Allegiances

So I hopped on the company laptop to clear out any personal apps or data.
I had to grab all of the emails I've been getting, but not reading, from the 401k vendor and for my ESPP e*trade account. Curiosity got the best of me when I noticed our group mailbox had fewer unread emails than one would expect with the entire group having been laid off. It would seem that 3 people were actually not laid off. Funny, at the time, it sounded to all of us like the whole team was being let go of...perhaps I just didn't ask the right questions to learn the details.
At any rate, no point in looking back.

The day I got laid off, I must have read 4 or 5 guides to being laid off and several of them were in the form of an itemized list. One of the listed items/options was to consider your 401k savings and the consequences of taking the money out early vs leaving it in. Of course, leaving it alone is the most beneficial due to the fees and taxes one would pay for early withdraw. Luckily, I'm not there yet.

I'd never had a 401k plan that lasted long enough for there to be enough money in it to worry about or consider and I've always avoided the stock market like the plague. I decided since it was a package deal, I might as well buy some stock and invest in my retirement despite my own misgivings about the idea.
Of course, not long after buying the stock, it took a dive bigtime. Oh well, at least I should still have some money in the 401k. I dunno if it'd be worth leaving in there or if just taking it out now would be a better idea.

Yesterday, I spoke to my old manager from my previous job and it sounds like they may have a position available for me in the next 2 or 3 weeks. Chances are I'd be making less, but like you, I need the money.

I also got a half-serious offer to work at a little diner down the street from my house that I frequent. I kinda have the hots for one of the ladies there, so I'm not so sure working there also would be the greatest idea. Let alone the minor detail of me never having waited tables, but how hard can it be, right? If I can remember complicated datasets implicating IP addresses, ports, directory structures, file permissions and login credentials for an IT issue, chances are I can retain 2 eggs sunny-side up with sourdough toast, side of hash browns, small OJ and a decaf latte...but let's not get ahead of ourselves.

Technically, I'm still on vacation for the next 2 weeks at least.