The job where the interview that went so well, that I had such high hopes for, turned me down. Again. We're two weeks behind on our rent, with next month's due next week.
We're done. We can't kick the can any farther. We can't afford to live in the Bay Area any more.
Now, this isn't begging for help or donations. We've gotten help from friends and guild mates to get this far, when I had realistic expectations of landing a job soon.
I have to face facts. I've been through damn near every tech company in the Bay Area, from startups to the big firms, and I'm not getting hired. Unless I get a job within the next 48 hours, any help with our rent now would mean being right back here next month or the month after.
So, here we are. I'm going to have to say goodbye to SF Kossacks, and we're going to have to go to Arkansas and move in with my parents.
I don't want to do this. I've been trying like hell to avoid it. But we probably should have done this two months ago. We just talked ourselves into staying for a few more fruitless interviews.
We're going to try to sell what we can - again - pack everything except a few changes of clothes and our computers, and drive out. If we get enough, we'll stop by Disneyland one last time to get a final use out of our annual passes. Everything that gets packed goes into storage, and hopefully we can get it shipped out to us.
This isn't a GBCW diary. There is Internet access out there, maybe even broadband, and I still have time left on unemployment and the cost of living is much, much lower. We may even be able to get broadband access reasonably quickly.
But this is definitely a Good Bye Cruel Bay Area California diary. Depending on what work I can find, if any, this is probably Good Bye Cruel Tech Industry. If I can land a tech job out there, we can save money and relocate back later this year or early next. But I'm not holding my breath at this point.
If you do want to help, let me know if anyone needs a Toshiba 51" projection TV, because I can get them a good price on one. There's a sword display case project I was working on that will never be completed now, but the light is set and (last time I checked) working. And, well, swords. There are other things that I can't think of right now - dishes, furniture.
That said, I've loved living here, and it breaks our hearts to have to leave California. We just can't do this any more.
[EDIT] Navajo, you have Mrs. and the little crying. I wasn't asking for help, and I wish I could say no. But thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you all.
Dammit, I got something in my eye again.
[EDIT AGAIN] My God. Just, My God.
We're still going out to Arkansas, because it's too late and we have to. But I'll be applying all over the country, thanks to the magic of the Internet, and all of you who have offered meetups, places to stay, contacts - I'm sending my resume in to the openings you've given me, and those of you who have offered your homes and RVs and spare rooms and couches will have a chance to host a Moody Loner, should I get interviews in your area.
I have no idea what will happen. And honestly, I just intended to let people know what happened to us and why we wouldn't be in SF anymore.
But thank you, for reminding us that we are not alone. And I should be upset with you, for the debt that I will never, ever be able to repay.
I guess we'll have to work on paying it forward.