WR,
It happened to me and at least two other guys in my club, all in our 50's. They both had wives with decent jobs, and my wife went back to substitute teaching. Sorry for the disenchantment this may cause, but none of us ever got back to a "real" job. For the first six months it was: "you've been making too much money so we can't talk to you." Then it was: "You've been out of work too long so we can't talk to you." Good friends in the hobby sure helped maintain my sanity. I work part time for one of my clubmates. Keeps a few brain cells active.
Chuck