first evening after being laid off

I suppose I should have seen it coming. Although I was probably in denial.. How long can one person get away with sitting at work for 8 hours a day and only really work for maybe 3 of those hours. I wasn't being lazy, nor was I trying to avoid having an extra task or two to help keep me busy throughout the day.

When i was able too.. I worked in the fabrication shop covering for Joe (Fab shop manager) while he was at a work site in Utah. I also used my free time to build shelves for my desk, I scavenged through old office furniture from the recently closed machine shop to find a cabinet to organize my shipping supplies... There is only so much a person can do before they end up sweeping the floor.. even though they did that the day before.

I started to think.. "I'm the only person here who knows everything about the shipping/receiving department, why would they get rid of me" or "I can work in more than one department, since they laid off Joe (which happened yesterday) I'm probably the person who will take care of whatever jobs come through for the Fab shop" I guess it was that "I'm irreplaceable" train of though.. Even though I try to remind myself that I am replaceable, so i better do a good job.

So here I am... unemployed, and waiting to see how much unemployment will end up paying. Now I just need to figure out where to go from here.. Do I stay in Oregon, and look for work? Or, do i pack up my family and move back to Montana.. Both options are risky.. I will know more when I know what I have to work with..

I know i will have support from family.. That even bugs me a little.. not the fact that they are willing to help out. But the fact of how many times they have had to help me out.. every time i finally get on level ground something has to happen.. lose a job, turn stupid and chase after a girl (that one shouldnt happen anymore since I'm married), have a kid (I wouldn't trade Riley for the world.. but when we found out we were going to have a baby.. it did throw a wrench in our plans) All i want to do is get our debt paid off, fix my credit.. then someday buy a house for my family to live in...

I guess I can look and the bright side... I do have a lot of good referances to use on job applications. From co-workers to the company CEO.. I must have done something right..