Safety Net in Action

Went to pick up my EBT card today. The line was long and full of all kinds of people, and the smell wasn't great, and standing there I started doing the math on it — a lot of these folks are probably homeless, here for replacements or registration, referred by their case workers. Which checks out, because I'm standing in the same line for the same card.

I felt ashamed being there. Weird, out of place, like I'd wandered into a version of my life I wasn't supposed to be in. But I talked it through and managed to reframe it, and what I landed on actually held: there's nothing to be ashamed of here. I have a real goal and a real future in mind, and I'm only doing this for the stretch of time it takes to finish my career transition — until I land the new job. And it's not even really someone else's money. It's a safety net I already paid into with my own tax dollars. That's just it working the way it's supposed to.

Later I went to Costco and T&T with Jordan and used the new card, and honestly it was good. We got more food than we usually do, and it all feels fresh and healthy for once. Turns out it's around $290 a month, which is more than enough for where I'm at. And I won't need it forever — the second I land a good six-figure job I actually like, it's gone. I've got the skills and the smarts for that. I do. I can do this.