Living a good enough life: being more comfortable with achievements

[Catrin]

So true. I could look into getting waived into another state, but I refuse to take the bar exam again.

Is it common to have to retake the bar exam when you change states? I would hope that a waive would be possible with a certain level of experience...

[indysteel]

Is it common to have to retake the bar exam when you change states? I would hope that a waive would be possible with a certain level of experience...

It depends on the state, but my "experience" is somewhat different in that for the last 11 years, I've had a job with the Feds that doesn't constitute the "practice of law" in some jurisdictions. My first job out of law school with the state court of appeals was similar. So, I only have a few years of true practice under my belt, despite having been out of law school since 1996.

ETA: I'd add that one of things that makes me adverse to relocating--as much as I don't want to spend all my life in Indiana--is that I'm not all that excited about going back to private practice. The biggest reason I've stayed put all these years is that I'm perfectly suited for my current job. While my position exists all across the country, they don't come open all that often. When my boss leaves, I have every intention of trying to stay on with his replacement. If he/she doesn't keep me, then that could be a big cue for us to pick up and move. Assuming at least one of us is gainfully employed at the new locale, then we just need to accept the risk that it may take time for the other to find something.

That's one of the reasons that we're currently doing our best to live on just one salary and that smaller of the two at that. While many of our friends are "upgrading" to more expensive homes and cars, we're happy with what we have. Of course, once you're a home owner, it becomes harder to relocate, too--at least with the housing market as it is.

[Crankin]

Catrin, I think you and I are somewhat similar. I feel very risk averse compared to many people on TE, yet my friends think I am a crazy risk taker. I feel that my world has become somewhat narrow compared to some. I vacillate; there are some things I want to do, but I am stuck. I depend totally on DH for my income now, which, as I said before, is most unlike me! It has allowed me to change careers, but... today I am going on my second interview for a job that pays, well, about $35K. My last paid job was about 75K. I know I shouldn't find my self worth in my salary, but, to me, money is power in some sense. And independence. On the other hand, many saw me going back to school as a great risk taking adventure, but to me, school is very safe and comfortable. I've been in school since I was 3 years old!
I was pretty "wild" as a teen and I think my risk averse stance is somewhat of a rebellion against this. Also, I have had to fight my strong familial trend to be afraid of everything. I also think that the acceleration of technology has increased my risk aversion... hard to explain, but I feel like with everything being so connected and everyone using devices that I don't have or use, it makes me want to crawl into a corner and read my books!
But secretly, I want to do a lot of stuff, but it's like I don't have the will.
I've never been one to "follow the rules," so who knows where the future will lead.