I recently got laid off from a company in Bangalore, India that always touted itself as a place that never lays off employees. The irony hit hard when I texted a colleague about working from the office, only to find out a minute later that I had been impacted. It was a bitter pill to swallow. However, I've surprisingly found a silver lining in this situation. It's been a few days since the layoff, and I must admit, not waking up to a Teams call every morning has its charm. I had budgeted well enough to enjoy this paid time off, so I'm making the most of it. I've been diligent with my job applications, but given the current job market, I only spend about 45 minutes a day on that. The rest of my time has been dedicated to self-care and picking up new hobbies. One of the things I've always wanted to do is take a scuba diving course. Initially, I planned to do it in the Andamans, but have you seen the flight ticket prices? It's a bit daunting! Since I'm on a career break, I want to be mindful of my finances. So, I'm considering learning to dive somewhere cheaper first. Once I have the certification, I can always go for leisure dives later, including in the Andamans when my financial situation is better. If anyone else is interested in a scuba diving course, I'm thinking about the Netrani plan and would love to find a travel buddy for this adventure! A little about me: I'm a 30-year-old male, non-tech in tech, and I enjoy a relaxed travel style. I'm all about living in the moment and hearing the stories life has to offer. Let's get underwater!