No, we didn't join the ranks of the unemployed; we're both thankfully gainfully employed, and well-paid at what we do.
And, no, neither of us was diagnosed with some malady which will bankrupt us. While we could be in better shape, we're both generally healthy and disease-free.
Yesterday we became a statistic as our house was broken into. We've become a crime statistic, and that's probably all we'll remain.
My girlfriend returned home early yesterday evening to find the front door open. One of our cats was out of the house--we have indoor cats only, who wouldn't know how to survive outdoors. She called me as I was on my way home and told me "We've been robbed."
I arrived home soon after she called me. Our television was gone, as was my laptop. For some reason--thankfully--they left her computer alone. The televisions I could care less about; the laptop had my novel on it. Fortunately, I have most of my revisions backed up on a portable drive, which they also didn't take. If I had lost my novel I would be in a catatonic state at the moment. So, great thanks for small favors.
I can't even begin to describe the sense of violation we both feel. Strangers were in our home and took our possessions. We could've lost all our pets because they left doors and windows open. We are now having to install window bars to prevent this from happening again. We're even thinking of installing a security system, even though I know it's more of a pain than it's worth. We've been in this house for only 5 months, and now our sense of security is completely shattered.
Yes, I know it could've been worse. I usually go home for lunch, but I didn't yesterday. I could've walked in on the burglars, they might have had a gun, I could be dead now. My mind has gone through all the worst case scenarios. That doesn't change the sense of violation I feel, the utter loss of control. Control is an illusion, but it's a necessary one; without it, we're literally adrift, unable to make any effect on our lives.
What gets me is that we always talked about getting renter's insurance. "Yeah, yeah, we'll get around to it"; of course, we never did, and now we have to get all new stuff.
It's just "stuff", but it's our stuff, stuff we work hard for, and to have it taken away by a couple of scumbags is galling. What's the old saying? "A conservative is a liberal who's been mugged." No, that isn't me; my values aren't going to be changed by a couple of reprobate douchebags. But I can feel the alpha male in me rising. I feel like I could rip their throats out for violating our space in the way they did. What would've happened if I'd caught them in the act yesterday? Would I have frozen? Or would that violent side that I know intimately have come raging out, with possibly tragic consequences? Maybe it's better that I don't find out, but right now I'm a ball of nervous energy, with no outlet.
So, I come here, hoping to achieve some clarity. We'll get more security. We'll replace our things. But this sense of invincibility I've been enjoying ever since I started my new career is gone. Everything is different. One's whole perception of the world can change in an instant. Remember that. All it takes is one phone call on the way home from work.
Update
Thank you all for your kind thoughts. I'm at work now and feeling a bit apprehensive. I doubt the lowlifes will return, but I won't feel safer until we have security in place and back to somewhat normality. Again, thank you all.
Update 2
Well, I guess I know what I'm doing tomorrow: standing guard duty at the house. I came home early from work just because I was freaked out, but had every intention of putting in a full day tomorrow. I call my mother and proceeds to tell me that my aunt, who lives next door, scared away someone who was on my front porch jiggling with the door. What fucking useless excuses for human life. I'm seething right now. I don't know if it was the same people; one would assume they would've tried to get in the same way they got in last time.
I'm not leaving the house until we get those bars up. And now I'm seriously considering an alarm system.