Monday, May 11, 2009

Enjoy the Unemploy

I, like many of my friends, have decided to "go Galt" which means we make just enough to survive and that's it. Many thanks to Barack Obama and the socialists in the congress (and understand I use the term "socialist" not in the pejorative sense, but in the literal sense) I got hit with a walloping tax bill that force myself to ask "is this even worth it to have a day time job if I make enough on my own to pay the bills and afford the occasional meal out?"

The answer is no. And the reason the answer is no is because you can't tax free time. Ergo, why commit to a full time job when over half my income will be confiscated between state, federal and local authorities? It doesn't pay to work, unless the pay somehow overcompensates for the taxes.

Now I will admit that I have the benefit of having alternative sources of income which permit me to do this, but with more and more of my friends becoming unemployed, I think it's high time for a lesson not to so much assuage the guilt of perhaps being unemployed, but to make those of you out there who are unemployed realize that there is a real benefit to this and that you should not be so depressed. And that benefit is free time.

Now look, you're going to find a job in the future and that job will be "kind" enough to grant you 2-3 weeks paid vacation. You work there for 10 years (heh, because you know how corporate loyalty is nowadays) and you might work your way up to 4 weeks vacation. But never will you be granted 2 months or 3 months vacation. That is how you must look at unemployment; a SUPER long vacation.

Yes, I know you don't have income coming in. Yes, I know times may be tough. But unless you have children and a family to feed, unemployment is frankly and literally your BEST and ONLY opportunity to have some real fun in life.

For example my beloved Babe of Capitalism was unfortunately laid off. She was depressed, but with severance and unemployment, should be able to make it 5 months without any real hardship. Now aside from my boyish charming humor and amazing kissing skils, to make her happy I decided we should avail ourselves of this (maybe) twice in a lifetime opportunity and take a 6 week vacation out in the Black Hills and Badlands. And if you think about it, seriously, when else would we have such an opportunity?

You go anywhere for 2 weeks and you're rushed. You can't sit, you can't relax, you have to go go go go go. "See Europe in a 2 weeks!"

Well that would result in a blur now wouldn't it?

No, see Europe in 6 weeks. See Glacier National Park in 3 weeks and then go to the Grand Tetons for another 3. See the Caribbean over the course of a long slow 2 months. That is how you should vacation.

And unless you know of a better time to take a good, thorough vacation than a 3 month spate of unemployment, I just don't see life presenting another such opportunity.

Ergo, beloved work-lorn people of the laid off classes, do not worry or fret or even waste another calorie of energy concerning yourselves with finding a job. One, it's not in your control and all you can do is apply. But, two, more importantly is to take advantage of this rare opportunity to really go and do what you want. You will probably not have another chance.

6 comments:

  1. With great and continuing regret, I have not raised the necessary courage/financial fortitude for this. With my first kid in college this Fall and child #2 the year after, it would be a difficult lifestyle. My best wishes go to those that can "go Galt."

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  2. Anonymous5:38 PM

    Well, I suppose going Galt to an extreme would be to quit working completely and go on welfare. Or joining the underground economy.

    I'm sure that neither are in the Captain's DNA, though.

    If I get laid off, I fully intend on collecting my unemployment. Dammit, my employer paid it in and damn right I'll take it. And that new 65% COBRA subsidy too.

    BTW, I get 5 weeks of vacation. I happened to get enough years to qualify for it before they lowered the max to 4 weeks. I still get five because I'm grandfathered in. The problem is that I can't ever get away that long in consecutive weeks. The most I can get is a week at a time and even then I have to choose the week carefully and take my laptop with me in case of emergency.

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  3. Anonymous7:34 PM

    This is one area where the Europeans have it right. They don't negotiate for higher pay because they'd get only fifty cents on the dollar, thanks to the high tax rate. A day off, however, is a day off. The government doesn't make you come in and work for half of your day off. And that's why Europeans typically get six weeks or more of vacation every year.

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  4. gregg3:45 PM

    I'm getting laid off in two weeks and would love to "go galt". Unfortunately, I'm freelance consultant, so no UE for me.

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  5. Anonymous5:39 PM

    That is a great concept. Except when you get suddenly unemployed with no severence package, and end up wondering if you can eat the next week.

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  6. MT Girl7:50 AM

    Captain, I think you would really enjoy John D. MacDonald's series starring Travis McGee. "Nightmare in Pink" is his second book and quite good. Totally your style, only you don't live on a houseboat in Florida.

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