The pros and cons of unemployment

​Let's talk about unemployment for a bit, shall we?

I think we can all agree that there are good and bad things about being unemployed. Mostly bad, because of the lack of income, but there's part of me that also feels like I'm on a weird sabbatical right now -- which isn't all that bad. I get to set my own schedule, I have time to workout and cook, I can work on music and write (although I'm yet to really do that.....bad musician.....bad!), I can explore the area, I can read books, etc. Regardless, for the many pros that I've found, I've also found many cons. 

1) No income = BAD

• This one is obvious. It sucks when you don't have those stupid pieces of paper that "make the world go 'round." Fortunately Will and I have functioned as a married couple for years, so when one of us is in a financial slump the other steps up to help out. Regardless, not having money sucks. 

2) No set wake up time = GOOD

• This part is awesome. Well, it would be awesome if Mozzie would let me sleep in. Usually I get bopped in the face with a paw (and scratched Monday morning -- apparently I need to trim his nails) and then the whining at the edge of the bed ensues. But on the occasional days that he does let me sleep longer.........oh yes..............sleep is glorious. That alarm clock being a "hey, get your lazy butt out of bed" alarm, instead of a "get up so you can get to work on time and not get fired" alarm is super freeing. 

3) Hard to establish a sense of purpose = BAD

• This is tough. Beyond being a musician, I don't think any of my jobs have ever "defined" me, per se, but I can't deny that there is a certain level of self-realization when the work I'm doing fills a certain void. That void could be the work itself and feeling proud of what I'm accomplishing, the social aspect of being with certain types of people, feeling like I'm contributing financially to the household, etc. 

4) Being able to work out at any point in the day = GOOD

• ​I do really like this aspect of being unemployed. Days where work and everything else would get too crazy, depriving me of my workout, would make me feel guilty and ultimately stress me out. When "time is mine" and I can schedule the day how I like, I get to do the workout I want when I want. Although the other side of that is that there's really no excuse to not workout. So the days that I haven't I've felt EXTRA guilty. (*sigh*)
  • I got really excited when I found an audio version of a bikram yoga class since there aren't any studios nearby. Also, I have a screened in porch with a tile floor, and it's hot, because you know....it's Texas and all......so it's perfect for bikram. But even if I shut the blinds and put the TV on to throw Mozzie off my trail, he eventually figures out where I've gone, and either whines, or barks at me while furiously scratching the door. He's SO needy.

5) Applying for jobs is frustrating = BAD

• I've already whined about this before. It sucks. It just sucks. End of story.

6) I cook WAY more = GOOD

• ​I love cooking. It's therapeutic for me, plus I'm good at it. Even Will made this comment a couple weeks ago: "You've always been a good cook, but lately I feel like you've had a cooking renaissance. Everything has been amazing." My response was, "Well yeah....I actually have time to do creative things instead of throwing stuff in the crock pot." 

7) I go a little stir crazy = BAD

• I don't do well with stir crazy. Well, at least not for extended periods of time. I've always considered myself a pretty friendly person -- I'll strike up a conversation with most types of people, but when I live close to friends I generally don't have the desire to have long conversations with random people. Well..........lately I have found myself striking up conversations with random people, with the intent of it being a longer conversation. My fireproof way to get them to talk to me (that sounds way more pathetic now that I've typed it) is to tell them I'm new to the area and ask them where I should go, what I should do, etc. Everyone has an opinion -- so we talk for awhile, or sometimes for a long while depending on the person. It's actually kind of fun. It's a relatively small town, so it's good to get to know a lot of these people anyway. Plus, that part is sort of comforting since I'm originally from a small town where you know everyone. 
  • Grocery shopping has become an exciting thing because it means I'm getting out of the house. Let me repeat that sad statement.......grocery shopping has become an exciting thing...........(*face palm*) Now, I can leave the house anytime I want and go exploring, but honestly I feel guilty leaving Mozzie for extended periods of time at this point. I guess I need to get over that, you know, if I want to have a social life or something.

8) I get to enjoy the pool = GOOD

• Once a week I try to go to the pool in the middle of the day. That's the time where the retirees are out, soaking up the sun and drinking beer, before the working crowd and the kids come around. They sit in the pool with their pool noodles and other various floaty things, big hats and sunglasses, and loaded beer koozies, and kibitz with each other. Several weeks ago I was observing this for the first time while I was reading a book in the sun. I eventually got into the pool, and one of them turned around to introduce herself (but mostly find out who I was and why I was there). I talked with several of them for at least an hour, and they gave me all kinds of great tips on the area and what goes on at different times of the year. It was nice. Most weekdays the same faces show up around the same times. So I make an effort to get to know them since we live in the same community. 

9) I get to hang out with Mozzie = GOOD

• I love that dog. He's adorable, he's probably 95% potty trained at this point, and he provides some company. Granted, that generally means he's either asleep on me or next to me, or I'm playing tug of war or throwing a ball of some sort, but still. He's cute. 

10) I'm stuck with Mozzie = BAD

• Sometimes that dog is a sh*t. He's still a puppy, but man does he have a stubborn streak.......
  • The most frustrating part is that he's smart enough to know what he's not supposed to do, but every once in awhile he goes into full on gremlin mode and attempts to eat the house. It's in those moments where he decides to mess with every single thing he knows he's not supposed to mess with. I've been getting some mad steps in just by chasing him around the damn house. 
  • Or he'll be awesome going outside without a leash for an entire day, and then the next day he thinks it's fun to run into the neighbor's backyard and make me awkwardly chase him.
  • He also does the ever-so-fun toddler game where you know they have to go to the bathroom, because they're holding their crotch, but they refuse to stop playing. So you try to get them to go to the bathroom, but they keep insisting they don't have to, and then they piss their pants. Mozzie doesn't wear pants, but you get the idea. 

It's good and bad. Part of me is really enjoying the time off -- truly. But part of me also yearns for more of a set routine, so I'm excited to get back out there and do the things. You know, the things and stuff.