Kind of knocks the wind out of you for a bit, eh, Colin.
I was devastated when I lost my job in Denver four years ago.
But the CH was behind me, as we are you.
I ended up in a foreign country (Texas), got a job I like for the most part, and as an added bonus, my wife got an opportunity to pursue a lifetime dream, professional photography.
So you just never know.
May the wind be at your back and the tide in your favor.

Also sorry to hear about it.  Best wishes and prayers in your job search.

Your thoughts and well wishes are overwhelming. I can't thank you guys enough, it's really humbling.
 
I am definitely looking upon this as a door opening rather than one closing, I know for a fact there are many people here who rely, not just on what I get paid to do, but all the other little IT & software problems that crop up on a daily basis.
 
Thanks you all again.

Bristol_Jonesey
I am definitely looking upon this as a door opening rather than one closing.... 

Wow, that's the spirit!
I wish you succes!

 Best of wishes to you on your search. 

That really sucks. I got canned in 1993. I'm certain it was for the best, as I'd have surely done bodily harm to my idiot boss if I'd stayed any longer. That's when I started my own business, and I haven't had a boss, idiot or otherwise, since. 
 
Want a business idea?
 
One of my customers approached me last year with a request for a custom report. For reference they sent me a very elaborate Excel spreadsheet. Apparently, they'd been buying this report monthly from a third party who'd built a business around this fancy spreadsheet! 
 
That got me thinking. "Data Miner" is just one of the hats I wear, part of the daily gig. It hadn't occurred to me to sell those services separately. Well, in truth I'm also not proficient enough at Excel to pull it off. But it's something to think about.
 
Your skills are not typically available in-house within smaller companies, but the value of data analysis is just as great to them. An outside consultant could bring them expertise they could otherwise not afford.
 
This, in fact, is how I started my own business 20 years ago, as a contract consultant. That paid the bills for 3 years while I developed the application that would become my livelihood. 
 
Of course, if all else fails you might consider kitchen remodeling.

Hey, now there's a great idea Bit (no, not the kitchen modelling).
 
I am always completely gobsmacked justhow much some of these "consultants" charge for knocking up a spreadsheet that I could probably build in an afternoon.
 
And then use it over & over again, with certain tweaks to suit individual organisations, but the basic template needs only to be built once.

Bristol_Jonesey
Just been informed by my employer that my contract will not be renewed going into 2014.
 
Job hunting @ age 59.
 
No joke.

Best of luck to you Collin, I've been there for over two years now.
 
Remember, the ppl that are supposed to help you into your new job don't really care.
 
 
 Edit: they are only trying to hold on to their job.
 
 
 
 
 
Rant over.

Hi,
 
I hate to hear that, and hopefully it will all turn out even better for you.
 
That's the one thing that scares the living poop out of me as well!

I hope it all shakes out to be something good and you find yourself in a better job where you are happier. Incertainly is hard on all of us but, and you know it... you can only live today. I really, truly hope that you will look back on this as one of the best things that ever happened in your life. I know it is easy for me to say, but try to not worry... then again, worrying seems to help. Almost all the things I worry about happening... don't happen so maybe it helps.
My wife in an accountant, a CPA. Maybe you could hang out a shingle and get customers... or go to work for the government... most governments need accountants, they certainly have more of other people's money than they should have...
 
I am convinced that you will do well. Embrace the hope and reject the fear... your age and experience are assetts, not liabilities. You are a winner, people like winners. I am convinced that you will land on both feet and see a good path before you... and, as they say, may the path rise up to meet you.
 
Julien