Contractor Layoff Pros and Cons

Aaron spent the last two weeks in Rhode Island. He was doing his Officer Training School. About halfway through the second week of OCS, his boss here in Colorado sent him an e-mail. The e-mail basically told him that when he returned from RI he would be out of work for at least a week and most likely two weeks. This sucks because it means he will not be earning a paycheck during that time. That means that for the next two weeks I am the primary breadwinner for the family. Now, my paycheck means we can pay rent and eat for two weeks but that is about it. Lucky for us we thought ahead and put money in savings for just these cases.

Being the analyst I am I decided to put together a pro/con list for this layoff. So, here we go...

Pros:
1. I have a manservant. (He has already done the grocery shopping for me.)
2. I don't have to get dressed until noon. (Usually I have to be dressed to take Campbell to school.)
3. I have someone here to help entertain the boy child.
4. I can actually go get my eyebrows waxed by myself.
5. He will have time to build some holiday gifts for the kids.

Cons:
1. We will be together all day everyday during this time.
2. I will watch more than my share of shoot 'em up and/or alien movies.
3. I'm sure my schedule will be adjusted and readjusted.
4. Oh, and he won't be earning a paycheck!

As you can see, we are trying to remain calm and humerous through this time. It is always stressful to have the main breadwinner lose his/her job, if even for just a couple of weeks. We (and his bosses) are optimistic that he will be back to work as early as Oct 6 or as late as Oct 16. These are the things you deal with as a contractor.