After 9 years of working with my current employer, my involuntary request for reduction in force (that's such a mouthful) was accepted and I will no longer be working for them come the next week.

To be honest, I've been searching for an opportunity to leave amiably for a good while now - while I am enamored with aerospace and the incredible concepts behind how the most powerful jet engines function, the fact that the vast majority of my work revolved around military applications and mind numbing amounts of failed and/or asinine "improvements" (i.e. making things cheaper for no other benefit), it was soul draining to say the least.

Thankfully, I've a sizable safety net and a severance to assist me in pursuing the next step in my career. Here's hoping I find an opportunity that inspires me to have some desire to engage in my work...