Comments on Reassigned Time: Musings on Academic Identity....

It might be worse somewhere else, sure, but what i...

2006-06-29T13:42:00.000-04:00

It might be worse somewhere else, sure, but what if it's better? Why not try? I heartily support academics who want to have a life!

it makes all the sense in the world to me. seeing ...

2006-06-29T12:31:00.000-04:00

it makes all the sense in the world to me. seeing down the road a bit is an important first step in actually going the right route.

we are just starting to tentatively talk about where we want to be in 5 and 10 years. maybe it takes a certain stability to be able to think this way (done with the degrees, with jobs, whatever). good luck.

polish up the c.v., cross your fingers, keep writi...

2006-06-24T15:59:00.000-04:00

polish up the c.v., cross your fingers, keep writing, keep drinking, keep hoping

eventually, with some compromises, you can have it all

good luck!!!

Wow, you've just described my fears exactly. What...

2006-06-22T14:43:00.000-04:00

Wow, you've just described my fears exactly. What if I teach myself into the ground and wind up an old cat lady in the process? There are literally no single men in their early-mid 30s in my teensy college town. Boooooo.

I totally get this. I hope I can see myself in a ...

2006-06-21T23:26:00.000-04:00

I totally get this. I hope I can see myself in a similar popsition in 5 years, even though I also hope that I will not want to move -- partially because the teaching load is supposed to eventually be reduced

You seem to suggest you worry that going on the ma...

2006-06-20T18:04:00.000-04:00

You seem to suggest you worry that going on the market again primarily for a better dating life is silly or something, but heck, people move jobs for spouses all the time -- why not for *potential* mates? (Of course, you probably still don't want to say that in the interviews! Te-hee! "Why do you want to work at X University, Dr. Crazy?" "Well, I hear the men in this town are smokin'!")

And wow -- do I know what you meant about identity and status at a conference you've been to as both a grad student and in your job now. (In fact, wrote a whole series of posts on Kalamazoo that said a lot of the same things at verbose lengths.)

who you want to become is an important factor, and...

2006-06-20T12:40:00.000-04:00

who you want to become is an important factor, and if you see yourself not becoming someone you want to be, seeking new options is the best thing to do. go for it and good luck!

I've been consistently impressed by how much resea...

2006-06-20T11:22:00.000-04:00

I've been consistently impressed by how much research and writing you've been able to do with such a heavy teaching load. It seems like going on the market from a 4/4 job isn't a detriment unless it's kept you from producing, which it hasn't. So why not see what happens? Unlike the first time on the job market, this isn't a win/lose situation--you have a job and a good attitude about your job so if you stay, great, if you get an offer in a place you'd rather be, with more support for research, even greater.

While you're at it, why not get a gig chronicling it at the Chronicle. Oh, I know that's usually reserved for whiny people who seem to have mind-numbing amounts of privilege, entitlement, and confidence, but maybe you could blow everyone's minds by being interesting and charming.

Regardless of whether you're projecting this outco...

2006-06-20T10:58:00.000-04:00

Regardless of whether you're projecting this outcome of being the unhappy spinster academic, or whether it is a real possibility, you must trust your own instincts and thinking. You've got a great brain... if it's telling you you might want to go on the job market and move, there's a good chance it's right.

And we all know you're building up the cred to eff...

2006-06-20T09:38:00.000-04:00

And we all know you're building up the cred to effect precisely such a move.

Oh, and by the way, if your enter key isn't working, you can still code in html breaks in blogger...

You want a job AND a life?Clearly, you didn't get ...

2006-06-20T09:04:00.000-04:00

You want a job AND a life?

Clearly, you didn't get the memo.

Seriously, there's no shame in trying to have both. If that involves moving, so be it.