Why is it so hard to find a notary?

Okay. Some time ago I lamented about how hard it was to get a hardship withdrawal from my 401(k). I finally did it. I got the paperwork I needed and filled out and submitted the application today.

I got a 3-day eviction notice from the apartment complex. Before anyone freaks out, that was at my request. In order to get a withdrawal to keep from getting evicted, the almighty "Pension and Benefits Committee" needs something official stating the amount owed and a date of eviction or foreclosure. This was the best my apartments could do. The assistant manager thought it was a little strange that I was asking for an eviction notice before my rent was even late, but she obliged anyway.

And while I was at it, since I could take a hardship withdrawal to pay for school, I enrolled in 2 classes: 6 credit hours. Maybe I'm certifiably crazy. I have until 22 August to fully make up my mind. But in any case, I'll have the money. School seems to keep getting more and more expensive. These six credit hours (with all the fees tacked on) gave me a bill of over $1000.

Moving on, we get to the title and reason for writing this post: I went to 4 places before I found someone who could actually notarize the application for me. First, the benefits department at my company, where I went with the unsigned form, husband and son. I was advised there that the notary in their department is out for a couple of days. Okay, so much for an easy one-stop deal. Next, the bank branch inside the grocery store where we know the branch manager. I was waiting for them to notarize an affidavit of forgery from yesterday, so I thought I'd get both things done. No dice. My affidavit was sent to the main office security guy and they were going to make copies and there's not actually anyone in that branch who's a notary. So then I went across the street to the UPS Store, where I had talked to the notary there earlier in the day and he assured me he was in until 6:00. Wrong answer. We walked in and the guy behind the counter said that the notary was already gone. He suggested a different bank just down the street. There's a freestanding branch of my bank that's behind the grocery store we just came from so we went there. And caught the assistant manager who is a notary just as he was leaving. Yes! Application complete, signed, notarized. And free since we're bank customers. And all this in the blazing southern afternoon sun.

And perhaps I should throw in for good measure that yesterday I already checked with my friend Jon whose mother was a notary and had notarized some things for me a few years back. She is no longer in the banking industry and let her commission expire. So...in my quest for a notary: friend's mother, corporate benefits office, grocery store bank branch, UPS Store, freestanding bank branch. Maybe I should become a notary.