I came to this board today looking for advice. I currently work for an insurance company with little to no growth prospects, job insecurity, and few transferable skills outside my industry.

Can you continue to work at your job AND get a Machinist's certificate? Lots of people hate their jobs but would not trade places with the 23 million people who are unemployed.
My husband has an MBA but that did not stop him from getting laid off twice in the past 12 years. Having said that, he was able to get a job at the age of 58 because of his previous qualifications and the MBA. He was very lucky to get that job even though he had to take a big pay cut. He is still at that job but will be retiring early next year. He has had enough. He works 12 hours a day and that's a normal work day for him and the people in his department. Because of the bad job market (financial services) people are being asked to do more and more work. There are looming layoffs coming at year end in the financial services industry here in NY.
I feel your pain but having to sell a house to raise cash due to a job loss is pretty scary. Been there. Cannot wait to get out of the city, downsize, and live a quiet peaceful life.