Lay-offs and Lessons

At this time in America I am probably not the only one in this boat. Approximately 1-1/2 years ago, after putting in 21 years at a dead-end job, I decided it was time for a career change. My pay was frozen for 5 years and things for me and my family were not getting better financially they were getting worse. My job was Assistant Security Director at a major hospital. Even though it wasn't on my job description, I was given responsibility over the CCTV system, the infant monitoring system, and the access control system along with my other responsibilities of supervision of 30+ employees, payroll, accounts payable, etc. etc. I didn't complain too much about the added responsibility at the time because I was gaining experience in another field and saw it as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. After acquiring some experience I landed a job with a commercial CCTV, Access control installation company as an Installation Tech. I was making $5 more per hour and enjoyed my job. However, it was short-lived. After the first of the year, I guess because of the economy, jobs became scarce and I was laid off. I was told by the owner of the company that I was the most honorable employee he had ever had in 15 years of business, but he needed to keep the most experienced employees (there were only two left!). That is the end of the "Lay-off" part.
Here is the "Lesson" part. After losing my job I seriously thought about going on unemployment and holding out for the economy to get better. The thing is though, I hold the benefits for my family. There are no benefits when you are on unemployment and who knows when the economy is going to get better. I never lost contact with the guys at the hospital where I put in 21 years and when talking to them I was told there was a position open on 3rd shift. Long story long I took the job, the $5+ an hour cut, and the benefits. Now instead of 2nd in command, I am in command of nothing, but I have a job. That is more than many people can say in this country. The "Lesson" is simply don't burn bridges. Someday you may have to turn around and cross back over again.