a holiday of uncomfortable questions

if your holiday was anything like mine, it included family get-togethers where there's lots of food and chatting. while this part is innocuous enough, the inevitable question of "so, how's the job search going?" or some variation thereof pops up and silence fills the room.  while i uncomfortably try to swallow a suddenly dry piece of bread, i reach for my glass of water to take up some time before i mumble something about the recession and hiring freezes and that at least i'm doing okay since i had some money saved.  everyone kinda looks at me with a small amount of pity and then tries to change the subject.  or else, they all try to give me advice since those with jobs must know more on how to find a job.  while i understand everyone's just trying to be helpful and make conversation, the commenting sounds more like constant nagging and rehashing of a character flaw that i am very well aware of (it seems crazy but i do remember what having a job is like and i actually do enjoy having a paid purpose in life).  through the weeks, i have found that the easiest way to not get too irritated is by deflecting most questions with a certain amount of humor (ie. thank goodness i was born during the age of the internet or else i would be bored out of my mind).  also, i have found my number one stock phrase when questioned about what is it that i do: "i'm between things."