...is not having a commute...of course. Tomorrow is my last day of my current job. I'll just be aimlessly riding around for the time being, I guess.

I hear ya.
I haven't been working since a layoff last April. In my case, the layoff was a gift - I despised the job and was planning to quit anyway, and the layoff was a perfect segue for me to take a break, and let 25 years of working in industries I had no personal interest in fall away.
I still got out and rode for groceries - a 10 mile round trip - and for fitness, but definitely missed the daily ride.
Fortunately I start working again (doing something I actually like) in late March, and the 28 mile RT commute will be a welcome part of my routine.

Hang in there, and get out to ride if you can.

Congrats for finding and landing something that you want to do!

I'll be getting out and had thought about biking for groceries. It's always rough getting a parking spot at those stores here because they've expanded the stock but not the lots. I'll make it a point to gather my next round of groceries by bike.

Commuting from Palisade to GJ?

Also CE, I left this job because it just wasn't me. It worked to defray the cost of moving to the town of my liking and I now have a few gigs lined up which are right up my alley. We'll see if those applications go anywhere. Doing something you like is the true payoff.

Yep. I'm about 2 miles outside of Palisade (35 1/2 Road) on the canal. I will be working with Brad and Ryan at Bicycle Outfitters down town

I totally agree.
Good on ya for moving in this way.

lol, you make me feel bad for not riding to work today.

Glad to see this, canyoneagle.

I actually had the job I loved in the Vail Valley, but after living there for 4 years I needed to leave. I felt no real connection with that string of towns along the interstate. I'm now in a place I love and simply need to find something that I want to do here. Closed on the sale of our home in the Vail area this week so it's just now starting to feel real. Congrats again on landing your job. I'll have to drop in on that shop the next time we're out to GJ.

Definitely keep riding. I lost my job last February and since I'm not really into riding for the heck of it, I pretty much stopped. Then I found a job here in town (didn't work out), I had to 'recondition' my arse to the saddle again. Luckily, it was a short 2.3 mile commute- and I usually was sprinting out of the saddle on the way into work.

I'm unemployed on March 31. I have some interviews in between, but I wouldn't mind not working for a few months (I don't need the money) and focusing on getting the perfect position afterward. Of the interviews lined up, I'm not super excited about most. I have a verbal commitment from a place I really would like to live as well. But, I think I'm going to lie low and wait to see what happens. I don't feel like rushing into the next position anyway (as it would start 4-6 months after the interview.)

We've contemplated traveling for 3 months anyway before attempting to start a family.

Also, I've decided that if I work from home without getting paid, that I can ride the biggest loop that I want and consider it all commuting mileage ....

Hope you don't mind my chiming in, but I echo your opinion about Vail. Although it's been a decade since my last visit, Vail always was like the Disney World of skiing, a corporation's idea of a town. Plus, there are almost zero laid back visitors in Vail. A ditch between awesome mountains and I-70.

Aspen is more of a community, with year round activities, just out of my price league today. Among winter resort communities, I think I like Park City best, with skiing at Alta. But there is something cool about my place in the Adirondacks. Very cool in fact, sometimes 30 below.

I love GJ....and Rifle. I've thought about getting a job a Wal-Mart just to hopefully transfer to the one in Rifle across from the rest area fishing pond.

Please do!
Of the shops in town, it is my favorite by a good margin - great staff, good vibe. The owner has been a "big 3" dealer in the past, but has dropped those and prefers smaller lines as well as the usual QBP lines. I believe he has 21 different brands on the floor - I have some major homework ahead of me.

What?! Having the chance to ride around aimlessly is a problem?? Enjoy it while you can - during the summer months nice days are when I'm least likely to have free time myself. Rides late at night are still fun but not auite the same.

Well, it's a problem for the bicycle commuter, since there is no longer a commute.

Yesterday was my last day. At the exit interview with human resources, they urged me to apply for the management position for the department I left. I'm thinking that's a good sign. ha ha. Especially given that I worked here for just less than 2 months and only gave them a 1 week notice. The management position isn't posted yet. I won't be applying either. It is a great organization though, just not my thing.

It seems easier to find full time work in this town when what I really need to find is a nice part time position. A little rewarding work. A little 5ish mile commute. A little more time off.

CE: Sounds like a good bike shop and an interesting place to work, for sure. Enjoy your research.

Yes, Vail is like Disney World in that they tried to emulate a far away Swiss ski town in many ways when they built the resort area. Don't get me wrong; it's a fun place to live, which you can enjoy all year long. The source of the problem for me, is that the area is comprised of a string of little towns all struggling to get their time in the spotlight. Vail, Minturn, Red Cliff, Beaver Creek, Avon, Edwards, Eagle, Eagle Ranch, Gypsum, all in the same county and very close to one another. If a sense of community is what you are looking for, good luck finding it in the Vail Valley.

Utah has fantastic skiing. I lived in Utah for 15 years and joke that I moved to Colorado for the restaurants. (Utah really embraces the chain restaurant, and I don't)

30 below?? Yikes. It's sunny here in the San Juan mtn range and we're going to hit 50 degrees today and tomorrow. Glorious. Even better that the weather will be nice during the week...and I won't be at work.

I've been unemployed an looking for work since mid-October. I've been continuing to ride as much as possible, the main impediment being the weather (not a big fan of riding when it is below freezing, wet or snowy - takes the enjoyment out of it for me). Nevertheless, I've probably been racking up 100+ miles/week, on average.
The silver lining of unemployment, at least in my case, is I'm able to search jobs throughout the country, with paid relocation; and able to factor in climate and bike commute-ability in my selection. Currently I have a few prospects in the South, so I'm pretty hopeful that something will work out soon. My preferred commute is 10-15 miles one way, on country or arterial roads, so that is something I look at when researching housing near prospective jobs.

I was unemployed for a year. That took away my commute but gave me time to do more S240s and weekend tours. The only good thing about unemployment is the freedom to spend more time on your hobbies. I was in the best shape of my life, spending 2 hours a day at the gym and 4 or more in the saddle. Those two activities are cheap. LOL

You make unemployment seem so attractive! Weekend tour and overnights? 4 hours-a-day riding? I'm jealous.

Good luck with your prospects.
Moving with jobs can be exciting and bring a new perspective on things.
During my unemployment period, I received on average 2-3 calls per week from recruiters with jobs all over the world. I had "been there, done that" for 25 years and no longer have any desire to move. It was certainly exciting for a couple of decades (and allowed me to tolerate the work by keeping things fresh) - I got to see the world and experience living in the Middle East, North Africa, Canada and all over the US during that time. Now, 25 years and more than 20 moves later, I'm done

I had something lined up with the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) but after 22 years of "being on the hook" within the DoD I thought I'd try relaxing for a little bit.

Telecommuting also sucks for putting on the miles. Only have to run in to the office once a week.

Unemployment is the perfect time to travel.

I usually stagger my jobs to allow a few months in between. There's no need for the old employer to know when I start a position or for the new employer to know when I left the old position. I took a couple months off around SE Asia between the last two jobs. This time, a few months around S America would be optimal before starting a new position.

Always have feared umemployment but when it happened, I was way too quick at finding another occupation. If it ever happens again, I will be alot more selective knowing what I know now. I like Acidfast's reasoning about the inbetween time. It just makes sense. It will also be a good time to get rid of some overhead like having too many houses to pay for. More bike riding would be the first priority for me.LOL