Job loss can be a major stress. When I was laid off in April 2008 I had my house up for sale and got a decent severance so I thought "Keep the house on the market, it will take awhile to sell" and it sold in three weeks. Economy went in the crapper (I work in finance.....) so 9 months later I finally found a job and bought a fixer-upper house. We lived with my in-laws and it really was a gift. I got to know what great people they are, my kids got to know their grandparents and it all worked out just fine. You will miss not working when you are I know I do.