A Man of Leisure

Today is my first official day of unemployment. Last Friday was my last day at work although I was notified of the inevitable about six weeks ago. Had I been able to stay, Monday and Tuesday were to be days off for the July 4th holiday, so I’m counting this as the official start of the next phase of my life, although there is no rational reason for me to split hairs like that.

Unlike two times previously, this was a downsizing not a firing. In the past, I usually grew tired of the job and started pissing people off, or joined the losing faction in an office turf war, and got my ass canned.

But they actually liked me and I liked the job. It was purely a financial decision. At a nonprofit agency that receives 80 percent or more of its funding from the federal government–the same federal government that prefers to siphon off money from domestic programs that help those most in need in order to fuel an open-ended, unnecessary and unjust war in Iraq, putting more money into the outstretched hands of already rich defense contractors—this downsizing was precipitated by ever-shrinking financial resources. So that the company can remain solvent and at least help some people, albeit with less staff, you lay off people. I’m not complaining, I’m just reminding you that there is a mid-term election in November.

In any event, I now no longer have to get up early and fight hordes of New Yorkers for a seat on the subway every morning. I’m not altogether unhappy about that. I was able to file for unemployment the other day online. Sixteen years ago, when I got laid off the first time, you had to go in person to the Department of Labor, file papers, sit through an orientation and then once a week drop into the office to prove you were actually looking for work. Time consuming and a bit humiliating. Now, it’s all done online. The Internet is truly a gift from God.

I can also search a gazillion job sites online, or better yet, use search agents to have lists of available positions from a number of industries and companies emailed to me daily. They should call it “job surfing” not job searching.

As much as I’d love to sit around and do very little, this time I know I need to find something sooner rather than later. While I feel that for the past five years I’ve been a creative type trapped in a 9-5 office job, I also know a regular salary and company-paid health benefits was a beautiful thing. Especially the health benefits. I’m still covered for the next two months, but I don’t want any gaps. At my age, it’s great to be able to see a doctor whenever I want.

But I’m not going to rush into the next situation. This last position kind of spoiled me because there were many perks that I will now need to see in a future job or I’m just not interested. I am flexible about location and even open to leaving New York City, although I’ll most likely stay somewhere in the northeast or mid-Atlantic states. I’m not feeling the Red States however. I don’t like living anywhere where my very existence can be legislated away by a few overzealous Right Wingnuts.