I can remember the excitement as I prepared to work for Sikorsky Aircraft. It was a job offer much like my current one and whith it a great opportunity. I had no clue what I was in for and I left behind my home and friends in Plattsburgh New York. Everything was a new and exciting adventure in Connecticut. In the end though, I was not cut out for corporate life and just wanted to get back to the mountains. I decided that I would give up a bit of my career for a quality of life that I needed. I needed the mountains for some odd reason and I couldn’t explain it. I moved to Missoula and it was the best move of my life. I have lost and loved here and wouldn’t trade the experiences for a pile of gold.

I eventually scored a job that I absolutely loved. The only problem was that I couldn’t pay the bills and the company couldn’t offer me any more. Enter my last transition. Since I switched from my first job in Missoula to the current one I have been tentative to make another job-hopping move and have been waiting for a real opportunity. Unfortunately Missoula never produced any real opportunity.

The job I am now leaving gave me a sense of being trapped in a bad decision. Moving from a job that I loved to one that paid more. The only thing that made sense is that was offered more cash that I needed to pay the bills. It was a whirlwind, starting with the scary interview, offer, and my acceptance. It all happened so fast I didn’t have a chance to back out and ever sense I have always had this sense of dread walking into the doors every morning. At first I was happy to finally start paying bills and get back into racing. It was a perfect bit of income so I could play. But all that dried up and the pay has even decreased. Time to move on and step out of a rut. Time to pick the lock on my cage and fly free.

I am going to work for Montana State University in the Information Technology Center and I am quite stoked. There I can grow, learn, and prosper unlike anything I have been offered in Missoula. So now I have a sense of freedom and optimism. Moving from a unhealthy situation to a nurturing one. And the best part is that the salary is double that of my current position. So making more not necessarily means I have to make a sacrifice. This feels good.

The only bad part is that I must leave Missoula. I do love this place but I am not unhappy to leave it. Sure I have great friends and a local network of mountain bike trails. And it is impossible to think I can live without the Bridge Pizza or Big Dipper Ice Cream. Just as the winds change so does life. I can stay put and wonder what all the doors would of opened into. I am jumping into this one and while I leave so many things behind I am optimistic the new adventure will produce happiness. I must follow the wind.