What this is all about...

My little adventure starts out in June of 2009. I was laid off from a job I held for nearly 7 years. The company chose to let the guy (me) with a wife and 5 kids to feed go over a younger, lesser seniority guy. He had about 2 years in, no kids, and made less money. In my line of work, over the last year of my search, I could find no jobs in Michigan. Sure, I could take a job that paid less and was out of my field, but then I would have to choose between paying bills or feeding my family. And now add to that my unemployment is gone. I was on it a year, and get cut off. I know so many who have been on it for well over a year. Why did I get cut? Darned if I can make sense of their explanation. Not to mention our wonderful House of Representatives can't get their act together and vote on a plan. Why should they care? They are fat and happy with their paychecks, so screw the poor unfortunates who have nothing. I am now forced basically to take a job offer in Raleigh, North Carolina. Why is that so bad you ask? Well, I will have to leave behind my wife and 5 children for no less than a year. My kids range in age as follows: 22 months, 6 years, 12 years, 15 years and 17 years. The reason they have to get left behind? For one, we have a home. Try selling one in this economy without taking a huge loss, if it even sells then. The other, my 17 year old graduates in 2011. We REALLY hate to pull them out of school their senior year. It would be very difficult. So, here I am. Starting a job in NC on July 26th. Moving on my own. This is very hard for me to do. I'll miss my family terribly. I'll miss my 22 month old and his little firsts. I'll miss school concerts, conferences, my oldest buying their first used car, and just being there for everyone. I don't mind saying I've cried over this quite a few times. Me coming home after a day at work to silence instead of "hi Dad!!". No conversations over dinner about how anyones day was. Long weekends of endless boredom. My wife and I estimate between the time I leave, and they hopefully move down there next summer, I'll see my family about 4 or 5 times. This doesn't even factor in my parents, sister or friends. My parents are elderly, and may not be around long. And I'll miss spending time with them. And time with my father at car shows. I find myself depressed VERY easily. And I can't think about this too long or hard, or I get very sad and depressed. My wife will join other wives who have become known as "recession widows". I envy the people I see around me with a job. One where they are surrounded by things they know, the people they love. In a short time, my life will change. I see me becoming depressed the majority of the time. Wondering what my family is doing. Wondering if I'm needed, but not being there to help. Here, you can read my thoughts. What I am going through. Read of my experiences of moving to a new state, finding my way. It wont be easy, but I have no choice. I need a job, and a paycheck. I was quite religious at one point. That's gone. I feel abandoned by God, if there is one. My life is horrible, and I'd give anything to be able to stay in Michigan with my family. Well, that's it for my first entry. Thanks for reading. I'm very depressed right now. More later.