills or motivation. Many retired people will be seeing their income cut way down, too.

This year we're gardening like we really mean it. We also built up a pantry stocked three months deep and filled a deep freeze. Here's how I think about it. If you're not working at a job (and I'm not), you still have the opportunity to use your waking hours to supply some of your own economic needs. Gardening is a big one, cooking from scratch another, also repairing stuff instead of replacing it, in general doing things yourself instead of paying to have it done. Yeah, you can't be totally self sufficient but if you had Depression parents you probably grew up knowing how to stretch a buck when necessary. So it's not as if we job free folk have to just sit around all day doing nothing.

So it's not as if we job free folk have to just sit around all day doing nothing.

I've spent long periods of my live without a job (as such...). It's an experience not too many people in the US have had... which I think drives the fear and panic. We have let ourselves becomes defined by our workplace.

Being without a job can be harrowing. You do have to find something to eat. But it also lets us develop some other aspects of our being, the chance to do something a little adventurous.... just the sort of thing that builds character.

Maybe I will have a chance to learn some Russian... which I've always wanted to do. And, as I say, a bike tour is a wonderful adventure.

Maybe I will have a chance to learn some Russian...
I used my college Russian exactly once in real life. I had a Russian employee who was brilliant and knew English, but he was embarrassed to speak it for fear of making mistakes. That is, until I tried my Russian on him. We had a good laugh and after that, he had no fear of speaking English with me, ha!

I would apply for unemployment the moment I'm let out of the door. I would not wait 6 months to start looking for work because it may take you that much time to find a job. It's incredible how many people are on the street looking for work and over qualified highly educated are looking for low paying jobs. Incredible.

I said it before on another thread this recession is going to last for two years and we have not hit rock bottom. The last two recessions were "Job Less" recoveries and I don't expect any different this time.

One more thing. Don't go out and buy a new car. I just read about someone who did just that and they lost their unemployment checks!

Maybe I will have a chance to learn some Russian...

There are lots of Russians (and Ukrainians and you'd better not mix them up) in my library's neighborhood. So many, in fact, that we have an entire Russian section--including magazines, newspapers and videos.

Anyway, as for the tour/panic choice, I'd pick tour. Anyone can panic. It takes special skill to seize it as an opportunity.

Then again, I've already downsized my life to the point where I can afford to live (and live comfortably) on a half-time job. Haven't had debt (other than mortgage) since '92, and got rid of the house and its mortgage in '96. So for me the choice would be really easy.

Bike tour :thumb:

If you're financially comfortable, I wouldn't worry right away.

The idea of a bike tour sounds like fun, but there's a potential downside to it. Tours cost money and you'll need to be able to have something left over at the end in case you've got a long wait until you find something else.

As far as finding work, summer could work in your favour. Farms and agricultural businesses will be in their busy period and other employers, with summer vacation time, may be able to offer some temporary work as relief help. You'll probably want to get on that fairly soon.

Also, as others have said, this would be a good time to start simplifying your lifestyle if you haven't already done so. Frugality is good.

This recession isn't like others I've seen in my lifetime. I think we've still got a long way to fall before anything resembling recovery can begin.

There are lots of Russians (and Ukrainians and you'd better not mix them up) in my library's neighborhood.
Just don't ask a man where he's from, if he's from Ukraine he'll tell you all about it. If he's not, you don't want to embarrass him.

No need to panic. If your finances aren't good, though, you might want to take a short (a few days) bike tour, or no bike tour.

So, while out and out panic might not be the best reaction, it might be wise to immediately look for a steady income and treating the job search as your top priority.

But if you've got money in your bank account for a year or two of living expenses then "don't worry be happy" for a little while.

The unemployment rate for March in the USA was 8.5%. This means 91% of the people who want jobs have jobs.

Economists say that the "ideal" unemployment rate is actually 5% because anything less than that means there aren't enough job-seekers available to be hired. If everyone worked for 10 years and then spent just half a year looking for work, (and then repeat) it would mean a 5% unemployment rate.

No need to panic. If your finances aren't good, though, you might want to take a short (a few days) bike tour, or no bike tour.

So, while out and out panic might not be the best reaction, it might be wise to immediately look for a steady income and treating the job search as your top priority.

But if you've got money in your bank account for a year or two of living expenses then "don't worry be happy" for a little while.

The unemployment rate for March in the USA was 8.5%. This means 91% of the people who want jobs have jobs.

Economists say that the "ideal" unemployment rate is actually 5% because anything less than that means there aren't enough job-seekers available to be hired. If everyone worked for 10 years and then spent just half a year looking for work, (and then repeat) it would mean a 5% unemployment rate.
You might want to get back to work before your health insurance becomes unsurance.

I'm going to Sweden within the window of my 30-day notice. After I return, my job will be over. It's going to be great!

Anyway, as for the tour/panic choice, I'd pick tour. Anyone can panic. It takes special skill to seize it as an opportunity.


This is great advice. Sort of reminds me of Rahm Emanuel's statement ""You never want a serious crisis to go to waste".
It really does take special skill to seize an opportunity when it presents itself. Your first instinct is to panic, but panic serves no real purpose.

For myself, I feel I have the skill largely because I've been in this same predicament several times in my life. At least once or twice, it was even more precarious than my current situation. But looking back at it, any time I spent fretting and worrying was a complete loss. Finding something meaningful to do (learning Russian or going on a bike tour) would be the right course.

Bike tour in Russia. You'll learn the language faster.

No need to panic. If your finances aren't good, though, you might want to take a short (a few days) bike tour, or no bike tour.

So, while out and out panic might not be the best reaction, it might be wise to immediately look for a steady income and treating the job search as your top priority.

But if you've got money in your bank account for a year or two of living expenses then "don't worry be happy" for a little while.

The unemployment rate for March in the USA was 8.5%. This means 91% of the people who want jobs have jobs.

Economists say that the "ideal" unemployment rate is actually 5% because anything less than that means there aren't enough job-seekers available to be hired. If everyone worked for 10 years and then spent just half a year looking for work, (and then repeat) it would mean a 5% unemployment rate.

That is a bogus number, that only includes the people actually drawing unemployment and actively looking for work. According to other sources it is probably 50% higher than that due to under employment and people that have given up looking for work. It is alot like the "official" government inflation rate, if you take real world products and real world prices and decreases in pay it has been in double digits for years.

Aaron:)

Today, I got hauled into the conference room and told that my contract with my current client would end at the end of June. As this was said to me, my mind did not go into panic mode. Rather I started having visions of:
- a trip by bicycle into Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- some extended camping along the bike paths west of here.
- early morning rides to watch the workers scurry jobward.
- ability to put some serious work into my vegetable patch.
- maybe devote a few more hours for the bike co-op.

Is this fantasy normal? Should I just panic instead? P

roblem is, I've been working for so many years and am getting really tired of it.

Well, if I may quote such an illustrious reference as the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the first words are "Don't Panic". The second bit of advice is that whenever you travel, you should bring your own towel. That way you look prepared.

I would avise against the early morning rides to watch the workers scurry. It soon loses its appeal. However, rolling over in your bed knowing that they are scurrying is timeless and never loses it's appeal.

I'm at the opposite end of that corridor. I recently found a job and my new employer was gracious enough to let me complete my plans to go to the Red Stick Animation festival in Baton Rouge. That was good and I was able to link up with some of the people in the Baton Rouge bicycle advocacy movement to swap stories and experiences. That was fun. But Red Stick is over now and I just got home. Tomorrow I go back to being one of the worker bees. You can watch me scurry along my new 9 mile bicycle commute.

What do you program or do?

Considering I can program something.
Well if I had 12,000 dollars I would not panic and hit the road.

If I had 1000 dollars I would be mad as hell.

I would like to guess I would be the first, considering how much money I make and plan my life around a simple lifestyle.

slow down your step and you will find the life is simple and beautiful