If I understand you correctly, madisgram (and I'm not certain that I do), I don't think I've ever really envied other people's material achievements, but I have indeed envied their mental stability, insight, understanding, wisdom, etc. Of course, I would have loved to be able to travel more, but then I did travel an awful lot before I was thirty, since I was a kid really. Actually, though, I do envy people who have a good old-fashioned delicatessen right around the corner. (NO, I am NOT making fun of you!)

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you mentioned you haven't been able to get a job for some time now. in my career i could read the body language of an applicant before they even shook my hand. are u expecting to get turned turned down that it gets in the way during the interview process? are you expecting to return to a job that qualifies you with your previous experience? r u willing to step down a notch or two to get your foot in the door? perhaps you have done the positive things already. idk. but thought i use my expertise to ask you. no offense meant.

No offense taken. Well, umm, yeah, I do expect to get turned down. I've been turned down every time until now. And no, I don't expect to get a job that has anything to do with my prior experience. I'm willing to be a bagboy at the supermarket. But I seem either to be overqualified or too old for everything that's going. Hell, I'd be happy changing the oil in oil-change places.

I'd love to do volunteer work. And as soon as I get the bread on the table thing down, I'll also be doing volunteer work. Take care.