It’s weird being unemployed

February 4, 2008

It’s just after 1 p.m. on a weekday, I should be at work right now. Instead I’m sitting here at the Panera Bread, enjoying a hot chocolate and the bustling crowd. This place is really packed, are these people all just on lunch break or are there really this many people not working right now?

I know I for one should be at work. But I’m officially unemployed this week — this past Friday was my last day at the old job, and I don’t start the new one until next Monday, February 11th. So for this week I have no gainful employment.

I don’t think I’ve ever been unemployed my entire adult life. I’ve always just started the next job the week after I left my previous job. But this time I decided to take the week in between, to help me finish getting the house ready for sale. And to just let me decompress a little before starting the new job.

Such a strange feeling to have nowhere I am supposed to be right now. I could be at home I suppose, cleaning up the garage. But the painters are at home right now, and I’m not sure I wanted to deal with the paint fumes quite yet. So here I sit at the Panera Bread.

I suppose I’ll be heading home shortly. But for now I rather enjoy this feeling of having nowhere to be on a weekday. I hope retirement will feel like this.