re whose money? I'm talking about "mine" - the severence/unemployment pay, which at current spending levels will run out Octoberish. We could both live on his current salary but at a significant cut in lifestyle -- no savings for big trips, not much disposable income for eating out, buying stuff, etc.

I think I know what you're saying about pursuing paid writing opportunities while not expecting to get money out of it. But I'm not sure that I really would want to write as my main job anyway. I think I'd be a terrible freelancer -- I need structure imposed from without. Much better for me, I think, would be a job with some writing in it.

Working at the Borders or another bookstore is already my backup plan, but I don't plan on going that route unless I don't have a job by the wedding (which is also around the time that unemployment would run out).