reaching fork in road of life

[emily_in_nc]

My company, where I've worked for 23 years (with a couple of brief interruptions after which I returned to the fold), is currently doing deep layoffs in the department I work in. I have about a 50/50 chance of being laid off by the end of the year. If I am not laid off, I'll be training the folks we are outsourcing most of our R&D and support work to, thanks to executive orders to reduce our development costs. Training, then hand-holding/babysitting. I'm not sure which is the best alternative -- losing my job, or being one of the "lucky" ones left behind.

If I do get laid off, DH and I are discussing (and have been for a long time) taking off on our sailboat and going cruising for a year or three. We have a decent nest egg, and my severance would pay for the first seven months. It would be a HUGE change from our current existence, but possibly one of the most rewarding things we've ever done. However, change is scary, especially as we get a little older, so I find myself torn between wanting to get laid off so that I can go for this adventure we keep dreaming of, and wanting to be spared so that I can continue pulling in a good income. And part of me thinks that if I don't get laid off, I'll be bitterly disappointed and unhappy in the changed role I'll have, working with the outsource company folks.

Definitely a crossroads...I feel your pain! (All emotions come into play here, don't they???)

Emily

[solobiker]

I know what you mean. I have gone through some major changes in the past couple of years and it was a challenge at times, but it has all worked out for the best. Good Luck!!

[solobiker]

My company, where I've worked for 23 years (with a couple of brief interruptions after which I returned to the fold), is currently doing deep layoffs in the department I work in. I have about a 50/50 chance of being laid off by the end of the year. If I am not laid off, I'll be training the folks we are outsourcing most of our R&D and support work to, thanks to executive orders to reduce our development costs. Training, then hand-holding/babysitting. I'm not sure which is the best alternative -- losing my job, or being one of the "lucky" ones left behind.

If I do get laid off, DH and I are discussing (and have been for a long time) taking off on our sailboat and going cruising for a year or three. We have a decent nest egg, and my severance would pay for the first seven months. It would be a HUGE change from our current existence, but possibly one of the most rewarding things we've ever done. However, change is scary, especially as we get a little older, so I find myself torn between wanting to get laid off so that I can go for this adventure we keep dreaming of, and wanting to be spared so that I can continue pulling in a good income. And part of me thinks that if I don't get laid off, I'll be bitterly disappointed and unhappy in the changed role I'll have, working with the outsource company folks.

Definitely a crossroads...I feel your pain! (All emotions come into play here, don't they???)

Emily

DH and I would love to take a trip like that. I grew up back east on the water and have wanted to take a year or two and just travel by boat. Someday we hope to do that along the west coast. Keep me/us posted. That is great!!

[shootingstar]

I'm not sure which is the best alternative -- losing my job, or being one of the "lucky" ones left behind.

If I do get laid off, DH and I are discussing (and have been for a long time) taking off on our sailboat and going cruising for a year or three. We have a decent nest egg, and my severance would pay for the first seven months. It would be a HUGE change from our current existence, but possibly one of the most rewarding things we've ever done. However, change is scary, especially as we get a little older, so I find myself torn between wanting to get laid off so that I can go for this adventure we keep dreaming of, and wanting to be spared so that I can continue pulling in a good income. And part of me thinks that if I don't get laid off, I'll be bitterly disappointed and unhappy in the changed role I'll have, working with the outsource company folks.

Definitely a crossroads...I feel your pain! (All emotions come into play here, don't they???)

Emily

I know a guy from my current workplace who did sail around the world for about 2-3 years PRIOR to his work stint at our present company. His job contract recently ended. Right now, he's sailing from Vancouver across the Pacific to Asia in his boat.

It does help to plan the financing such dreams. I hope when the time comes next year, emily that you will make the best decision. Frankly I could never take off from a job so easily. I've done it once, but I was unemployed for 7 months...before I landed a job. This was aggressive job searching and applying on my part. It's not the sort of thing I would voluntarily want to do again unless I had some sort of paid leave arrangement.

[emily_in_nc]

It does help to plan the financing such dreams. I hope when the time comes next year, emily that you will make the best decision. Frankly I could never take off from a job so easily. I've done it once, but I was unemployed for 7 months...before I landed a job. This was aggressive job searching and applying on my part. It's not the sort of thing I would voluntarily want to do again unless I had some sort of paid leave arrangement.

In my case, it would not be voluntary, though; it would be due to a layoff providing me the "opportunity" to do something I probably wouldn't normally do (not brave enough!) I can't imagine ever just quitting my job and going for it -- but if they lay me off, then I just might. I would have the first seven months paid by my severance, as I stated, and we could live pretty inexpensively on our boat. My DH is already retired and is itching to take off and have some adventures, and we've invested enough over the years to be able to consider doing something like this. But it's still a big, scary step. Still, it's one that beckons to me.

Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack the thread!

Emily