It's interesting to me that the U.S. unemployment rate, according to the Department of Labor, is about 7.8% right now, but the unemployment rate in people who responded to this survey is about 20.52%.
I fear unemployment, I think, more than anything in the world. I live in one of the boroughs of New York City, and it was a huge relief for me, when I went from grant-funded work to a job funded by City funds, and much more secure.
I have never dated someone who struggled with employment. I've always somehow dated people who had even more secure jobs than mine. It just happened that way. I seem to attract people who are higher achievers than I am, for some reason.
I think unemployment is more of an issue for people who live in any disenfranchised group, including people on the far end of the gender spectrum, and people who live in harder hit areas of the country where entire industries have folded. I'm wondering if that is a factor in the numbers I'm seeing in this little internal survey.
I definitely see the perks of having a domestic partner, and a shared household and budget and planning for the future. It must feel amazing to know someone's got your back, someone will be there if you lose your job or get sick. I remember what that felt like, but it's been over ten years since N and I broke up. I don't want to make decisions out of fear, but I understand why people settle for situations that aren't ideal, because it feels more secure.
I am so full of fear sometimes.
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