The advantages of being unemployed:

[panader0]

OK, I'm trying to look on the bright side here. I have been un or underemployed for months now. I get a small job here and there, but no one is spending money on construction now. On the bright side, I have become a pretty good housekeeper. The kitchen is spotless and the dishes are always done before Jeannie (who has a decent job) gets home. Vacuuming, dusting, many small chores that went undone are now done. I tiled my shower, (I already had the materials), I have cut enough firewood to go through next winter.
I have become a better cook, tortilla soup with black beans and hot sausage tonight. I turned the soil in the garden getting ready for the spring. I'm getting spoiled not working, but the whole place looks better.

[GreenInNC]

1. right there with you

Been out for two months as of today. My honey do list is the shortest it has ever been.

[Taverner]

2. Writing the Great American Novel is a little easier now

[aquart]

3. Adding value to your home cannot be bad.

[Xenotime]

11. While he still has a home.

[panader0]

17. I own my 16 acres and my self-built home outright.

Just the taxes and electric to pay.

[niyad]

4. we have to see the positive, or else we go made in white linen. the soup sounds wonderful.

[BlooInBloo]

5. Nice. And here's to hoping you find decent employment soon!

[Cleita]

6. If I were your wife I would keep you as a house husband.

You... I wouldn't mind supporting. Most of us, who have had a spouse temporarily out of work, have come home to an even bigger mess every day than when they worked. We had to clean up in our spare time and still come up with dinner.

[panader0]

9. There's always something that needs to be done.

I figure that if I'm not bringing home a paycheck, That I should make up for it in other ways. When I was working, I was either too worn out do work when I got home, or felt that I didn't have to because I had worked all day.

[Warpy]

7. My dad dealt with the 1960 recession and several months

of unemployment by finishing the basement in (then trendy) knotty pine paneling. He was generally all thumbs at stuff like that, but he actually did a pretty good job.

My ex and I got caught in the 1974 unemployment disaster. We dealt with it by doing all the free tourist stuff around Boston. Since it all involved walking miles and miles, we also got in remarkably good shape. I turned myself from a decent cook into a good vegetarian cook.

It's almost a help that no work is out there during these things. People who have the capacity to develop other skills and interests use the time wisely.

People who sit and obsess about it are the ones who do badly in the long run.

[SmileyRose]

14. pine paneling.

My dad was a fixit guy and was out of work a few weeks a couple of time in my childhood. One of those times was spent doing the same thing to our basement. Paneling everywhere and what could not be paneled got brown, orange and ochre colored paint. We thought we were living in the lap of luxury! :)

Aren't Dads wonderful!

[comrade snarky]

8. I know exactly what you mean

When I was out of work my house was never cleaner. All those jobs I needed to get top someday found their day. I know my wife liked it too because when she came home from work I had a fresh cooked, healthy dinner ready.

I know it's wrong, but I kind of miss it. Apparently I'd make a great housewife as long as there are no kids.:evilgrin:

[madrchsod]

10. the problem i`ve faced being unemployed on and off over 40yrs is-

i had the time but i never had enough money to do what i wanted to do. the cleaning and all that stuff i`ve been doing for 50yrs...my sisters showed me how to iron and my two grandmothers taught me to sew, cook,and clean.

now i decided i`ll never get a decent job so i took 62 retirement and going into the underground economy.

[panader0]

16. I will be going into the "underground economy" this season too.

[drmeow]

12. I totally with you

As I face the prospect of unemployment in 4.5 months (unless I can find another job before my contract ends), I find myself making a "to do" list in my head. I'm almost looking forward to it.

[prolesunited]

13. It's like summer vacation

You think you're going to do all of these things, but then you get isolated and depressed and it doesn't happen. Or maybe that's just me. This has been a very hard winter.

[drmeow]

26. One of the things on my to do list

is to volunteer.

[Oregone]

15. More time to focus on criminal pursuits...

Which results in free money. Just ask the stockbrokers.

[firedupdem]

18. I guess I have to admit I'm depressed!

I hate being home and my mood is shit when my husband gets home. Dinner is done, but I'm in a hellavu horrible mood. I don't do anything extra. Yep...I suck

[Quantess]

19. Take the dog to every park in town. A different one every day.

It's a fun way to get exercise.

[crispini]

20. Honey, if you weren't married, I'd ask you myself.

Where are you, anyway? I have loads of light house maintenance honey-dos at my house I'd pay a reliable handyman to do. :D

[panader0]

24. I'm not married.

I tried that three times. But I might as well be. Jeannie and I will be together 'til the end. I live in S. Az. and would travel for work if needed. I do masonry, concrete, carpentry, tile, drywall, no electric.

[crispini]

27. Aww... you are sweet.

If I come up with anything worth traveling for, I'll keep you in mind. I've mostly got little projects, nothing big at the moment. :D

[wartrace]

21. I'm out in May, I am looking forward to it.

I do not have a spouse for any income or health benefits however I will receive a nice severance package & extended health insurance. My financial needs are small due to my having paid off my home and carrying no debt. I had been thinking about quitting for the past few years & have been studying on an idea to generate income without a job. Now I will have the time to do it, the capital to do it & support from unemployment insurance while I stumble through the first few months.

Being laid off from this job may very well be a blessing for me. I am looking forward to it.

[undeterred]

22. The dog loves it when I am unemployed.

Lots more walks and time together.h

[lumberjack_jeff]

23. I haven't worked outside the home for several years.

During that time, I built a house, a shop, and developed some nearby property. I volunteer at school, learned to be a better cook (I even bake bread!), cut firewood, did some steel detailing from home and numerous odd-jobs.

Luckily, I was blessed with a like-minded wife.

You might be surprised how much economically-productive (not to be confused with money-making) activity you can do from home. I find the creative challenge much more fun than the workaday world, and with only a moderate impact on our standard of living.

But you remind me; I need to get out of this chair and build that greenhouse and till our garden.

Get a copy of "the tightwad gazette" and/or "your money or your life" from the library.

[nonconformist]

25. My husband has went through periods of unemployment before

A couple of years ago it was particularly rough. We too tried to use that time to get all those things done around the house that nobody ever seems to have time for. We even got several home improvement projects completed that we already had the materials for, just never the time. We also tried to just enjoy having some time together with our family.

I know it's hard, but it really does help to focus on the bright side of things.