Experiencing the Changes

It’s all changing. The weather here is finally cooling down, my energy is finally perking up (thanks in part to my husband’s incessant water pushing) and the slowing of the economy is starting to poke it’s head into our life. Ack.

Not to say our experience is anywhere near as scary as others….yet. But changes are definitely coming, and making us a little antsy. Can’t they just hold off a little longer until we have ourselves prepared a little more.

For those not in the know with every detail of our life, Justin is a Foreman in the Carpenter’s Union. He works in the commercial sector, mostly big name casinos on the Las Vegas strip. Talk about a recession, look to Vegas. They say a good way to predict a recession or depression is to look to construction; if that slows expect a recession soon after but if it stops get prepared for a Great One. And Las Vegas owes it’s existence to two things: tourism and construction. The way I see it, this town stands a chance of survival only if everyone continnues to come here as their escape from reality. But construction (and subsequentally the rest of the town) will still be hit hard regardless.

The general foreman in Justin’s company is out to dinner every night shmoozing who he must as he tries to scrounge together enough work to keep their business going. Justin’s company does more high-end, finish work for places like the Wynn or MGM’s new City Center. But the general foreman told a story the other day about how MGM hasn’t touched their allotted $150 million remodel budget this year because their stocks are too low. Do you realize what $150 million means to Las Vegas? Thousands of workers saw nearly a year out of work from local unions to all the companies that provide material out in Wisconsin or other states. Our local economy isn’t quite so local.

Justin’s company has had to lay off all but the foreman and higher ups, who are now picking up their tools together to work on the only job they currently have. And hopefully this job won’t be finished until the next one starts – if the next one starts on time or even at all.

This all has Justin rededicating himself to a sustainable (i.e. frugal) lifestyle. Does he really need new work boots or will new insoles do the trick? How long can we possible keep our heat or air off (easy-peasy with our weather this time of year)? Where else can we possibly cut back? Is it time to cut the cable or dump the cell phones yet?

I’ve got food planning down to a science and am able to buy two weeks worth of groceries for $150. I’m starting (a little late but still manageable in our mild climate) our winter vegetable garden today to further help reduce those costs. We’re putting off other purchases, and making do where we can.

But still it’s scary to think my husband’s job may be obsolete in a matter of months. Las Vegas’ unemployment rate is at 7.1%, the highest it’s been in 23 years. And we’ve personally only missed the sweeping layoffs in the construction sector because of his current position. But he’s the foreman with the least experience, meaning he’ll be among the next to go if a new job doesn’t come along soon.

He’s been contemplating his next move – from fixing bicycles to fixing motorcycles to installing solar panels to doing whatever it is he can get his hands on. Luckily he’s pretty skilled in most of those more handy areas. But I think my real fear is having to go back to work full-time or heaven forbid, put my child back in school. I’ve been racking my brain as to what I can do from home. I’m fairly certain my job as a massage therapist isn’t going to provide for much in this economy. Perhaps I’ll don the Jill-of-All-Trades hat too. A little of this, a little of that, whatever we need to boost our savings, get our garden in and make ends meet should ends become further and further apart.

No, we’re not there yet in reality. But mentally my mind has shifted into over-drive. And this time I know it’s serious, because my cool as a cucumber husband is even thinking about it. Yikes. I mean, it’s not as if we didn’t expect this. We’re fairly educated people and we know nothing can grow forever and we know it all is pretty unsustainable. We knew within a matter of years we’d be looking at career changes. But still experiencing it – and experiencing it a couple of years sooner than expected - is nerve-wracking, to say the least. It’s a good thing I work so well under pressure. My hubby; not so much.