...and we're back.

Germany was awesome. Unfortunately, we couldn't find work, and didn't have the time or money left to stay, so we're back in the US.

This means I'm back in the same situation I was in before: clueless as to what to do for money. Oh, but wait! There's a twist: now my architect's license has expired, so I'm even more unemployable in the field than I was before. (I knowingly let it expire, because I couldn't justify the $300 to renew it when there's little chance I'll get a job using it.)

I managed to make it to the age of 36 without ever being fired or laid off, so this has taken a major toll on my self esteem. The longer this drags on, the less confident I am in my ability to do anything. Even though I was in a field I absolutely hated, I am desperate to go back, because I feel like a complete loser being unemployed. It's a little too similar to an abusive relationship, except that with a relationship, remaining single is always an option. Remaining unemployed is not. (No, I'm not trivializing abusive relationships. I'm just bad at crafting decent analogies.)

As always, art is not a career option, because I like having health insurance. And money.

Not What I Expected

I got laid off from my last architectural job in April of 2010. Although I hate the sentiment "everything happens for a reason" on a molecular level, I believe that having the decision made for me, in this case, was a really good thing. Given the choice between continuing on in a career field I hated to the point of physical illness, just to maintain a steady paycheck and some illusion of security, or venturing into the Great Unknown, I would have chosen the paycheck.

I was let go 2 weeks before a (planned) major surgery that would leave me unable to work for 6 weeks. When I was ready to start looking for a job again, I realized I had become permanently unemployable in the architecture field- I mean, who wants to hire someone who hasn't worked for 2 months? Such a person is obviously not a good choice, if nobody picked them up for 2 months (Sarcasm Meter set to "kill")!

I managed to obtain one interview for a Project Manager position, and put on my best (though completely false) "I'D REALLY LOVE TO WORK HERE" face, but they must have seen right through it. Applying for positions below my experience level have proven pointless.

This summer, on my birthday, my Architect's license will expire, and I have no intention of renewing it.

You might think, from reading this, that I am completely depressed and hopeless, but I assure you, that is the farthest thing from the truth. In two months, my husband and I are moving to Europe. I can honestly say I have no idea what we'll do for money past the 90 days' worth we have saved.

I can't wait. :D