Working on this piece began as an effort to determine the top ten best things about the recession, but the responses received via Twitter necessitated I lengthen the list. So what follows are nineteen reasons to love the recession, as suggested by my Tweeple. You may agree with some, disagree with others, and laugh at a few. Feel free to add your own in the comments, send me a suggestion via Twitter @recessionroadie, or email an idea to recessionroad@gmail.com.
Clifton Wiens (@CliftonWiens), a fellow resident of Adams Morgan in DC and journalist from National Geographic, had a running stream of reasons to love the recession. Here's a sample of Clif's sense of humor: "
Provides a structured weight management program. More lawyers are unemployed. Catching up on old reruns of 'MASH' your father used to watch, because you can't afford a movie. Discovering the pleasures of bus travel. Realizing that 'minimalist' lifestyle you always dreamed about, but never got around to implementing. Boy Scout/Girl Scout handbook in box under bed finally coming in handy."
Matt Cooper, (@mattizcoop) a fellow correspondent at The Atlantic, editor at TalkingPointsMemo.com, and another neighbor in Adams Morgan, sees one way the recession has simplified his life: "No more filling out pesky expense account forms."
John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) is a Las Vegas journalist who interviewed me for his program on KUNV and followed it up with an article describing my adventurous personality using the metaphor of Thai food. John thinks, "The growing unemployment roles mean more and more capable people have time to volunteer."