Been meaning to post here so here goes.

Big changes have happened.  Mostly for good, but that's up for debate.
Firstly, roomie and bestest friend Katie got engaged a month or so ago. (Happened on the day of the eclipse and on their one year anniversary).  I guess I failed to update about that too. Bad girl.
So yeah she's been seeing a guy she had met at work and he popped the question which she had said she would say yest to.
We've been together for 8 years and it's quite a big difference in that time. The wedding isn't until next September 1 so at least there's time for planning and such.
Way back about a month before that I realized I would be turning 60 next year. Something told me that I had to do something different or something was going to happen that was monumental. I figured, well there you go. I'm going to have to either find a new roommate or a new place to live next year. That's a pretty big change.

But wait there's more!

So I've been considering moving north to Washington for the past two years. That seems a prime time right there to make the big move. Won't happen until sometime after that but there it is.

I also have decided that next spring when I get my tax return I want to get a car finally. Something reliable not new and sturdy that can tolerate a very long drive and in a different climate. So the search is on for that shift as well.

The other day (Oct 14 to be exact), I saw yet another post about plants that can be used indoors to create more oxygen, take out impurities and such. Being in the plant business I know about these things and on a previous iteration of it I went on a plant rant.
This time I was tired and decided I would post something like, 'all plants produce oxygen and not all of those will do well in a house for a long period but won't go into the details here'.
Well I failed to notice that it was posted on the nursery facebook page and someone else noticed.
Who then flagged me and said that I had called BS on that plant list.

Well nothing says screw you like tellilng the boss he's wrong and I am now no longer employed there.
Yep. They fired me for a 'disparaging comment posted on the companies Facebook page'. Now I can't find that post of course, and all I saw was the photo of a computer screen of the other commenter tagging me.
I will of course try to have that image sent to my phone so I can see it but whatever the case, 19 years of working for the company and a 'disparaging remark' is what did it in.

I was walking on thin ice for the past year anyway. I was getting tired of having to get up at 6 am to go to work at 9 am. Getting tired of the back biting, favoritism, communication issues and otherwise standard business BS that didn't used to be there.
My kids are more angry about it than I am. I think I'm kind of numb right now. I gave hugs and thank you's to the ones I enjoyed working with. At least the manager who hired me originally is the one that fired me and actually gave me a hug and as close to an apology as possible.

Will I go find another job? Maybe, will have to see how I feel. My benefits company will be contacting me tomorrow about COBRA coverage.
I have not been without a job in over 25 years.
I still have my part time job at the fabric store but considering how little unemployment might pay and having that ding into it.
It's kind of like being a slave or a corralled horse or something. All you've ever known is going to work, your entire life revolves around it and now.... it's not there.

I am still friends on facebook with several people still there and will keep up on that contact.
Do I feel empty all of a sudden? Maybe but then it could be the adrenalin let down from crying earlier today.
I didn't cry when I was told, actually didn't cry until I started getting hugs and that is mostly a response to their emotions.

So. Free agent mostly. Have to figure out what to do with medical coverage, my 401k roll over and all that. I have about 25k in my retirement account. Not much but enough to coast me for a while.

I may get a car sooner than next year, who knows.
I'm a bit scared yes, I was also supposed to have an appointment to see a joint specialist in December. Have to see if they can change that to sooner at another location before the end of the month.

So yah. New turn in life. Wow. I'll have a lot less knitting time not taking the bus for 2 hours four days a week now. But I'll have more time to work on my jewelry, maybe put some pieces up for sale on etsy again.

I haven't had this much time off since I moved to San Diego. Even then I started school and got a job almost immediately. Wow.
I wanted to retire but kind of hoped that wouldn't happen for another two years.

Well then. There you have it, my story up till now. I have weekends free again! Woohoo! Only yesterday Katie asked if I could get a Saturday or Sunday off in November to go to Sea World.  No problem with that now!
If I don't have a job still by December, I can go to Disneyland without worrying about taking a day off. Woohoo!
So you see how I'm conflicted on whether this is a good thing or bad thing?
Now for a quote from Babylon 5 that came to mind as I waited for Katie to pick me up.

This one is from Londo, one of the more poignant moments when he discovers he is going to be Emperor.

"Something my father said. He was old, very old at the time. I went into his room, and he was sitting alone in the dark, crying. So I asked him what was wrong, and he said, 'My shoes are too tight, but it doesn't matter, because I have forgotten how to dance.' I never understood what that meant until now. My shoes are too tight, and I have forgotten how to dance."

Oddly enough I just bought a new pair of hiking boots for work and they're just a little too snug.