Very funny. I enjoyed it. Love TMN and I bet your book will be great. I'll look for it at my library ( sorry, this economy has done a number on my book budget). Let's seem the folks live in Farrington Village or in the Beltway or over by whatshisname the designer in Chapel Hill and you all get to do August on Mount Desert Island. Heck, I'd never leave.

I am frankly puzzled how you could spend time on TMN for 10 years but not earn a living at it? And no jobs in the Triangle?R.B, you are too much!

Mr. Baldwin!

L-O-S-E-R, and that, my friends is how you spell this dude's name. To seal the deal of his entry into the pussydom hall of fame, how 'bout that grueling 76 mile week? A) Why not spend that time make a sheckle or two? and B) That's not alot of miles. I do that in a tough WEEK.

Next, note the casual reference to commonplace European professionals with in-law arrangement. You probably didn't mean to let that slip out. With all this talk of the lovely lovely European Socialists Utopias, these little factoids need to find their place into the discourse. Standard of living averages 40% lower than ours.

Have you ever been to Europe? I live in France 5 months a year, and I guarantee you that their standard of living is considerably more than 60% of ours. In the SW of France, where I live, housing and other elements of cost of living are cheaper than in Portland, OR. Wages, on average, are pretty good, and the impact of economic downturn is less in France than in the U.S. Moreover, the French are not interested in a U.S. style economy and, especially, health care financing system.

Struggling writers, awaiting the publication of their first novel, living with the in-laws, just returned from a long stint abroad are not typical of this or any recession! While reading about ear-hair is amusing, believing his plight has anything to do with the current bush-recession is a stretch. Sympathizing is even harder.

You shouldn't take anything SaltyPappy says seriously, it is pretty clear he's just making shit up so he can feel superior.

Europeans living a lower standard of living? What world are you living in Pappy? Oh wait a minute - the world of ignorant americans who have never left their home town, and don't know anything about the real world beyond their doors.

Pappy, I've lived in Europe and you are so wrong its pathetic.

There is not a single frenchman who will ever go bankrupt because of health care bills.

European style socialism? BRING IT ON!!

Can't be a very common name. I'm pretty sure I used to work with his dad (same name) in the office furniture industry here in NYC before that went bust. But this was a pretty interesting article and at least he and his wife don't seem like total sponges. Good luck to everyone suffering enough in this economy to have to move back in with the parents. That fate alone is incentive to keep me employed.

Even by national standards. It's in shooting distance of 10% now. And since the Triangle has THE HIGHEST density of post graduate degrees per capita, that's not and entirely good sign long run.

I guess I'm not familiar with the author or his other work. But I know a lot about mooching and laziness.

So your DOCTOR father-in-law is wealthy enough to let you live with him, and watch his cable TV -- that doesn't mean you have to do it. For gods sake, have some pride! I can assure you, "Rosie", that every month you linger at the in-laws, your wife loses more and more respect for you. (Not to mention: what's HER problem?)

Neither of you can find ANY job -- not even a sales job, retail, WAITING TABLES, temping? That's incredible, even in this economy. And you have zero savings?

If that's the case, WTF were the two of you doing in "France"? Unless it was "finishing a graduate degree", I call foul. You had no business taking a lengthy vacation or "finding yourselves" on mommy and daddy's dime.

Vacations to France, or anyplace, are for people who WORK and SAVE MONEY, and who presumably already have a house or apartment. You basically blew your cash for living expenses, down payments or rent deposits on a luxurious French vacation -- plus blew off getting or keeping a paying job -- and now you want to mooch off the relatives.

I guess if they don't mind, it's not a problem for them. BUT YOU and your wife are losing something precious -- your independence and self-respect. If you don't get off your lazy asses and soon, you can expect to still be at mommy and daddy's well into your 30s and beyond -- not just next month, but next year and maybe forever.

Pretty soon, you and the Mrs. will start talking about likely life expectancy and how much the 'rents might be leaving her in the will.

I also suspect your idea of what you expect in a first apartment or house are very lofty -- not a starter place or a studio, but something spacious, in the "right hipster neighborhood" and of course "walkable" and a nice terrace or a view or....pretty soon, nothing is good enough. I imagine a physician has a very nice and comfy home for you to mooch in, with plenty of spare bedrooms and your own private bathroom. WHY EVER MOVE?

There certainly ARE people who are forced home due to job loss, foreclosure, serious illness. THOSE are the people I feel sorry for. Not people who quit their jobs and blew all their cash visiting France.

Oh by the way, ROSECRANS, how was the brie in France? Was it delicious enough to worth your future and your self-respect?

Geez, project much? lol! BTW, if you tried confining yourself to responding to what was actually written i.e "We were returning to the States after WORKING abroad for the past 18 months", you might have saved the ten minutes of life expectancy you blew during your self righteous eruption re; "vacations" etc.

BTW, the job market for those menial class jobs you suggest is going something like this in reality: advertise for a dishwasher in a greasy spoon @ minwage on craigslist, you get a hundred applicants. Yes, the McJobs market is even cutthroat nowadays.