Several years ago I worked for a company that was downsizing and my job was unexpectedly eliminated. It wasn’t a big deal because the economy was good, work was plentiful, my financial responsibilities were few, and that job was just something to do until I found what I really wanted. So the first thing I did after being laid off was head for the mall to do some shopping and celebrate being temporarily freed from my alarm clock. But at least I bought something “useful”: a cool pair of sunglasses.