Check my profile for the previous posts but I'll also summarize here. Tl;dr at the end.
My previous job was a small company and the environment turned topic for me rather quickly. It took a big dive when my boss who hired me left and the C level hand picked hire took over. I negotiated my way out with a reasonable severance and an ambiguity since I never said I quit and they never said they terminated me.
New stuff follows.
Just before I left my father passed away unexpectedly. My last 3 days of work were bereavement leave. The company offered to cover me as an employee for health insurance purposes during my severance, which was a very generous gesture.
It took over 3 months but my unemployment benefits were approved. That just happened and I'll get the 14 weeks of back claims paid in a lump sum.
Here's where things took an unexpected turn. While sorting out dad's estate it turns out my brother and I will benefit from generational wealth transfer. Dad was blue collar union for his entire career (mom was pink collar and kept up her end but dad brought in the real money) and planned for the future. Because of that we're both able to retire on our inheritance and personal investments.
I won the game. I'm off the hamster wheel. I was able to cash buy a house in a low cost of living area. I can work very part time just to get out and be around people. And I have that most precious thing. I have time.
Tl;dr – I left my job with a severance. My dad died just before I left and I benefited from his decades of blue collar union work. I'm able to retire, cash bought a house, and am off the work hell treadmill.