I spent a good half of 2004 out of work... it drove me absolutely insane. I spent almost all day every day looking for jobs when I didn't have one, and the rest of the time I went stir crazy. My ex and I only had one car at the time, and we didn't have a lot of extra money for gas for me to be just driving around, so I sat at home and went crazy. I seriously can't fathom just sitting around all day long every single day in front of the computer doing nothing. I get stir crazy at work as it is when it's slow.
i got shot in 1987 and haven't had a real job since. granted, the disability benefits take away all the stress of needing to have money to cover the overhead available on the first, but that's about as far as it goes. you want to eat well, have nice things and any fun at all, you have to work.
oh, i'll bet i spend almost as much time as dana online and in clubs, but i'm not just bullshitting with people. i'm out hustling my crafts and junquetiques i trade in and am never shy about taking on short term jobs of all sorts.
i'd have gone nuts years ago if i had just closed in and said okay, i'll never work again and you can give me everything i have for the rest of my life.