If there's any advantage about the timing of being laid off
at this time in my life, it is that my mother and father are already at peace
and no longer require my help. To a certain extent, I was also able to assist
my brother with his kidney transplant three months ago before all the talk
about getting laid off came about. No, I didn't give him one of my kidneys but rather helped in another way. This time I only have to look out for myself
financially.
Working through the years provided me bi-weekly structure - things
to do on the days I work and on my days off. Things like what workouts to do,
chores to complete, when to shop for food, when to sleep when I'm working
nights, when to sleep when I'm not working, etc. It was like a 2 week cycle of
life. All of a sudden that structure is gone and I'm left wondering what to do
next. That's quite pitiful because I've been out of work for just a couple of weeks.
In the past few days, I seem to have settled into a different routine - wake up
in the morning, putter around, do my workout, have brunch while watching a
movie, take a short nap, wake up and finish the movie, take a mid-afternoon
walk in the neighborhood, come back home and watch another movie while having
dinner, and in the evening, flip the TV channels for shows I didn't get to
watch when I was at work, or watch another movie before retiring to bed.
Pathetic and boring, I know, but at least it's a routine. I mentioned on
Facebook that I may have to learn how to play Candy Crush to pass the time. Oh,
I almost forgot. I've also gone to the dentist three times for some repairs.
and to the doctor for a checkup and some routine lab tests. Heck, I may even go
and see my eye doctor too since his office called unexpectedly to let me know
it was time for my biannual checkup. I might as well do all those things before
my medical, dental, and vision insurance expires.
It would be nice to go on vacation somewhere but I can't do
that without any money or know where it's coming from next. I can't go on
retail therapy either for the same financial constraints, hahaha! I hardly do
that anyway even with a job. Oh boy, the budget is going to be uncomfortably
tight in the next 3 years or so until I can draw from IRA's and 401K's. Just
hoping there won't be any major catastrophes in the meantime.
I am no longer portable. Before I bought my condo, I used to
be able to move to a furnished apartment close to my job. My residences in the
past went from Cerritos, to Bellflower, Torrance, Lawndale, back to Bellflower,
and finally to Long Beach. I can't do that anymore because of my mortgage of
course, but also I have so many belongings now that have accumulated in the
last 22 years I've lived here. It's not the clothes but the appliances,
furniture, electronic items, and most of all, the exercise equipment. Besides,
it costs more to rent nowadays than what I pay monthly for my mortgage.
Remember when kids and teens couldn't wait to be grownups
and have grown up privileges? Well, I must be approaching my second childhood
because I can't wait to become a grownup again but on a different level. This
level is called Social Security/401K/IRA retirement age.
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