BR> all in unemployment.   As you may imagine, my credit cards and equity 
BR> line got quite a workout in  that time, and I'm still around $15000 
BR> behind, but making headway, and will be  caught up in another 2 
RB> Well, you see, we differ in two respects, which illustrate
RB> how class  differences can change people's perspectives:
Ok buddy boy, what about me?  My parents combined never
made more then $25K a year and until just recently I
(me and the wife) had never made much more then that
yet we are now making much more then that (how much in
NYB).
At one time we were making about $8K (in the mid-80s
just in case you think $8K went a long way back in the
old days) we were paying our own health insurance (the
place I was working didn't offer it), insurance on a
car and motorcycle (check the cost on insuring an under
25 male on a cycle), renters insurance AND putting 50
bucks a month into a mutual fund.
RB> $17k ever. And so our financial positions were different 
RB> from the get-go. You also had credit cards to fall back on,
RB> I have relatively  poor credit and cannot get a credit card.
And with your attitude the odds are you will never make
much more then that.
RB> (2) Your statement that we should just get up and move is a
RB> lot different when  you are renting instead of living in a
RB> house. I'm trapped in a lease of one  year, which is the
RB> standard length of a lease around these parts.  
Trapped?  Not quite, if you want out of a lease there
are several ways.  Some legal, some questionable, some
illegal.  As I have said there is always a choice
RB> Also, keep in mind that we are living in an information
RB> economy. Perhaps you  have had the fortune of holding down a
RB> few good IT positions, and so you are  way more marketable
Let me ask you something, do you know how much a truck
driver can make today?  I know several who made over
$50K last year.  Is that an IT position?
RB> than most people. I personally have the knowhow, but lack 
RB> much workplace experience. 
Which is why when you find a job you will not start off
making $50K/yr.  You might have to live on white beans
and corn bread for a couple of months or go with out
cable TV maybe even any TV at all.  but After a while
you will start making more money of which you can save
some to invest.
RB> have a job right now, so it isn't too urgent. I guess 60
RB> resumes  isn't that much - but according to all the papers
RB> around here, Columbus is the  "Silicon Valley of the
RB> Midwest" ... where's all those computer tech shortages  we
RB> hear so much about?
You must not be sending them to the right places.  The
last I heard some companies were offering $50K+
starting, moving expenses and signing bonuses.
                      Remember:  Freedom isn't Free!
--- timEd-B11
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