The paperwork has been filed and my participation in the Obameconomy is now mandatory.
As of June 3rd I will be a newly unemployed person.
However, despite the gloominess of the situation, I think I’m taking my being forced out of the ranks of the employed rather well. This is mostly because I have decided to look at this as an opportunity instead of a setback. I am able to do this because I also have a plan.
My plan involves refusing to stay a net producer by going out to look for another crappy job, and instead becoming a gross taker for a while. Call me a leech, if you like.
I have qualified for a government subsidized student loan (at the juicy discounted interest rate of 3%) as well as money from both the federal and state “worker retraining programs” so that I can go back to school full-time while I live off unemployment (which I’ve paid into for 20+ years and have never collected).
I’ve decided to go to school to become a certified welder.
Welding school will not only allow me to learn a skill that will earn a wage equal to or above my current one, but will also give me more footing in the under-the-table economy (and make me even more useful during the ZombieApocolypse).
I usually dismiss the blather of television personalities, but in Mike Rowe’s case I would suggest everyone do the exact opposite. I am taking his advice and going off to become useful.
The actual lay-off sequence begins on the first of next month (yes, April Fools Day), but my position is not scheduled to be moved until the 3rd of June, so I’m saving up my extra cash as a slush fund. I am mentioning this because it is a good introduction to use to also let everyone who cares that I will not be able to attend Boomershoot this year with the rest of the RNS crew.
In fact, most of the folks at the office I work in will be getting let go as well. Co-worker and RNS Staff Member Scott is in a unique position and he doesn’t really know yet what his fate will be at this point, employment-wise. I am sure that he’ll be along sooner than later with a post of his own. I can tell you that he also will not be at Boomershoot as a cautionary measure in case the hoodoo of unemployment hits him.
I will be getting a moderate severance package because of my 13+ years at my current place of employment. I’ll be using these funds to manage the gap between my life and my unemployment checks, but I will also be using that money to buy welding rigs and supplies once I gain each of the separate certifications. This will enable me to make some money on the side until I am done with school and fully employed.
Life will be good sooner than later. In the meantime, I’m looking into the possibly of having to break one of the foundation rules here at RNS: Putting up ads. This place costs four bills a year to keep the lights on. I am not going to let my employer’s reaction to the piss-poor handling of the economy by the government turn it off. Capitalism to the rescue.
I had to quit my Economics degree courses last November at the end of the Fall Quarter because my employer stopped their reimbursement program, and I will not be re-starting that quest with the funds mentioned above. Mostly because the “worker retraining programs” won’t cover it, but also because an Econ BA doesn’t get you very far and the vast majority of job openings available would put me below the wage rate I am currently earning. I did a bit of Oxyacetylene welding for my dad in my teens and was halfway decent at it. Also, it won’t likely push my barely moderate math skills over the edge (like this program would likely do).
Classes start in September for Fall Quarter, unless I’m lucky enough to get accepted for Summer Quarter. I am number 35 on the waiting list for the class and I’ll know more about that in June when I am officially “laid-off”.
Until then, look for your opportunity to “Go Galt”.
RNS will NOT (is that emphasized enough for ya?) be going off air if I have anything to say about it. I will add you to my hosting account for free before I let this site slip into /dev/null.
Phil,
Sorry to hear this, and not surprised that you, unlike so many, have a plan!
Are you sure you have to miss Boomershoot? The RNS tent is one of the big draws, as are you and yours, and it will seem we are missing a part without you there on the end of the range!
Bill
Coupla things re: educashum: you may already have enough credits to get some sort of Associate’s degree. If you are close, I’d enroll in the handy Communist Collitch and get the final credit or two. Title on the door, and all that.
This trick of “backing in” to a degree was much better known back when the Vietnam War was in full swing, and folks were getting drafted if they quit school. I had to go that route when a hostile professor screwed me over in what was to be my next-to-final term before graduation with a language degree (and an army-proof CIA job). I got the degree only one term late, a Bachelor’s in General Studies, Social Science, and parlayed it into entrance to USAF Officer Training School, and the rest is history, year 1966.
Welding IS a fine skill to have, but be advised it’s now fairly well saturated in the PacNorWest. I have friends in the Metal Trades Unions, and only the top 10% of the union seniority cards get called with any regularity for union-scale work. Non-union is even more hectic. You definitely need an “in” to get work. Most of the work you DO get will be outdoor, in the shipyards, etc (those that are non-union). Good news: you can generally hire on as a Helper even before you get all those metal-trades certs, and you will pick up half the union journeyman wage, do over half the journeyman’s work, but you will learn FAST. Once you get those certs, I’d look into heading for either TX or ND. There’s usually work, and the pay is astronomical, in the oilpatches and wind-farm sites. A few years ago on my Southwestern Swing road trip, I stayed overnight in Marfa, TX, then in the wind-farm boom, and the radio stations were filled with employment ads for welders with x, y and z skills (I don’t know what skills they were referring to, but probably pipe, pressure pipe and stainless pipe) @ $100/hr and $200 for overtime, 70 hours per week guaranteed. I got the last room in a motel full of those guys, and every one of them was driving a new $45K diesel pickup.
Hint: start working on your stamina and endurance now, and lower back + upper body strength is a must.
Not to worry.
RNS will still be represented (with adequate marksmanship I trust) by David and myself. The RNS canopy (affectionately known as The Boomeragio) will be transported to the firing line and hopefully erected by us without any pulled ligaments or strained backs. As always, all are welcome to come down (over?) and visit.
Barron, I plan to bring the Sharps again.
I wish you the best of luck with your new plan, Phil.
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