Thanks for your concern--I am hoping with everything I have that I get this job. I've talked with a psychiatrist and a therapist and they both agree that getting a different job would be the best option because of how well I did with my last job (since it was a similar field, but I had a far better boss)--everyone I know professionally says I am meant for this field and they know that I am doing my best in a shit show of a work situation (funny thing about bosses--there seem to be so many bad ones, huh?). I won't go into too much detail, but the situations I've been put in are quite probably illegal. I can PM you if you're interested in specific details.
Congrats on the weight loss and attempting to get back out there! I didn't mean to, but I lost a lot of weight after starting my job because of the stress. One of the specialists I saw recommended changing my diet and exercising more, which worked wonders for me. I did it consistently while I was off work for a month or so (since I'd been to a doctor and switched meds 3 times, I took some time off work so that I could be sure the meds weren't going to send me spiraling into depression/anxiety, which happened every time I got switched). It does make a huge difference--I gained back the weight and I felt great. It's amazing how a few simple changes can help turn things around.
I know it can be hard to keep up if you are getting calls left and right. After my third offer, I got a call from a company I applied to about a month before (after taking two screening tests and passing, and calling the company to follow up, with no response). I never called them back because I was so overwhelmed from receiving 3 offers within three weeks. Call back on the places you're interested in, if you're up for it. Maybe you can give some places a call now and see if they are still interested, and let them know you're currently interviewing for another position and would be willing to schedule something next week? I don't mean to tell you what to do...I don't know much about research and development. A friend of mine with a degree in science/chemistry (I think?) was able to find something semi-quick after being laid off. I'm in education, so it's much harder finding something in my field, but because I have a job already in the same school district, I am hoping they'll want to just place me in that job rather than spend time and money vetting an external candidate, processing his/her paperwork, etc. Every situation is different.
It's good that you are aware of what you want out of a job--makes it so much easier to find the one you want! I had to learn this the hard way, too, since I'm 24 and still don't entirely want to know what to do with my life in spite of the fact my resume says otherwise. This will be good when it comes to the interview, since you are more aware of potential problems as well as where you thrive.
Kittens are hard work, for sure! I like older cats because they are not as needy, and they are a lot less crazy if you leave them alone for extended periods of time. It's a trade-off, though, because you can train kittens out of bad habits to some extent, whereas my cat has some quirks that he's not likely to grow out of. BUT I learned to play with my cat for at least 10 mins a day twice a day and he doesn't wake me up at weird times of night as often. I do get what you mean about living in a studio, though--my apartment is a loft with no doors (except for the bathroom) and my cat and dog can come in and bug me anytime of the morning. Good thing the bastards are cute...
I was very obsessed with being homeless, living for as little as possible, moving to cheap areas...all these sorts of things...obbssessed with those ideas when I left my last job. Those thoughts are MUCH more reserved now, but I think the theme is something I'm interested in.
This is so weird, because I had similar thoughts back when I went on medical leave this October. I've read a lot of the Transcendentalist and Beat generation stuff (being an English major in college and all), and their words rattled around in my head, and still do. Part of me just wants to drive out west and crash with a friend of mine who lives in Nevada (even though I live out here in Ohio), or my sister's boyfriend who lives in California--or go find my sister who lives in Arizona, or a colleague of mine who lives in Colorado...part of me wants to live like Jack Kerouac, even though I know that's not feasible. -I asked my former boss in October if it was possible that the job I turned down was still open, and she was willing to get me part-time work, but the full-time position was gone. I feel that I can't go part-time, though, because I'm supporting my fiance, who is in grad school and working part time as well...But anyway...
I hope you're able to sort everything out! Sometimes a pro-con list can help, even though it sounds like you've made up your mind somewhat. I like talking to my therapist, though--she is great to bounce ideas off of, especially when I feel indecisive about something. She is my guide to life.