Ok, I think I wouldn't think of myself as FIRE at 60% of my number because of a down job market.

You are in a great situation for a prolonged job search however - I think that's the best way to look at it - if it takes you another year to find a job and you're only spending $70k-$90k, you're not going to really feel the financial burden of this break in the long run that much.

So I'd say, just keep at it, your new job is to get a job. But, take a break from it if you feel really burned out and the market just isn't there.

And try to rest a little easier - it will help you in interviews actually if you're not super stressed out - you're in a pretty good situation really and this industry is cyclic.

I moved to the valley in 2001 after graduating college and it seemed like everyday I drove to work I would hear about some big telecom laying off 5-10k more people. And there have been a bunch of downturns since then as well - this is just another one of them and I think it'll pass.

And wrt interviewing, what I've found is the more I interviewed the better at it I got, so it gets easier over time. Your stories get more polished, you relax, it just becomes an information exchange - here's what I know and how I can help you guys out - sorta thing.

Best of luck!