A final update.

2012 ended up being a year of major changes. In June my wife was at a breaking strain with her job, and I knew my part-time bookkeeping job would never develop into anything that could support us. I happened to see a government job with an Indian related agency back in my home state. I decided to apply, was interviewed a few weeks later, and got a tentative offer the next day.

Although I had said we would not do so again, my wife and I had to separate for work, and instead of it being 150 miles away this time it was around 1500 miles away. I've been living alone for a little over four months. I'm hoping my wife can join me this spring.

It has been very difficult. I know I was out of work nearly three years and needed a secure job that I was not going to find in California, but I still often regret my decision. Not long after I left there was a promotional opportunity that would have been easier on my wife, but she could not try for it because I had made the decision to leave. She is leaving her job in a couple of weeks, and will work to get the house for sale over the next few months. The housing market seems to be improving, and we're hoping that things will work in our favor. She will have to do the work by herself, which makes me feel immensely guilty.

After a rough start due to lack of guidance, the job is going fairly well. I like what I'm doing, and I am more suited to the pace. But I know I don't want to settle in my home state long-term, and this job has no promotional potential. The step increases will be yearly for the first three years, then they will slow down. At that point, I think I will probably search for another job with another agency, because I do think at that point I will need to find something where I can at least get to the next highest pay grade [which would be good enough for the rest of my career.] But it's good enough for now, and it's good to not feel work stress. I know this is what needed to happen, but I still often wish it worked out some other way.

I spend a lot of time reading. My life feels pretty empty other than that. I'm hoping things will be better this spring, although there will still be things to deal with. Best to you, Imaginary Reader.