What to do when you're layed off

What happens to older women who have given their adult lives to a career, and then find themselves after 30 years forced into retirement? It wouldn't have been too bad, I say to myself, if the stock market hadn't plummeted and destroyed my 401(k). I thought, "Well, that's not the worst that could happen. I've got a few more years to work, so I can build it back up." The ecomonic down turn was crushing in the manufacturing business where I was employed. Actually the financial group that had bought our company a year or so previously had pretty much demolished our credibility in the marketplace. I think the worst part was to see the company I was so proud of go to the pits. What I've been able to put together for myself in the last few months is taking care of other peoples' pets and minding their houses when they travel. It won't make me rich, but at least I'm not a bag lady yet!