PCL,

I've been in your shoes (Furloughed) and it wasn't funny. However there are much better options out there.

With your experience I'd be touting my wares around the contract agencies. I was offered an interview with Korean about 3 months ago and the starting pay was around $8000 a month. As I didn't have the 74 or A33/340 type, they wanted me to pay for my training. That was what killed it for me.

With "Heavy" time, you have a much better chance of getting a decent job or contract and not having to settle for what is really just 2nd rate pay.