Jun 16 2009
The Elkhart Economy Strikes Again
Back in January, the company Big Guy worked for got bought by a bigger one. Terms of the sale included a place for all the people from the old business. Big Guy has spent the past six months busting his ass to make sure the transition went smoothly and to prove his usefulness to the new company and they expressed desire for him to join a number of different departments.
Friday, Big Guy got word that he was to move all his stuff from the Elkhart branch to the South Bend branch on Monday (yesterday). When he got there and started unloading his stuff, they pulled him aside and informed him his last day would be July 10th. But, the HR lady told him, he was welcome to see if any other departments wanted to hire him on. They are “downsizing”.
It’s a little too much change a little too fast. We moved out here to be closer to his job. That changed and we were willing to deal with it. Then the kids they didn’t want to come any more. Then Big Guy loses his job. It’s hard to find a bright lining when we know the economy sucks and we don’t know when he’ll be able to find another job.
At this point, we’re both looking for full time work and it’s a race to see who can get a good, life-sustaining job. We’re not limiting ourselves to the area either, though my mom wants me to move back to Michigan. Big Guy wants to look in Hawaii and I want to look in Tennesee. I just am not looking forward to moving again. I hate moving. I would rather not, but if we have to, we have to.
More than anything, I want to keep life good for Little Guy.
Em,
I know how bad unemployment sucks. Truly. Get the hell out of Elkhart. Maybe this thing with the kids was meant to let you get out without guilt. Hawaii is lovely, but the COL is very high and the economy very dependent on tourism.
The mountain states seem to be doing better than here and my FIL just found a job in Florida.