50 and scared!

I have been accepting my 2 + years of unemployment. I still have a roof over my head and a family. It could be much worse I suppose. But then there are times like this when I wake up 3:00 am in the morning worried sick about my fate. I always thought I was supposed to be an artist... AND SO DID EVERYONE ELSE! But who am I and where am I going?

You have to be confident that you are constantly updating your resume and trying twice as hard as anyone else. That is the only way you will feel confident. Remember, there are alot of younger people out there, but don't underestimate experience.

You have been unemployed for over 2 1/2 years. That's more than enough time to recover from the shock and face your new reality. You apparently were an artist, but you don't say what type of artist. If you are a painter or have training in painting, start creating some paintings and sell them at saw dust festivals, art fairs, etc. The same applies if your talent is sculpting, making pottery, etc. You could also go to festivals, art fairs, street fairs, etc. and see what other people in your area are creating and selling to get some ideas. Do research on the internet. The important thing is to be proactive. This is your life - it's not a dress rehearsal. Discard the victim mentality. You owe it to your family to do everything you can to create an income stream. You can do it!

Even a few years ago, before the economy crashed, an assistant I worked with kept telling me how bad New Jersey was for the legal field.

All I am seeing in Hillsborough County is the schools hiring young (age up to 30) teachers. It's bad. The reality is to not expect to be an in-demand applicant.

At least you have a husband and your bills are getting paid.
I don't have that.