[joconde]

> I didn't mean to come across confrontational

Me neither :)

> Job searching doesn't work that way - if it goes well you'll end up with a bunch of offers that you'll need to accept or reject them within some time frame

In that situation, I would be ready to accept leaving in a few months. I would prefer to wait, but not if it brings salaries down significantly.

> It's always good to be employable, have relevant skills, be able to interview well etc. - this applies to good and bad markets.

That's good advice. I'll keep looking, but there's a difference between keeping an eye on the market and preparing to leave quickly.