Things I've learned from being unemployed

So, I've been unemployed for a few months.  Mostly, it sucks, but there are parts of it that have been really fun, relaxing and introspective.  I'd actually recommend it to anyone at least once.
I think it's important to realize that life doesn't end, even if your job does.
Anyway, I wanted to share with you some interesting things that I have learned during my unemployment.

There are lot of people out there who have vaginal mesh problems.

Being unemployed means that you can watch a lot of TV in the middle of the day if you so choose.  If you're like me and you don't have cable, you end up flipping through the lame, major network channels.  

TV ads in the middle of the day are really, really depressing because you realize that they are basically aimed at people who are not working and have issues.  Apparently, a very popular issue has to do with vaginal mesh.  Now, I don't even know what vaginal mesh is...but I can tell you that if you had it installed because of a prolapsed uterus, and then had a medical issue, you can call a lawyer and he/she will help you deal with this.

Additionally, apparently lots of people who are home in the middle of the day need insurance of some sort.  Here's a quick lesson in insurance companies:

Amica: Too classy to advertise in the middle of the day

AllState: Also too cool for school.  They won't pander to the middle of the day crowd.

Geico: Desperate for your business - advertises twice as much as everyone else

Progressive: Slightly more classy than Geico, but still pretty desperate.

The General: A last resort for people who apparently cannot get insurance by any other means.  Sort of scary.

You finally realize what the deal is with those people in the supermarket.

Pre-unemployment, I would sometimes do errands in the middle of the day, like pick up an item at the grocery store.  When in the grocery store, I was always surprised at the sheer number of people not dressed in work clothes who were casually shopping around.  "Who are these people?", I wondered.  "Why do they not have to work?"  Now I know.  There are a bunch of unemployed people walking around the supermarket during the day.  It's kind of fun to go to the supermarket when it's not super crowded and take your time, actually.  It's a way less stressful experience, but sometimes I catch the eye of some professional doing their mid-day errand and I remember what I thought when I saw someone like me and I feel kind of bad.  But then I'm like, whatever, I get to go home and you have to go back to work.

Health insurance is really expensive.

I never really thought a whole lot about health insurance when I was employed.  It was always just...there.  I knew I was paying some money out of each paycheck.  I knew that there were people out there who were talking about how expensive it was, but I had NO CLUE.  Guys, health insurance is SO expensive.  Like, really expensive.  But also important, so please makes sure you have some.

Finding a job is hard.

I know that the economy is supposed to be looking up and everything, but it doesn't mean that finding a job is a walk in the park, especially if you're selective like I am and you're looking for a perfect fit.  I remember driving to work one day, back when I had a job, and listening to this woman on NPR talk about how she had been out of work for a year.  She was an educated woman.  She was a CPA I think, with a college degree.  She broke into tears during her interview and said that being out of work makes you feel like you are on the fringes of society.  I drove along thinking, "How the hell can this lady still not have a job after a year?"  But the reality is that finding a job is actually still really hard and I did not have an appreciation for this.  Now I do, and if I ever get laid off again, I'm going to be more realistic about saving for it.  Ya'll should too.

You only "get it" if it's happened to you.

So, being laid off is interesting because it's this unique life experience.  A lot of people in my life have not gone through it...yet.  However, it seems to be the sort of thing that happens to practically everyone.  The majority of people I've talked to about it are "grown ups" - people who are older than I am and pretty established.  They responded to the news of my lay-off with sincere empathy, but also with plenty of positive messages about how this would be a formative time in my life.  When I grow discouraged and turn to them for advice, they can say confidently, "I remember feeling like that."  This makes me feel better.  Then there are the people who have never gone through it before.  These people view the lay-off as this mysterious and disturbing thing.  To them, the concept of not working for months at a time (and not getting a salary) is inconceivable and really scary.  I can say this confidently, because I was one of these people.  I guess I'm glad that I've reached this milestone and can now offer my own advice.  It's sort of like getting braces...practically everyone gets them, they really suck, only people who've had them know how much they suck, but when you get them off, you're even more awesome.

Unemployment is disturbingly easy to get.

Hey, I'm not complaining about this.  I mean, thank goodness for unemployment, right?  

I had to re-up my claim recently and was very nervous about having to call the office and explain myself.  I pictured them lecturing me over the phone, being like, "Why are you taking so long???  What have you been up to?"  I had my special job spreadsheet prepared with evidence to support the fact that I was, in fact, actively looking.  I had names, company addresses and phone numbers and everything.  But the lady simply asked me the same 4 questions they always ask:

1) Are you physically able to work?

2) Did you get paid for any work recently?

3) Has your address changed?

4) Do you realize that if you lie to us, we could send you to jail?

Ok, cool - here's your check.

It's just so easy.  I've spent a lot of time thinking about whether it should be this easy.  Not everyone is as honest as I am, but I suppose that there are so many unemployed people out there that it would be impossible to follow up with everyone.  What do you think?

Whoever hires me next is going to be really, really pleased...

...because I am SO ready to get back to work!  I'm ready to throw myself into something with so much fervor that I might light something on fire with my brain.

And there you have it.  

I'm going skiing tomorrow with my dad.  On a Thursday.  Heh.  Suckers ;-P