In my last post, I promised an update on my meeting with the other unemployed people I found on Craigslist.  I wasn’t sure who’d respond to my ad, but figured there was no harm as long as I met in a public place, and since I had been very clear that this was strictly platonic, it probably eliminated all the creepy stalkerish types.  Two people responded to my ad–one girl who was on the verge of losing her job, and the other, Randy, who had been out of a proper job for a year.  I planned to meet them after my volunteering, so after scooting back home form the legal advocacy group, I quickly changed, swiped on some eyeliner, and rushed out.

The girl was pretty much a dud.  She came in late, didn’t say much, fiddled with her hair, and then left abruptly.  She asked if we could include her in any other “events,” parting with a friendly “well, I’m glad you guys weren’t psychos” remark.  Gee, thanks.  I mean, sure, I may have been thinking the same thing, but it’s not like I actually SAID it.

Randy, the other unemployed person, ended up hanging out with me for the next three hours.  After spending some time in the cafe, we walked over to Haight Street and found a place to grab dinner.  I learned a lot about Randy over the course of the evening.  Turns out that he lost his dead-end software developer job a year ago, and has had bad luck ever since.  The one thing he’s grateful for is the marijuana prescription card his doctor offered recently, which means he can get unlimited pot legally.  He spends most of his days high, claiming he’s “high functioning” (no pun intended) and knows his limits.  It occurred to me that even though I live in San Francisco–in the Haight district of all places!–I don’t really have any pot-smoking friends.  None.  So I guess Randy will be my token pothead friend.

Of course, there’s much more to Randy than his pot brownies, which are delivered directly to his house.  He’s also a bit of a geek, and helped fix some of the issues I was having with my phone, while also offering great computer/antivirus advice.  I learned a lot about cool things I could do on my phone and computer, as well as some random facts about cars I’ll probably forget within the week.  While Randy was giving me the 411 on his semi-relationship with his pseudo-girlfriend (who incidentally ALSO got laid off this week), I realized that this guy was probably severely depressed.  An East Coaster, he practically ran to the other side of the country to get away from his family, and sadly, still feels stuck.  His lack of income hasn’t helped the situation, and apparently he perceives himself as uber-anti-social.  Given that he was talking more than me (which is quiet a feat in itself), I’m assuming he was just having a brief episode of normalcy that night.

What I liked best about Randy was his willingness to open himself up to new people and ideas.  Inspired by the book/movie “Secret,” he figured that instead of living a secluded life, where he just plays video games in solitude, he’d actually make an effort to meet and talk to new people.  And I guess, that’s why we met.  I don’t think either of us would have naturally spoken to each other– we certainly didn’t share similar activities.  But somehow, we started forming a friendship, both open to the other’s differences.

Randy’s emailed me since then, offering some great links and information on computers, as well as health insurance options (no, I’m not trying to get a pot card–but I DO want to find something cheaper than COBRA).  So we’ll see where this goes– hopefully he’ll find a job, and get out of his rut.  And in the meantime, I’ll continue on my journey, make great friends, and remain open to the possibilities funemployment can bring.