[BrianR]

My first "real" job was pumping gas at Texaco. Followed by stints at 7-11, WaWa, Sunoco and some computer storage company whose name I forget.
Then came the Navy, Wayne Automation, various temp agencies (3 at once at one point), two security firms, both defunct now, several restaurants slinging hash, then back to the Navy again, retired from that and slung some more hash until I decided I was going nowhere and retrained as a truck driver. Six months at school paid for partly by making Quizno's sandwiches (as motivation to finish top in my class) and then Werner Enterprises as a solo OTR truck driver, which is the best and smartest move I've ever made. I've found more than a job, I have a career that will keep me gainfully employed forever as long as I don't lose my license or have too many accidents.

I can move anywhere and either keep my job or find a new one within a week.

I am going to test this no later than June 1. I have decided that barring complications, I will move to El Paso TX by then. Porbably sooner as my house renovations are nearly complete. One more door and one room to be drywalled is all that's left. I think I'll skip sanding the crappy floor and just throw a cheapo rug over it and nail it down.

Unemployment sucks not just because I had little money (never borrowed from folks or friends) but mostly because guys define themselves by their job and having none, I felt as though I were nothing. Losing Dagney as a partner doubled that pain but I recovered anyway. Now I have a new love (I hope to God that this one means what she says) and a future again.

Fingers crossed!

Brian