Originally Posted by full of luv

Nothing is as bleak as it looks initially, and rarely as good as it appears at first. As a furlough survivor (along with many many others) use this time to prepare for a possible change of job for a bit. It is always a great idea to consider other career options. A capable pilot should be able to find a job locally. I had friends who just barely held on (and missed furloughs in 2001) and their experience wasn't quite what they wanted/expected for a few years. Quite honestly, being furloughed quickly back then helped me come to terms with the situation and prepare a plan B. I was actually home more, made comparable money after my contemporaries took payouts and downgrades, and was home a whole lot more than those who bounced around the bottom of the list.
My wife was a SAHM and we made do, in fact, it helped us set up a long term plan that would have worked without ever returning. Keep positive, focus on what you can do and try not to worry about stuff that is largely out of your control.