<p>I lost my job in early November. Had the most relaxing Thanksgiving and Christmas in years. Now it’s February I’m still happy as a clam, puttering around the house, doing little projects, doing yoga & working out, reading, knitting and watching tons of movies. </p>
<p>I’m worried I’ll never want to work again. I feel bad that I don’t feel bad about being unemployed. Any of you experienced something like this? Did you get over it? ;)</p>
<p>Total envy here. I’d join you in a second if it were financially feasible (I have a recent thread where I discuss pros/cons of downsizing to part-time). There’s lots I want to “work” at, but nothing that pays well (or at all, often.)</p>
<p>But on the other hand, I’m glad to not be one of the millions of unemployed who are really on the edge, or over it.</p>
<p>I was laid off in June. Had the best summer ever. D was home from college, I worked in the garden, caught up on a variety of house projects, and took a couple of freelance/consulting jobs (the last one, a 2-month full time gig, ended yesterday). Very lucky that our family situation is comfortable and modest enough that my job loss didn’t send us into a tailspin. But, I carry our health insurance, so this can’t go on indefinitely (COBRA is no fun). I’d be happy with a combination of a part-time job with bens augmented by my growing freelance work.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Agree that would be ideal. It’s the “bens” part that is tricky.</p>
<p>For those of you with master’s degrees and who live close enough, part-time teaching at a community college is fun.</p>
<p>That’s what I want to get back to. I did that for many years. The pay is pretty low, but I sure did enjoy it.</p>
<p>The annual pay is low, but the hourly is pretty good. I work 30 weeks a year and about 25 hours a week.</p>
<p>DH was out of work for six months when the kids were younger. Said but for the low-grade, nagging “will I ever get a job?” feeling, it was the best time of his life. Got to exercise, take the kids to the zoo, nap with them. Absolutely loved it.</p>
<p>FWIW it’s worth, I was part-time for twelve years. I found it a wonderful solution for working moms (I know I know, that was sexist). I’ve also been doing an increasing amount of teleworking–I’m hoping this trend continues. Really makes life so much easier and makes a lot of sense when there really is no reason to physically be in the office. Fingers crossed, I’ll be able to retire in about six years. I’ve already thought about contacting the local community college about teaching. I’ve never done it before, but sure have a lot to share.</p>
<p>MDmom–The hourly is awful if you teach freshman comp. We worked it out once to less than minimum wage.</p>
<p>I don’t teach comp although I have. Research writing is even worse. I teach reading and paragraph writing! The grading is much less for me.</p>
<p>Yeah, i have done research paper writing too. There are just no short cuts to teaching writing right. Idid do “reading” once, and that took less time, but the school I usually work at doesn’t have that. Our "developmental’ classes run 6 hours/week each, but don’t pay any more.</p>
<p>I would love a part time job with benefits. But do those exist anymore (other than Starbucks, lol)? I was fortunate in that my job loss came as no surprise, I’d been preparing for it financially/psychologically for nearly a year. We have enough in our HSA to pay for almost 9 months of COBRA. After that it’s going to be hard to enjoy not having a job…</p>
<p>I have a part time job with benefits. I was a stay-at-home mom for 15 years and loved it. I entered the workforce full time about 3 1/2 years ago, Though I don’t dislike my job at all, I found working full time to be much more stressful for both me and my husband than I anticipated. When I was at home, I had time to tend to all of those things necessary to keep a household functioning and our personal and financial life going. Husband didn’t need to deal with very much outside of running his business. Once I went back to work, we suddenly had to either split those duties or they didn’t get done at all. </p>
<p>About 6 months ago (when we determined that son wasn’t going to a $50,000 year college - yea!), I asked to go part time and my employer agreed. I basically told them I would quit if they didn’t let me. I now work 3 days a week and 100% of my take-home goes into retirement and savings. Personally, I would like to go to two days a week (not possible with my job) or not work at all. I really think the quality of our life has declined since I went back to work. </p>
<p>I have a lot of female coworkers who would quit in a minute if they could afford it. Sometimes I have women who work full time say to me “I would be bored if I didn’t work.” My response: “only if you have no imagination. There are always plenty of things to keep me busy.”</p>
<p>I have a few friends who work part time at UPS (in the warehouse/sorting facility, whatever it is - not drivers) and get full benefits. They are stay at home moms, work early morning shifts and are home the rest of the day. They love it.</p>
<p>I have been out of work since October. And I confess that I love it. I am looking for full time work, but I’m not being very compulsive about it. Since I really didn’t feel stable at my last job, my husband and I continued to pay for our own medical, which we procured when he went to self-employment. </p>
<p>I have started a tiny online business that I hope to grow, and would really like to explore the work-at-home/freelance options available to me. My husband, however, feels really insecure in his business right now and would really like for me to have a “regular” job. </p>
<p>For those who are interested, I recently read an article that listed the following places that offer part time with benefits: Barnes and Noble, JC Penney, Land’s End, Lowe’s, REI, Starbucks, Target, Trader Joe’s, UPS, and Wegman’s. Of course, a few of these are regional.</p>
<p>I can’t decide if it was kismet or curse that I stumbled on this thread today. I made up my mind just this morning to quit my job this week even though I don’t have anything else lined up. I’ve just reached the breaking point. I could easily see myself not missing work at all. Gardening, reading and exercising sound great to me.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>My husband is self-employed and even though his business hasn’t suffered a downturn, he sees so many clients in horrible financial situations he would prefer that I continue to work part-time and save my salary. He’s convinced we haven’t seen the worst of the it yet. Otherwise, I would quit tomorrow. He has agreed that we can reassess the situation this summer.</p>
<p>Though I enjoy the more leisurely pace of not working, I’m convinced that it affects not only me but him. He is a lot more stressed out since I went back to work. If he had a 9-5 job, that would be one thing but many weeks, he works 7 days a week, especially during tax season. </p>
<p>All I have to say is working mothers everywhere have my unwavering respect. I suppose you do what you have to do but I’m not sure I would have handled it well.</p>
<p>Federal government offers benefits with part-time work. Just costs the employee more.</p>
<p>I stayed home for many years. It was wonderful! 
I went back to work almost two and a half years ago. I like my job, but I wish I could relax at home … if it paid the college bills, I would definitely still be at home. Enjoy your time off!!</p>
<p>I’ve been enjoying part-time work since I left full-time employment shortly after I had my 1st child. It has allowed me a lot of flexiblity, tho no benefits. I’m grateful that H’s federal job has benefits he can extend to me, otherwise, I would have to do something that provided benefits. It’s really the best of both worlds, if you are doing what you love and getting a bit of income as well (keeps brain cells active).</p>