I’m in the Bay Area as well.

When I first started working out of college, I made about $35K a year. I swear I thought I was a millionaire! (This particular company did not offer benefits though immediately – you had to be there 6 months before receiving health benefits)

As the years went by, I made more and more. Luckily, I was smart enough to start an emergency fund.

I got laid off about 2 months ago, and while it was a bummer to have all those automatic benefits of health insurance and paychecks, I welcomed the time off with open arms. I had a huge nest egg for emergencies in addition to my severance pay so I know I’ll be fine for awhile.

I also really didn’t like my job. I’m SO glad I’m not there anymore because my peers who are – are all working longer hours, having more responsibility, more frustration, more stress, etc etc.

I finally have had the chance to go through some of your older posts. Might I say that I really love how insightful this post is. And how tragic. Yet, that’s how most Americans and most of modern industrialized society live their lives.

Steve, your writing is very inspiring. Way to be an example! I wish you continued success!

Cheers,
Jeremy

Thanks for the kind words. The concepts of this article are very similar to some of the topics you talk about on your blog. Personally, I think you cover them better than I do. Have a great weekend.

Must be tough having it happen so close to you also.

I like how you mention about taking things for granted in life – it’s often not until these things are taken away that we truly realise how valuable they are to us. It’s great to have reminders from time to time about what’s important.

Have a great week

-Ross

@Carla – I knew by mentioning health insurance that I’d be getting a comment from you:) Being laid off can’t be a pleasant experience and if I were laid off, I would no longer take my job for granted either. I certainly hope that your store does well. I looked through your list of products and the stretch mark cream looks interesting. I’ll forward that to my pregnant friends.

@Trevor – You’ve got plenty of time. If things are coming to you now, clearly you are doing something right. THere’s no reason to think that it will stop.

Things just come to me, I don’t even have to work to get them. It’s definitely not going to be like this in the future.

The same thing happened a year or so ago in the East Bay where a man who owned a salon went out of business and killed his family and himself.

Having been laid off four times in eleven years, I find it hard to take my salary for granted. I’m constantly in fear of losing my job, especially these past few months. Health insurance is my biggest fear since I have to rely on an employer to give it to me. Outside of group insurance, I am not insurable and I’m not even thirty. I have been in deep debt in the past due to medical bills and don’t want to go down that road again. My fiancée is self employed and only gives himself catastrophic coverage since he was booted off his plan last year.

This is all why I need another way to earn a living or at least supplement my day job.