I once heard somebody say it’s a recession if you have a job, it’s a depression if you don’t. I had to look for a job in a mild recession once and trust me I do not wish that on anybody. I totally agree with Temeculaguy and the hurricane analogy. It’s not like I’m sitting at the beach thinking “man, I wish there was a big hurricane that would hit this place and rip it to shreds”. It’s just the fact that these things (hurricanes, earthquakes, recessions, etc) happen. There is a distinct difference between being a realist and a pessimist.