Career in the 'careening' sense

I've been downsized : (

I have no holiday season crush in my future -- a relief so strong I count it as part of my gilded parachute. My team is exceedingly capable, and I've prepared them as much as I could to continue without me.

I have never collected unemployment before; I have never been given severence before. The best I'd gotten up til now is, "can you work out the full two week's notice? turns out you really do contribute value and we'd like to squeeze as much as possible until you go". In contrast, this was the most tender and solicitous firing I've ever had. I'm walking away with excellent references and community contacts.

So there's cushion, there's a placement service I will engage with this week, I have breathing space and time, and a waaaay better sense of rudimentary networking than when I started 9 years ago. I'm not continuing into the new fiscal year, but I was gently returned to the tool crib at least.

The thing about changing your life, is that your life changes.