Yep, it finally happened: The layoff. My company was good to me, but my boss had been telegraphing to me for a long time that if he could find a way to let me go he would. It wasn't like he was some evil guy, we were just different, and I was part of a legacy crew that he inherited when he took over our division. It is an old story, and probably the major surprise to anyone around, was that I somehow managed to stick around so long. I'm not 100% sure that is due to some strength of mine or perhaps just the willingness to endure.
But...the good news. This is my second layoff from the same company and the first time, in 1999, they caught me flat-footed with a mortgage and two teenage kids at home. Recovering from that, I vowed that no company would ever leave me like that again, and this time they caught me debt-free with a Plan B AND a Plan C. Life may not go as well I as I could like it to be but there will be some certain satisfaction, as a person with good flashlights and fresh batteries must feel when the power goes out for a long time.
I feel charged up myself and am ready for this really big adventure ahead...where do I see myself 5 years from now? Living a life of freedom that most people can only dream of...I hope!
