After a layoff 1 1/2 yrs ago, my rental income once passive now has become my means of support.

I'm 42 now and by 45 or 46, I think I'm going to be in a position to be able to make my choice based on what I want to do instead of what I have to do.btw: Whats really nice is not having to fear what my company might do in the future in terms of layoffs and things.

Inspections go harder in a lot of cases because there is no reputation built up with you and the inspector but if the work is good they will lay off after a while.

I finally got into a job where I've been for the last few years and have gotten pay raises to more than make up for previous pay cuts before and because of layoffs. 2008 changed my entire way of thinking and I doubt I'll ever feel as psychologically secure as I had in the past abouut money and security. 2008 is a major reason for getting involved in real estate, ironically enough.

My job allows me to work a "normal day" of 7a-330p which allows some extra time each day to be able to work on projects ( if I had any, still working on #1 ) and the occasional layoff I go through at the end of jobs, which is nice to catch up on stuff I couldn't when working.

I am only 38 so I am not close to retirement.Being that my income comes from brokering commercial real estate transactions I am not like others working a job where they worry about layoffs as you mentioned and transferring to a lower paying job etc.I did read a statistic a few years back that said on average I believe about 70 to 80 percent change careers every 5 to 7 years.

Lay off the real estate talk for a while.2.

Last night I got word that they came to an agreement with the Governer's office that we will have some furlough days but there will be no layoffs.

Was there one amidst all of the layoffs?

Caterpillar is in deep judicial stuff on top of their plant closing and layoff announcements.