It turns out, the best way to get people to return your smiles in California is to wander the streets of south Berkeley on a Tuesday afternoon wearing your sunshiniest outfit and carrying a big bunch of dahlias. The Midwesterner in me loves to bring out the friendly, and I don't mind doing some shameless promotion for the Derby Street Farmers' Market. The dahlias alone would be worth the effort.

It is worthwhile, and perhaps even necessary, for me to remind myself of these little perks, these moments that are made possible by my current unemployment. I spend so much time worrying about how things are going to work out, feeling like I'm wasting time, wishing I was doing more, and battling the impression that I am wholly unwanted by any employer that it is important to stop, take a moment in the sunshine, and savor the freedom. Because soon enough I'll be cooped up in a lab or an office or a classroom somewhere gazing wistfully out the window and yearning for time in the sun.

The past four months of looking for work have been more intensely demoralizing than anything I have ever experienced. They have also been overflowing with the quiet moments I crave: savoring a cup of coffee in the morning, reading the news, walking around town, knitting, meeting with friends, listening to NPR or rocking out to Pandora, sewing, baking, or just reading a book with a sweating glass of lemonade.

It may not all be funemployment, as Adam can confirm, but I know that down the road, with a paycheck and not enough hours in the day, I'm going to miss this summer.