Funemployment: Out of Work and Happy About It

Posted by Alex in Money & Finance on June 9, 2009 at 5:25 pm

Being out of a job usually ranks in the top 3 nightmares of life for most adults, but not for some young folks. Instead of looking for work, these people, usually singles in their 20s and 30s, prefer to stay with "funemployment" and enjoy life a bit.

Kimi Yoshino of the Los Angeles Times has more on the story:

What most people would call unemployment, Van Gorkom embraced as "funemployment."

While millions of Americans struggle to find work as they face foreclosures and bankruptcy, others have found a silver lining in the economic meltdown. These happily jobless tend to be single and in their 20s and 30s. Some were laid off. Some quit voluntarily, lured by generous buyouts.

Buoyed by severance, savings, unemployment checks or their parents, the funemployed do not spend their days poring over job listings. They travel on the cheap for weeks. They head back to school or volunteer at the neighborhood soup kitchen. And at least till the bank account dries up, they’re content living for today.

"I feel like I’ve been given a gift of time and clarity," said Aubrey Howell, 29, of Franklin, Tenn., who was laid off from her job as a tea shop manager in April. After sleeping in late and visiting family in Florida, she recently mused on Twitter: "Unemployment or funemployment?"

Link (Photo: Genaro Molina / LA Times)

 
Comment (20)    Permalink   Please share:  email this         

Neatorama Shop » Funny T-Shirts
Make Loaves ... Not War