there's a huge difference between an unemployment rate around 10% and an unemployment rate around 7%.

we're certainly not fully recovered, and it's already taking what seems like ages to get here, with few dramatic positive data points -- just a slow, slow trickle of slightly better than last month kind of news. but over a long enough period, it adds up.

Last week I had my annual checkup with the cardiologist. He asked me how I liked retirement and if I had gone back to work yet. I laughed and said I love retirement and I have absolutely no plans or desire to go back to work. He said he has noticed that many of his retired patients have gone back to work.

So the questions:
Are they returning to work out of necessity or desire?
Is Social Security less than a living-wage retirement?
And where are these jobs retired people are taking?
And are those jobs providing adequate supplement to Social Security?

So questions must be asked about DUers who are getting interviews and going back to work:
Are they returning to work in their chosen field or are they taking any kind of labor or service job?
Are they making the same salary as before or are they making substantially less?
Are they getting benefits?

It really isn't sufficient to merely hold a job -- one must be able to live on the wages from the job.