Quote Originally Posted by tulip View Post
When I stopped caring about the work I was doing, I knew it was time to move on. I admire those people like Mimi who can just do their job and not worry about it. I can't. It's what I do for most of my waking hours. It has to have meaning for me; otherwise, it feels like a waste (to me).

It's been 10 months since I left DC and started working from home as a consultant to non-profits developing affordable housing for people with special needs. I'm enjoying my work and my balanced life. Of course there are other options; there is not just one right answer. I want to do more garden design (paid) and get involved (preferably paid) in bicycle planning with the city (when they get their act together, that is), and maybe teach teach city planning or landscape design at a local college as adjunct faculty. I also want to teach pilates and kayaking, but I need some credentials for those two.

I took a paycut, but I also moved to a more reasonable city.

It took me a long time to make the move, but I'm glad I did. I can always go back and get a corporate or public-sector job in my field if consulting doesn't work out. But I have lots of projects currently to keep me busy (and interested) for the foreseeable future.

That's just my story. Everyone is different. I think that we know when it's time to change. It's just a matter of listening.
Tulip, i think what you are doing is awesome. I've just seen too many people with such expectations; expectations that no job could fulfill.
I'm glad everyone isn't like me!