Editor’s Introductory Note: This article is an After-Action Report (AAR). At more than 6,400 words, it was long enough to serialize into three parts. But because it is in narrative form, I thought it was best to present it all in one piece.
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In late 2019 into early 2020 I experienced a several month unexpected period of homelessness. This was during the incipient stages of the COVID-19 pandemic situation where there was significant “fog of war.” The severity of the situation was unclear. This was an exceptional learning opportunity that yielded significant operating experience that I am sharing here. I recommend preparing in a way that offers the maximization of options for your future and a flexibility to adapt quickly. It is also critical to have a stable foundation for your life. Had I made different choices this would never have occurred. The errors were mine. I pray for wisdom and discernment these days. I have learned to take people at face value, to identify threats earlier, have faith in myself and God, finally, to take a conservative bias toward risk. As an event is unfolding it is necessary to utilize objective metrics to identify when it is necessary to change course. As I had to do multiple times during this period.
In late December 2019 my living situation evaporated with next to no notice. The day after Christmas I was told via text message by my father that the power would be cut off on a property I was to inherit and had been living in for 3+ years. That day it was -20 F out. I am certain that he was aware of the date and the temperature that day. I had built my house on sand and while the saying is that “blood is thicker than water.” I have found that my family is unreliable and, in my case, hostile. It should be noted that I had recently lost a parent. That loss was seen as an opportunity by a far wealthier branch of the family to push me out of a home I was told I could live in the rest of my life. There were legal options that could have offered more time, and the situation was wrong, but I chose to remove myself from the situation.
I never considered that someone would act in an ugly and callous sort of way. Especially people with multiple homes, vast wealth, and so much material wealth. They had told me they did not want me living there six months prior literally as my parent was on a deathbed, then denied it when confronted. Whenever you deal with someone who engages in such a callous way during an emotionally charged time it is necessary to consider it an immediate life threat and act accordingly. My family of origin is chaotic and I had trusted advisors recommend that I avoid all contact with them in prior years. My desire to be in a family and have that connection clouded my judgment. My correct move in hindsight would have been to organize legal procedure to prepare for conflict, and to have better documentation of their behavior. Or just avoid all contact. I chose to ignore the threat and minimized the risk. I hope that my poor decision-making can help someone else avoid this outcome.
As the song says, “You got to know when to hold ’em and know when to fold ’em.” I chose the fold ‘em option and I am glad that I did. God will judge them and me. I am proud of how I handled this situation. I’m curious what God’s judgment of them will be.
As an aside, I will say that prior experience with the US Judicial system had educated me that “justice” is in the eye of the beholder and often given to the person with deeper pockets. Prior legal conflicts I have been a party to have resulted in me losing respect and faith in lawyers, the law, and judges. Your experiences may vary. My experience is that “justice” for me is a “heads I lose, tails you win” proposition. This weighed heavily on my choice to abandon the claim and to move on to find a new path. It doesn’t help that I had made the acquaintance of a family court lawyer who explained to me that his firm recently had a banner year as a woman had paid them $400,000 to keep her husband tied up in court for years. The lawyer was proud of the Christmas party and the bonuses his firm had recently had. No doubt underwritten by the hard work that the family whose wealth he was dissipating. My opinion of lawyers and the law is poor. Attempting to challenge wealthy people in legal proceedings would be a meaningless waste of resources.
It was challenging to make clear decisions as emotions were running high and the (incorrect) news reports from China at that time indicated that it was more than just the flu.
I broke my time up into small segments. I focused on completing the next right thing. Fortunately, I was not working as it was a slow time for my profession. My initial estimate was that it would be 45+ days before I would return to work. But, again, it was uncertain as the COVID situation was looming. The media was alarmist and it was unclear what was true and false.
First, I sat down and looked at my immediate situation and took stock of what assets I held. This included my physical health, mental health, relationships, work, training and so on. I had spreadsheets that covered financial information and went through and verified my holdings. I generally do not want to sell assets unless it is critical as I had liquidated some holdings in years prior and would have been better off had I found a way to hold onto them. Having a larger emergency fund would have served me well in this situation.
I had more than I expected and could have sold my assets immediately and rented an apartment. This would have averted the lessons learned in the rest of the article. It also would have had the drawback that I would be tied geographically to a location. I did not want to stay in the region where I had been living as it was very high cost. There was substantial recreation and I had many acquaintances, but I knew in my heart that it was not the place for me. I wanted to be able to find greener pastures. Also, several experiences I had in that state educated me that living in a “blue” or “purple” state was no longer a risk I was willing to consider.
Consider your risk tolerance and willingness to try new things before deciding your path. I am single with no kids. I had two vehicles, construction materials, backpacking, and other sporting equipment. I am fit and have strong communication and rapport-building capabilities. I am physically imposing and in decent shape. My risk tolerance is above average as well as my adaptability. I am also willing to go through negative sacrifices if in the long term it means that I am in a better position in the long term.
Second, I investigated ways to make money. I wanted to do something I had never done and that I would not be tied to long term. I had used ride-sharing services as a rider and had found the experience generally positive. I also investigated mobile handyman services or mechanic services and considered going into business for myself. I have a CDL and could have gotten a truck driving job immediately. I have a profession I enjoy so I was looking for a temporary stopgap measure. Years prior I had worked in technology sales and sales management. I did not want to return to office work but it was an option I considered while I was finding my path.
I had failed to make quality friendships in the community that I was living in at that time. I had fallen into the casual dating scene and while I did well, it offered literally zero long term value other than the short-term satiation of lust and meaningless social validation. I implore you, if you are caught in the casual dating lifestyle, please get out of it now. It is a false sense of security. In hindsight not building stable relationships was an error. I was transient, traveling often for work. Moving forward now I join a church wherever I go. This provides a stabilizing influence on my life, helps me to be a contributing member of the community, and offers support when the unexpected occurs. Go to church and tithe. It is a better life! There is great MEANINGFUL validation and accomplishment available for you along this path.
The associations I had at that time were weak and were focused on a recovery-based community that I have participated in for several years. A lesson I learned was that I need to trust people. If they make statements that are irrational and illogical it is not wise to develop relationships with these individuals. Words are meaningless if their actions are not congruent. Trust what they say. Notice what jokes they make. Often jokes are testing an idea. I had several acquaintances at that time who relied on me for stability. Loneliness can be a very difficult emotion to process. No company is better than bad company. I was associating with people who did not share my core values, who were in a transition period, and who described themselves as “bad” people. I should have trusted them at their word and not idealized what they could be. A rational assessment of your situation and associations is always critical. Loneliness, lust, sadness, frustration, and grief all cloud our emotions and can exacerbate an already difficult situation.
The location I was living in was in an alpine environment and temperatures were ranging from -20 F to +30 F. We regularly received several feet of snow and it would become very difficult to go anywhere. I could go to ground if necessary (living in a tent on foot) but I felt that maintaining high mobility would offer me the best opportunity to network and to find a future living situation. I had a couple of large cities within a few hours driving time and a couple of fancy resort areas within a few minutes. There are hot springs and other commercial recreational facilities that offered showers and socialization to keep my spirits up.
Of anything, my attitude is my strongest survival attribute. I have found that this is not a common attribute for people to have! Attitude can be cultivated. I have heard it said that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. I was not doing a good job on cultivating positive relationships. I can see looking back on how I chose the easier path. I had been a member of a CrossFit community who had more people who had their lives together who I could have focused more energy on building relationships with. I felt they were “boring” and that they wouldn’t like me. Again, this was a major error. I will say that with several years of experience after learning this lesson that I enjoy my friendships with “boring” people. It is more satisfying and fun.
Even with this misjudgment, I had strong practices that grounded me into optimism. That optimism developed two years after surviving this challenging experience into a faith in Jesus, getting baptized, and a knowledge that God has a plan for me. No matter what your situation, God has a plan for you!
Understand that you don’t have to be perfect or to have lived a “good” life or come from “good” people to develop an unstoppable positive attitude! I often read the retreat owner profiles and feel inferior. Survival is about something more than what you have. It is not a box of high-end tools, a fancy vehicle, or acres of land. It is your heart and soul and how you engage the world. Stop worrying about what you don’t have (or have lost) and focus upon what you can do with the tools you have now. In one of Mr. Rawles’ books he discusses a woman and her child who just have seeds to trade when the Schumer hits the fan. They built a successful trading post and life from a small start. The willingness to take action and move towards a goal is a most valuable skill set! As a result of their actions, they created and built up their community. Gaining a respected position. You can find ways to be a worker among workers in your community and build toward something meaningful.
Gratitude is another free tool that is invaluable. At this point, I had been programmatically practicing gratitude through a text message chain with a friend I met in my travels. We would send a list of things we were grateful for each day. This practice continued for six years until our life changed and I found another person to continue this practice with. I am grateful for SurvivalBlog, I am grateful for reading, I am grateful for curiosity, and so on. Keep sending texts (or write in a diary) every day listing what you are grateful for and you will find that your brain is wired to find things to be grateful for. It is much better than the people who find areas to find fault and to complain about! Try it, I find gratitude to be a wonderful addiction that is even supported through scripture!
I secured a storage unit and moved what I could to that location. I also listed my secondary vehicle for sale for $500 less than it was worth as I wanted it sold quickly. That vehicle was gone within a day. In hindsight, I wish that I had kept that vehicle, but the cash was useful and I needed to be mobile.
It was critical to be strategic with what was put in storage. I had items I would not need in the next thirty days + buried in the back and everything I needed toward the front. This allowed me to recreate or have access to additional storage quickly. I had ready changes of clothing and basic food at the front of the storage unit in parcels that were easy to transport.
Later, I rented a second storage unit a four hour drive from the original storage unit in a major metropolitan area. The storage units offered me the ability to run very lean and not carry much with me. I could still store valuables and extra clothes but have the vehicle completely ready for the ride share business. I made sure to find units that were open 24 hours a day and in neighborhoods that were safer. This was easier in the rural areas and more difficult in the cities.
In evaluating neighborhoods, I would look at midday foot traffic, midnight foot traffic, number of military-aged men (14-60) present during midday, presence of graffiti, presence of law enforcement, sturdiness of gates, look for damage to storage units, and so on. I stored high-value items in the rural storage unit and mostly clothes and some food in the urban unit.
From me receiving the threat to shut off the power to being completely out took 72 hours. I had assistance through the process. It took me about 24 hours to emotionally process what was happening. I believe sending a text message threatening to shut off power is illegal. Again, my lack of faith in the judicial system based upon prior life experience guided this decision. You hopefully have had more positive experiences. I found it emotionally very difficult as I had planned to live out my life there. I did leave several bulky items that I could either not get to as they were covered with snow or where I could not secure cost-effective storage. I listed those items for sale but was unable to find a cash buyer and they were just left. The value lost was under $1,000.
Once I had everything moved to storage I consolidated my go bag, essential documents, and cash. I physically went through each item in the go bag and ensured that it worked, was intact, and had a charge (if battery powered), and was in date for use. This was also critical for legal documents such as my passport and driver’s license. I checked everything to ensure there were no pending expiration dates. I want to emphasize that this was in the early stages of the COVID hysteria where there were videos online of mass casualties coming from China. My uncertainty level was very high during this time. I was considering that it was possible to likely that I would have to go to foot for an extended period and prepared accordingly.
I considered it a high possibility that all transportation would be shut down as a quarantine measure. It was a great comfort to know that I had extensive experience living in the woods to adapt if that eventuality came to pass. Regularly practicing survival skills is a key attribute in building confidence to address whatever comes to pass.
I was able to quickly set up a mail forwarding address through a commercial mail forwarding service. This is a practice I continue to this day. Having mail separate from my domicile is beneficial at times and when there is any uncertainty in your living situation, I would consider it as a first step to ensuring your continuity of operations. It is a reasonable cost and can offer easy solutions to the issue of where to send mail as you are identifying your next step. There are potential drawbacks having someone else handle your mail, but I have not had any issues with this practice over the years.
I got a hotel for a night and took a day to lay out a plan to make money. I had kept a recently purchased vehicle that was a quad cab 4×4 pickup truck. I decided to try driving for ride sharing services and see if I could make it on that. My bills were very low. I did not have health insurance, all I had for costs were the payment on the truck and insurance for the truck. Health is wealth and if your habits are holding you back from achieving better health, I recommend addressing them right now, today.
The pickup truck had low mileage and was in great condition. I chose a uniform to wear to be as professional as possible. This was a pair of gray bdu pants, a black polo shirt, and then a black jacket with a simple brand logo. I did not wear a fancy watch and used an older model cell phone. I wore tennis shoes with good traction and had work boots and a snow shovel in the bed of the truck. I recommend choosing a uniform to wear that helps to communicate authority and professionalism in uncertain situations. Especially driving ride share it was necessary to make a positive first impression. I did a thorough cleaning of the truck and got starting using the ride sharing apps as a driver.
Driving for ride-sharing services is one of the best jobs that I have ever had. If I was wealthy and lived in an elite resort area, I would selectively drive ride-sharing. There are good tax write-offs offs and it is a great opportunity to meet many people quickly.
My plan was to drive a few days and see what I thought of doing it. I started in a major city and the first day went quickly. I had a blanket, pillow, toiletries, and a change of clothes under the rear passenger bench seat. I also had memberships at two nationwide gyms that offered 24-hour access to the gym and showers. For music I recommend jazz as typically it is upbeat and well received by all sorts of riders. Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, John Coltrane etc…
My first day was a blur. I took people to the airport and figured out where I could wait for airport pickups. Took people to and from work and helped them run errands.
I made $200 in revenue the first day. After costs this worked out to about $20/hr. The ride share apps would have incentives. I made significant money from snow storms which would happen regularly and would have a fare multiplier as most drivers in cars could not navigate the snow-covered roads. I was out and was able to safely navigate the roads. Good tires are a worthwhile investment and are something I benefited from greatly during this time.
The first week I drove whenever I could. I had rambunctious crowds of intoxicated city people in the vehicle and while it was enjoyable at times, I did not feel that was a crowd I wanted to cater to. I also had transports of individuals who were receiving some sort of government support for dropping their children off at school or were being transported to a hospital. The volatility of the people I was working for was a factor that was difficult to plan for. I would read my passenger quickly and be able to determine how to engage them.
Some I would smile at and greet and say nothing more. Others we would become friends during the trip. Trust your gut and make decisions based upon your first impression. It was a great way to build and improve social skills.
My choice was to be strategic. I did not want to spend much time with the bar crowd and I did not want to drive in the city. I did have several fares who were obviously intoxicated and I worked to vary my route to avoid bar areas. I varied the times and locations where I would work. When middle-aged parents who were lightly intoxicated were going home (9-10 pm I would take a break or go to the airport – the airport fares were typically higher revenue and less volatile) As I did not have to have the cost of a hotel room I could stop and sleep in the back seat of the truck when I needed a break. The rest of the time I would be working, searching for jobs, or recreating.
I washed and cleaned the truck every couple of days. Making sure to vacuum the truck and keep it smelling nice and presentable. No one commented that they thought I was living in the truck. I had the bed items in compression sacks under the rear bench seat. This was helpful as it attracted less attention.
The ability to keep healthy and happy is critical. I ate good food and worked out and spent time at hot springs. These choices helped maintain a positive mental attitude. I was budgeting my food spending and would have snacks but most of the time I would go out to eat. High end grocery stores had buffets that had high quality delicious food that kept me going. I focused on easy to digest food that would provide stable energy. As a practice I do not consume caffeine and have been sober for 6+ years at this point. I regularly had people ask me for drugs and I always laughed and said that I wouldn’t even know where to find them. On the other side I had a few people who thought I worked for law enforcement. Humor and a smile are a great way to disarm people. I would redirect them to a different topic by asking them about their plans for the weekend or day or whatever. A light heart gathers fewer snags.
I strongly recommend against getting involved in any black-market transactions. Especially dealing with drugs or other illegal items.
Through driving I did have a couple of fares who identified very quickly that this was not my typical avocation. It was enjoyable to have those conversations. While I was driving, I was studying for additional professional certifications and I had one highly intelligent passenger who identified what I did for a living (they had worked in that industry prior to their current white-collar career). I had study materials in the glove box and there were a lot of laughs when I was able to show them the materials I was studying. It was amusing and it made me think more about how to present myself to be a gray man. I don’t think I had “failed” by being able to be read but it was something to consider.
I found the people who genuinely needed assistance who I could help to be the most satisfying fares to work with. A woman with a baby at the airport was my favorite fare of the time. She had substantial luggage and I saw how to help and got the luggage taken care of and got them safely and quickly to their hotel. It appeared they had a long travel day. I got a $10 tip for that fare and it was a joy to be of service. I was highly proactive and positive.
Early morning airport pickups were often very good fares and interesting conversationalists. I noticed that most of these fares were business owners and executives. After a few days I had business cards printed and would hand out business cards to fares I liked. I do not believe this follows the terms of the agreement with ride share services. There was a risk of getting kicked off for this practice.
This resulted in getting additional business and would result in some very profitable days.
At the time I was charging $75/hour (I think this is low after the last several years of inflation) with a five-hour minimum for transport on my own fares from passing out business cards. Having a block of time for a commitment for a ride worked very well and I had numerous happy customers and made great money. My strategic choice to have a storage unit on either side of the state worked out very well.
Often, people from foreign countries were visiting and were fascinated with who I was and were interested in hiring me to take them around. This was tricky as sometimes their expectations were not in line with mine as far as what tasks I would help with. This never became a major problem but it was more delicate to handle than it was worth. I did consider setting up a business to take foreign nationals shooting as they visited as often our firearm ownership laws and practices were a topic of discussion and fascination with people from all over the world. With the uncertainty of coronavirus at that time I did not pursue this route, but for those living near vacation destinations it is something to consider, as well as the prevailing laws and attitudes toward such businesses.
I ventured out into the state and would keep the app on even when I was just driving. I would get fares that way. One memorable fare was a family who was stranded in the mountains and had a ton of luggage. They were going skiing and it saved the day for them. Their vehicle had broken down and I had the space to transport them and their gear to the resort. They thanked me profusely and it was a joy to make money and save the day!
I found that high-end resort areas were the best place to drive. I would constantly scout for places to park overnight and then just drive until I was tired or I got tired of the crowd I was working with. I prioritized working Friday through Monday from 10 am to 4 am. I would take breaks but I found that range of times was very busy. At these resorts the people were coming from the coasts and were habituated to using the ride share apps. They were wealthy and were willing to spend $15 to travel half a mile as many in their party were in high heels and complicated dresses.
The fancy resorts often had nice people there. I’ve heard that the people in this area can be jerks. I did not experience that except for one or two exceptions. Which was better than what I was experiencing in the cities.
It was interesting as people’s reactions to the pending coronavirus was very different. There was a group of expat westerners living overseas who were excited and exuberant about what was happening. Some of this was chemically induced no doubt, but some seemed legitimate. The change coming up was seen as a great opportunity. I had optimism but was uncertain about what would happen next. Others were deeply afraid and I did have one rider who had symptoms consistent with coronavirus. As I heard more in the news I decided that it was likely that the ride share business could be shut down soon as well as the hot springs and gyms where I was staying at would be unavailable.
I started to look for a way out. A friend located in a western state suggested that I come to visit for a few days to take a break. I had been driving for 45 days and was exhausted. I took them up on the offer and went to visit. I found that state much more tolerable than the one I had been in. I took a few days off. Sadly, I was unable to drive ride share in that state without having the vehicle registered in the state and a driver’s license for that state. Upon arrival I had another friend reach out asking me to visit a major west coast city. I had several contacts in that state who had businesses that I knew I could get work from.
I spent a few days in the western state and then traveled to a coastal state to visit more friends and to find more work. There I was able to find a trucking job that paid well and was relatively predictable. I want to emphasize the uncertainty of that time. The media was acting as scaremongers and was making the issue seem much worse than it was. Panic was set in and I saw people acting irrationally and erratically.
The crime in the coastal state was astonishing. I was staying in a northern suburb and then would drive an 18-wheeler into the big city to assist on major civil engineering projects. The experience was exciting but what I saw as I traveled through the city was heartbreaking. Blocks upon blocks of tents with people defecating on the street and using hard drugs wantonly. I have never seen so many needles just cast away. Each improperly disposed of needle is a potential vector of the transmission of Hepatitis and other disease. It is insanity. I saw people who looked dead and were walking around. It is tragic the human toll of the wages of sin. I pray for those people and hope to help find solutions one day to reduce the waste of potential that occurs every day as people lose their lives to despair.
I was waiting for the season to open for the work I am trained for and typically involved in. A few more weeks and it would get busy.
In the meantime, I moved dirt from one location to another. I can say that I am a “real” truck driver as I’ve driven in high alpine roads as well as in major metropolitan areas. The people in the big city were good about trucks and would get out of the way as I made my way through town. 80,000 lbs motivates even the most jaded Prius driver to make way! It was a pleasure to get to see so much of the city and to be paid for the work. It is a very beautiful place lost to so much evil.
The company I was working for had some cash flow issues and I had uncertainty if they would succeed through the coming virus successfully. I don’t enjoy driving trucks as a regular job. I enjoy it for a few weeks and then lose my appreciation for the practice. I thrive in physical environments and live best when I can use my brain and my brawn. I remember driving past a cruise ship that was docked that was reported to have numerous coronavirus cases onboard and was being quarantined in the city. The presence of that ship was ominous and I desperately wanted to get away from it.
Throughout the time I was driving for the ride share company and driving trucks I was looking for work in my profession. Typically, I work in the spring and fall on a very intense schedule. 80–100-hour weeks for a couple months at a time. The flow of jobs was less than they typically were. I did not see as many jobs posted and the members of the fledgling professional network that I had built at that time were not having success finding work. I looked through several job boards and had industry specific email lists I was subscribed to. I typically cast a wide net to find jobs. In this case I had signed up for several lists that covered industries I had not worked in yet but was interested in working in.
God works in our lives and has a plan for us. One day I saw an e-mail asking for someone with my skillset and certifications to work all the way across the country on a project that was slated to last 2-3 months. It was a perfect match but had been incorrectly posted into a specialty job board unlikely to attract the correct candidates. I had a resume and pictures of several projects I had worked on available and sent it in. Within 15 minutes I was on the phone with the recruiter and within four hours had a written job offer.
I had let my trucking company friend know I was looking for other work when I started and they understood. I said my goodbyes, packed my pickup, and drove 2,400 miles over the next three days to start work on a project that was to end up lasting ten months.
The drive was bizarre as the areas I traveled through typically were known for being laid back and relaxed. The reality was anything but. As I stopped at big box stores, I kept thinking of what would I need to survive a flu. I bought typical over-the-counter medication, quick-to-eat food that was shelf-stable, and everything I could need. This ended up being toaster pastries and lunch meat. I noticed a severe return to the lowest common denominator in my selection of food when severely stressed. I wish I had kept on the healthy eating but in the areas I was passing through there were very few healthy options. I also caught the stress and anxiety that others were feeling. On my way, I stopped and rented a trailer and moved everything from my two storage units into the trailer. A couple things got left behind but nothing of consequence. I felt that I was rushing to get ahead of a quickly closing window.
When I arrived where I was working, I easily got a storage unit, got everything removed from the trailer and started to help on the project.
My first two days on the job were in training. They were dragging everything out. The job had been shut down due to major incidents with their machinery installation and movement. We had to come up with plans to continue these operations. I had the specialty certifications to allow us to continue per the insurance company. The concern about hospitals being overtaxed due to coronavirus patients gave us extra steps to take for each evolution of our tasks to further reduce our risk of injury.
After days of training and meetings, I started to work. We were removing wicket gates from a Kaplan runner hydroelectric plant. The wicket gates are very large and similar in design to an airplane wing. I like to consider myself as tough. Walking into the dam and walking down the access hatch to the wicket gates I had the realization that I had never done this exact task before. They had asked me repeatedly if I was afraid of heights. I am not, but there is a certain respect for what you are doing professionally when you walk down a concrete stairway and then step on the top of these gates, which weigh approximately 1,600 lbs and attach the crane to them using a swivel hoist ring, then push back and forth using all my body weight to dislodge the gate, all while signaling the crane and having the project management team and safety team look at what I’m doing (from a safe vantage point) and look green to the gills as my work had more similarity to a trapeze act than a typical construction project.
Once the first gate was free, I breathed a sigh of relief. The first few days I worked 16-hour days to get all of the gates free.
The project had been slated to last just 2-3 months. Once the team was assembled there was discussion about different contingencies that were under consideration. I had been in a career change from working in office work into working in the skilled trades in the prior couple of years. This project cemented my credibility in the industry that I work in. We ended up staying on this project on a 60-hour-a-week schedule for more than 10 months. They did not want to lose us and most tradesmen were unwilling to travel during the panic. It was very rewarding seeing the chaos and uncertainty from the vantage point of a job in a rural area making good money while doing satisfying work.
As a result of that work, I was able to pay off all of my debt at that time and set aside a substantial nest egg.
When considering an upcoming disruption, I suggest focusing on the fundamentals of what your life is about. If you are on the wrong path a major disruption can be the thing to push you onto the right path. Have faith in yourself and your skill sets. Pray to God daily. Read scripture, and find your path. It is out there! You do not have to be perfect to find a better path. You really need faith and the gumption to take action.