Going was just not a reasonable or responsible thing to do. It was way more money than I could afford. By the time I rented a car, paid for gas, hotels, food, and boarding my dog for the weekend it would have cost me another $350 at least and that is half my mortgage or my food budget for 3 months.... I am barely keeping my head above water these days and it would have been foolish no matter how much I wanted to do it.
I wish I could find a permanent job too and I am getting more and more afraid I never will. I am headed back to the temporary holiday job I have had the last couple of years (at least they seem to think I am employable) but I am still hoping against hope that someone out there will pick me out of the hoards that apply for every opening...