I have been asked many times over the years whether my job is "permanent" or not. I always found it amusing, obviously they generally mean is it a fixed-term c

I have been asked many times over the years whether my job is "permanent" or not. I always found it amusing, obviously they generally mean is it a fixed-term contract, or probationary, or whatever, but in industries where layoffs and bankruptcies are regular occurrences it's a pretty meaningless distinction. I've been known to reply flippantly with "well, I'm only alive temporarily."