Went through a few months of unemployment this year, and it nearly destroyed me. I don't know how people who are unemployed for years manage. I'd shoot myself, rob banks, or something drastic like that.

I refused to apply for unemployment, so finding creative ways to scrounge up money became kind of a fun past time, but sometimes painfully taxing on dignity. I always managed, mostly. And I got my first gray hairs through it all, that was pretty badass.

If I had to do the unemployment gig again, I'd definitely find some places to volunteer at for my sanity's sake; and it would be a good way to keep a social network going.

So far I have had two promising careers get off to a good start, then eventually succumb to a crumbling economy. The first one I gracefully withdrew from when I realized the economy was going to kill it, and kill it it did, so that was a good call. The second one was the rare type of job where the old bastards who suck at it and have been at it for years have their places secured in stone, and the up and comers are SOL with millions just like them waiting around to fill any vacancies that pop up. My latest career path is a bit more ambitious, and so far looks as though it will hold up for me for a good long while.