Well, the economy finally caught up with me. Its been 3 weeks and I still haven't heard from unemployment. The good news is the garden and spring chores are way ahead of schedule. I'm thinking about opening a shop on the property but that will take some time (I have a building that used to be an amish bakery so one hurdle down!) If it weren't for my lifestyle I think I would be in big trouble, but I still have to worry about taxes, electric and telephone bills. How is everyone else who is unintentionally unemployed doing?

-- Dianne (yankeeterrier@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002

Answers

YOU ARE NOT ALONE. I LOST MY JOB THE 3RD WEEK OF FEB. AND APPLILED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT IMMEDIATLY AND HAVEN'T REC'D ANY THING YET. WHEN YOU ARE NEAR 60 WITH A HEAD FULL OF GRAY HAIR NO BODY WANTS YOU ON THE PAYROLL. OH WELL THINGS WILL WORK OUT, KEEP YOUR CHIN UP AND AS LONG AS YOU HAVE GOOD HEALTH EVERY THING WILL BE FINE.

-- GARY IN COLORADO (TRIVETS2TRACTORS@AOL.COM), April 15, 2002.

My dear husband has been laid off for 3 years now, but for the last year he has beencatching an occasional independent contract in his field. It has given him time to spend with his mother to enjoy her company as well as to schlep her about to all her healthcare appointments. And time with our grandchildren when ever the ex DIL dumps them. I am still working fulltime, but I really depend on him to carry through most of the gardening schemes. It has really done a number on his self respect though. Recently he began talking about insituting a nother job search in his prefession. I think that is flogging a dead horse, the world has changed and he hasn't changed with it. He does admit to me that down deep he still expects life to be like in the 50's-you were loyal to an employee and they were loyal to you. I don't know what the future will bring, but I expect that God clears things away when he wants to give us something better.

One of my friends was just fired from my office, but on the other hand she is suddenly faced with severe breast disease, not cancer, but her mom & mat aunt died young of breast cancer and after dealling with moderately severe but constantly worsening "benign" (non cancerous but painful) breast disease for 10 years she is considering a bilateral mastectomy and I think, given the $hirty nature of our jobs, that God was being merciful when he arranged for her to have time to deal with her health when she doesn't have a stressful job to worry about also. Dear me! how I'm rambling on. Anyway. Good luck gp wih you.

-- Mitzi Giles (Egiles2@prodigy.net), April 15, 2002.

My husband lost his job in July,2001, since we had moved to KY only 2 1/2 yrs before due to his job relocating to the south, we had a mortgage,etc. With the economy down here in KY, there were no jobs for someone with his experience ( Information Technology), he's 52 and although it can't be proven age does seem to play into getting a new job. Finally, after 2 mos he was offered a position in Memphis, the only job offered!! We talked & decided that we'd lose everything if he couldn't find work. I have had multiple surgeries & have a chronic condition that prevents me from doing the work I went to college for(radiologic technology) and the only jobs around here pay 5.25 which won't cover the bills. I raise all of our vegetables, chicken,eggs,etc which helps on the grocery bill. So now he's in TN and I'm on the farm in KY (274 miles apart). We are trying to decide if we should sell the one in KY & me move to TN or if we should just do alot of commuting. It's not easy since we have alot of money tied up in the Ky farm and due to the economy won't be able to sell it for what it's worth. Also from what I can tell the cost of land is more on the west side of TN. Hard decisions to be made when you get to the supposed 'golden' years.:( I hope things turn around for all that are in rough situations. Blessings, Kathy

-- Kathy (beckoningwinds@yahoo.com), April 15, 2002.

Dianne,

Hang in there. Seems you have the seeds of a plan with opening a shop- building there and all!

I was out of work for awhile and you learn to do without the extra's, and do what you have to do; I cooked for a deli, housecleaned, kid/pet sitter, sold junk! on ebay-you name it.

There is a woman up the street from me that sells plants from her yard/mini greenhouse-she says she does very well. I am a repeat customer, she has wonderful old variaties of veggies and flowers.

You'll be fine-problem is, you might get to like staying 'home'! Good Luck!

-- Kathy (catfish201@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

My designated other lost his job a couple of weeks ago, and as he is a consultant, things don't look too good with this economy. He had worked for only two companies for the last seven years. They kept him so busy that he didn't have time to court other clients.

Luckily, I am working (teacher at a rural school), and I bought distressed houses and remodeled them over the last two years, so there is rent property income. (BTW, he objected to those purchases at the time, but is singing a different tune now.) He is unconcerned about the money situation or jobs. He has VERY strong faith that it will work out. Always has in the past, one way or another.

As he was gone about 85% or more of the time during those seven years, this has been a VERY difficult transition for me to have him home full time, questioning why I do things the way I do, and generally being underfoot. The UP side is that our woodshed is full of wood for about 8 years, the sapling pecan orchard has been fertilized on time for the first time, weeds sprayed, the trees around the house trimmed, etc. He does stay busy during the day, but he is ADDICTED to the History Channel, and I am SO tired of Schackleton's South Pole trips and Hitler every night.

I have a studio in one of our son's old bedrooms, so I go there to do paperwork or watercolor. The past couple of days have been easier, and I guess we are adjusting. We will survive.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), April 15, 2002.

Kathy, You may find that its not age that keeping him out, but experience. Too much experience and slary. I know a number of companies that are now willing to take a potiental, trainable person with no experience and put them into jobs that a few years ago would have required somone with experience. Its easy to see when you do the math, At least from a bean counters prospective. 52 year old man wants 80K/yr has 15+ years experience. 23 year old man wants 30K/yr and has minimal expericnce. You can get two people and train them for what the expericened guy will cost you. Granted there are lots of trade off, but bean counters dont have to deal with those.

As someone with 22years in my field I do worry about this trend.

-- Gary (gws@columbus.rr.com), April 15, 2002.

I say hang in there. I lost my job due to health reasons about 14 months ago. I was fortunate that my house is paid for and my two vehicles were paid for. All I owed for was lots of credit cards and doctor bills. I bankrupt my cards cause I knew there was no way I would be able to pay for them soon. I only send the doctors $5.00 a month to keep them from filing a law suite against me. I was not able to collect unemployment because of a stupid law that states that I have to be able to accept any position of like work. When I do apply for a job I am treated as a major health insurance risk and therefore denied employment.(they don't tell me that is the reason but I know how it works since I was in the management business myself once before)

But the main reason I am able to survive is cause I serve a mighty Lord. He continuesly tells me to not worry, be patient, he has a plan for me, and he will supply all my needs. Just when I think I am too broke to live he somehow delivers money into my pockets to survive on. Whether it be some type of a temporarily self-employment job or a $4000.00 refund check from the government. I didn't even pay in $4000.00 this last year but that is what I received, all legal.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), April 15, 2002.

Rose, I'm starting up a survey to see just how many perfectly good relationships have been ruined by the History Channel!!!

I told my darling the other day that I truly believe that somehow they filmed every single battle of WWII and he's watched them at least three times each.

I'm a great math and English teacher, but I admit to seeking his advice on some points of history and physical sciences. It seems he paid more attention to those areas than I did.

Can't live with 'em and you just can't....

-- Debbie in S IL (dc1253@hcis.net), April 15, 2002.

I "lost my job" last August and more opportunities are showing now without the necessity of a grubby electronics plant job like I used to do. Use your intuition and outside the box perspective. Remember, the only reason we take jobs working for someone else is because "its the easy way out". You may work harder as an independent, but the satisfaction is so much greater. And dont consider dial up and telephone a luxury, its a neccesary form of communication and knowledge, an exspense worth keeping. I not only retained my isp and phone service after being laid off, I upgraded my computer system for more efficient operation.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 15, 2002.

Dianne, so sorry about the job.My hubby lost his a few months ago,but thank GOD he found a great one this past week,I quit mine last year. (NOT A GOOD MOVE) I also work as a court appointed child advocate,so that keeps me pretty busy. We do alot of bartering around these parts. Maybe that is something you could look into.We also raise chickens and sell the eggs to people who frequent the health food stores.I'm sure unemployment will kick in soon. That will help with the bills some. Things will pick up again for you,but it is scary not having income. Jobs are pretty much scarce around here and min wage is standard. it didnt used to be that way, but these employers know they can offer low wages because everyone is looking for work. sad. My prayers go out to you and yours. Better days ahead!!

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), April 16, 2002.

Jeez, that is so scary guys. As much as I am not a big fan of my job~its steady. Education and healthcare...people always have kids and people always get sick.

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), April 16, 2002.

Najia,

I felt the same for 20 years, but then I found my homeplace could make the basic bills and my independent consulting work could make the insurance premium. True I dont have a lot of disposable income and am always trying to see past the 90 days past the upcoming 90 days, but I'm doing all the planning on my own. I know my potential is always here and don't have to "be grateful I have a job working for someone else, hoping they dont walk me tomorrow". I was hard to get out of the old mindset and trust in the self sufficiency perspective, but now that I have crossed over, its wonderful. I even took my former boss out for dinner to thank him for forcing me into action. I fear had I not been given that final push, I would have languished another 20 years wasting my life. What I lack disposable income for, I now make . an example is my interchangable putt putt green (it has real grass :>)

Dianne,

Remember, trust in your own abilities. I hope you get another "job" if thats your wish , however, never underestimate your power as a Modern Homesteader either.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 18, 2002.

Jay, I stand corrected. You are right. I must agree it is not fun being "grateful" for working for anyone, let alone a job you do not enjoy. Somewhere between self employed and stressing over the bills is where my future lies. I figure I am in this for an additional 5 years. At that point, DH and I will be 100% debt free, living on our paid for land in our paid for house and growing our own food. :) Thanks for your view point.

-- Najia (najia274@yahoo.com), April 18, 2002.