From Dictionary.com
v. set·tled, set·tling, set·tles
v. tr.
1. To put into order; arrange or fix definitely as desired.
2. To put firmly into a desired position or place; establish.
3.
1. To establish as a resident or residents: settled her family in Ohio.
2. To establish residence in; colonize: Pioneers settled the West.
3. To establish in a residence, business, or profession.
What, exactly, is settling? Two years ago I would have jumped at the chance to go someplace new. Now, when a great opportunity arises I’m thinking twice, even three times. I think about family, my current job, professional relationships I’ve established, opportunities which continue to abound where I am. I also fear a change, getting used to a new situation, new people, new city. I would be ready for this job, I could do this job. I’d be back in maps and geography not in gov docs.
But, what is more important? Being near loved ones or job/career movement? When does one trump the other? Can they ever co-exist?
Leaving Sunday August 6th from Chicago.
Returning Friday August 25th from Seoul.
Three glorious weeks in Korea.
I’ll admit to being nervous about traveling alone. It’s been quite awhile since I have. I know I will be ok, but it still adds a little stress to the trip. But it forces me to talk to people, ask for help and stretch my adventure comfort level 
I have no set itinerary yet. I know that from the 20th until I leave on the 25th I will be in Seoul. The two weeks before that are currently up in the air. I’ll post as I set things more in stone. Or not!
April was a busy, busy, busy month. Weekends full of working in the sound booth at MCT, a trip to KCMO to visit Drew’s sister as she graduated from massage therapy school and a party to shower her and Josh’s pending arrival. Then a weekend of painting and cleaning Meema’s new digs and preparing for the monumental move to the midwest.
Weeks full of meetings, job candidates, preparation for summer travel, next falls work and winter promotion file.
Now it is May and Meema has arrived, Drew is gone to Maine for 6 months, the semester is waning for me and I am looking forward to lazy summer months, traveling to Florida to spend time with my bro and Jenn and Paige, Emily and Sadie. To 4th of July spent in Duluth with Steph and Eric and hopefully Drew, 3 weeks in Korea and who knows what else awaits this summer.
There is a map librarian position open at the University of Tennessee - Knoxville. It is the job I applied for when I applied here. I didn’t hear from UT until June, months after I’d accepted the position here, because UT had been in the middle of a hiring freeze. The job would be awesome. I would only be dealing with maps. I would be in a library and a university system which has more recognition, money etc. But with those things also comes more responsibility. The opportunities for Drew in Knoxville would be way more than he is going to have here. It also means moving again to another place, starting over where there are no friends and no family. When does is become about being in one place, settling in, establishing roots, being known for who you are and what you do, being close to family and friends and not about the job? Someday we will have to go someplace else if we want to be a viable two income family, but will we? Knoxville offers a variety of different opportunities for both of us, but are they any better than the different opportunities here? How does one weigh and assign value to options here vs. options there. Will we really know when it is ‘right’ to move on to the next place?
to many unanswered questions.
I know that all of the things happening right now are happening for a reason, that thought is sometimes the only thing that keeps me above water. If it weren’t for having faith in the lessons of life I would have drowned a long, long time ago.