Sometimes you just have to leave and move to where there are jobs, like eibach did. Sometimes life is no fun, but laugh anyway. Like George, or somebody said, "all things must pass."

Nevin, I know you're feeling pretty miserable right now but things always get better.

I was in a bit of a similar situation about seven years ago. I was living (beyond my means) in New York City, working a job I hated but needed because I had bills to pay. I was drowning in credit card debt and felt like I was stuck in a no-way-out situation.

Then, one day I got laid off. It was quite a blow at first, but in the end it turned out to be the best thing that could have ever happened to me. After many weeks of unsuccessful job hunting (with not even one interview to show for it), I decided to start applying for work outside of the City. Withing days, I had landed a really cool job at a radio station in my home town (Buffalo, NY). The pay was aboult half of what I made my old job. But because of the reduced cost of living (combined with the fact I crashed at my parents' house for the first six months) I was soon able to get my debts paid off and eventually get some money saved up. I even met a wonderful woman through work who eventually became my wife. I'm not sure if any of those good things would have happened if I hadn't lost my job in the first place.

The way I see it, the job you had probably wasn't meant to be. Now, you may find yourself in some uncomfortable circumstances for a while. You may have to move, or take a lower paying job, or do something in a different field. But eventually things do have a way of sorting themselves out. Just keep at it, keep job hunting, keep an open mind and don't waste time feeling sorry for yourself. The things you're looking for may not come at first (I'm 34 years old and still feel like I've got a long way to go on my career parth), but eventually you will find yourself closer to where you want to be. You had the courage to take the first step, so draw strength from that and do whatever it is you need to do now...

Life doesn't suck, I've had a stroke at the age of 9 and you see me complaining?
Get some money from the guitar playing, you know go to a few pubs earn some money.

_________________
riley

Take one week at a time and remember there are many of us in the same predicament. One day soon you may only have luxury problems.

Wish for the very best and then make it a reality...


Tbahr8

_________________


American HSS Mahogany Special Stratocaster-Limited Edition 2008
American HSS Special Stratocaster (Black) 2010

Apply for help (unemployment, food stamps, housing assistance). Don't feel guilty. If the President can send billions of our hard earned money to Iraq and now Afganistan we can afford it. I go to work everyday and see my neighbors that never worked a legal day in this country collecting and staying home.

Nevin its cool to let it out if you are going through some difficult $@!&. I have the opposite problem and keep everything in. My wife lost her mother who lived with us 3 months ago one of my childhood friends had a fight with his girl and stuck a knife in his chest and killed himself a month later. This week my friend who just turned fifty found out he has stage 4 cancer and believe me I can go on.

Life is always going to have peaks and valleys so you have to learn to roll with the punches. No matter what anyone here says it probably is not going to cheer you up at this time, but you have youth on your side and that is a big plus. I would not sell my guitar right now if I were you as that is therapy believe it or not. You pick up your ax and forget your problems for a few hours.

Maybe it is time to try something else in life. You could pickup and leave and see what life has to offer. You could join a branch of the armed services, or you can hit the pavement and look for a job till you find one even if it is not what you want to do right now. The bottom line is you have to weather the storm till things change and they will.

I was in the same situation 7 years ago. I hated my job i was underpaid and was losing everything because my wife quit her job. I ended up quitting my job without having another and we stayed unemployeed for 6 months. We lost our house and cars. We turned to the church because we are Christian and God made a way for us. I have a job that pays the bills and i like it. We live in a house thats paid for and have two cars that are paid for now. The best thing is we didn't have to relocate nor did my wife have to go back to work. I tell you this because i know things get better if you accept things as they are but strive for better things to come. I really hope you find a job and things get better for you. I will be praying for you all of you that are unemployeed.

If he quit or was fired he likely won't get unemployment. That is reserved for those who were "laid off" apparently, because it's tougher to live after being laid off than it is to live after quitting or being fired apparently. I agree with everything else you said though, we have some serious problems in this country right now and it is not getting better no matter what the teleprompter says or how much hOpe the lemmings have.

Well I guess I can stop $@!&* about the workload at my work and start being glad that I have work:shock: .

Don't give up mate and good luck.

I wake every morning, no matter what is going on in my life, with the thought, "Life is wonderful".

Hey Nevin, I soon may be joining you, we made payroll this time but next time, who knows. I lost 2 jobs in 2001, unemployed for a total of 30 months, and still paid spousal support...I could go on. I'm vintage '55, earned all the grey hair, still kick'n.

In any case, I live in the Toronto/GTA area. Maybe I could buy the tele for cash and a squire or epiphone I have, so you still have something to play, and you could buy it back when you're back on your feet.

All I can tell you is "Hang in There Nevin".

If you have to sell guitars and amps, do it selectively and slowly selling only what you have to. Save your favorite of each until last. They are only objects after all and you can always buy more later.

If you have basic office skills, have you tried signing up at a Temporary Agency? They will find you work that can lead to a permanent position.

In the end, do whatever it takes to get a job. Take a bit less money, take a job that you don't really want, cut your hair (if you wear it long), cover your tats (if you've got em).

Don't ever give up.

_________________
"Life is like eating jalapenos. What you do today may burn your arse tomorrow"

The best advice anyone has ever given me was to never give up. That applies to anything.

But crying to a forum isn't going to earn you any money. Get out there and find a job you can stand until you can get a better one.

Nevin, BigJay is right. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You're 24 and you have a very long life ahead of you. If you find yourself at 33 with a wife, two children, a mortgage, two car payments and no job you'll have similar decisions to make. But, take it one day at a time. Things will get better. And chances are that it'll be in a very different way than what you might think.

You're going to get through this, trust me.

Again, not being harsh here at all but suck it up and do what HAS to be done.

In the late 80's I was in a situation similar to yours, I had a job but it was pretty low pay and I had gotten myself in a bad credit situation, owed WAY more than I could afford to pay.

The only music stuff I had than was a very new Simmons drum kit with all the pricey accessories like Zildijan cymbals, etc , and an Ibanez bass that as it turned out was pretty rare. I sold it all, next on the chopping block was my KISS collection but it never came to that luckily.

I moved to a real crap apt to save money, and stored anything valuable in the folks basement since it was just too scary to have it in the place. Again, a real dive, but all the utilities were included so the $$ savings were huge.

Eventually I got a better job, met a great lady, and slowly things came around. Now married 19 years, 3 kids, modest guitar collection that I really enjoy, and living the dream. Middle class dream that is

Point being, you can do it but short term sacrifices will have to be made. See only what you have to, find the cheapest living arrangement possible, get a roomate if possible, learn that generic "cream of" soup over rice can be a tasty dinner choice 7 nights a week with a different flavor every day, focus on why you're doing it all and it'll happen. The only thing I lost in all of my "recovery" was the drums, never did go back to that.

Wishing you the best.