Friday, February 28, 2014

Winning the lottery

So, the eventfulness I referred to in my last post has concluded, which means I can now reveal that for many months Cosimo and I have been on the job market with the specific goal of solving our two-body problem. This wasn't something we fretted about much during the fall, but since mid-January, when we learned that we were finalists at two different institutions, it's been hard to focus on anything else. Thus my near-absence from this blog.

The good news is that we emerged victorious: we accepted a very strong offer and will be joining a department of talented teacher-scholars. I'll share more details soon.

But the reality is that whatever happened was going to come with a cost: either outcome was going to require our giving up some cherished friends and colleagues, some beloved spaces and places, and at least one city where we'd spent years trying to put down roots. As sorrows go, I grant that this is a minor one. Who feels sorry for the person who won the lottery? But although there's nothing to dislike about the future that's opening up, I need a few days to be sad about the other futures that won't be happening now.

I'll be back when I'm feeling more celebratory.

21 comments:

Sapience said...

Congrats!

life_of_a_fool said...

Totally normal to feel a little bittersweet. Congratulations!!! It's too bad it will come with some difficult goodbyes, but that is awesome news!!

Fie upon this quiet life! said...

WOW! Congratulations! What a year it's been for you! A book! A new job! Wow Wow Wow!

Fie upon this quiet life! said...

PS - Does that mean your school is going to be doing a search to fill your position in the fall? Because I almost applied this fall to the position they had advertised, and I didn't because I chickened out. But if they put up another Ren position, I would totally reconsider... ;)

Concord Fowling Pieces said...

Will you get to have as awesome a house? Good work!

Pantagruelle said...

Wow! Totally understand the bittersweetness since it's nearly impossible to move forward without also leaving something behind, but I'm sure it will be worth it in the long run. Congrats!

Flavia said...

Thanks, all. More at a later date. But for now:

Fie: yes, it's been a big year. I hope now to get back to actual work on my second book! (And no, not next fall.)

CFP: well, that's one of the sad things. But eventually, probably. The two cities have very similar housing stock.

Sisyphus said...

Condolences for having to sell your cute little house!

Congratulations for both of you getting lovely new jobs!

(And may you have better luck moving your cats than mine!)

Bardiac said...

Congratulations, and condolences for the bitter sweet. I hope the new place is wonderful for you both.

Comradde PhysioProffe said...

Schweet!

Historiann said...

This is terrific news. I understand your melancholy about what you'll lose. However, I've come to understand that this is endemic to the academic life. We're either the ones leaving for a new adventure and leaving behind old friends and comfortable places, or we're waving good-bye to colleagues and friends who are moving on to their own new adventures.

Nothing ever stays the same.

Contingent Cassandra said...

The bittersweetness makes complete sense to me. Change of any sort is hard; moving is hard; switching jobs is hard. But it sounds like the payoff will be worth it. So -- congratulations!

Contingent Cassandra said...

And I appreciate your describing it as a lottery -- though at this level, one has to do some very hard work (as well as perhaps win at least one earlier lottery) to win. Or, in other words, it's a combination of merit and luck, and I appreciate your acknowledging the luck (and congratulate you on the well-deserved results of much hard work; it's not like being eligible to enter by any means guaranteed a positive result, and there is very definitely merit involved; it's quite a compliment to have two departments thinking they'd like to have both of you).

What Now? said...

I certainly understand the mixed feelings, but I'm also really glad that you've solved the two-body problem. Living with one's spouse is a pretty darned good thing. I look forward to hearing all about the new gig!

Withywindle said...

Congratulations!

Susan said...

Congratulations! That's great news. The one thing about academic life is we rarely lose track of the people that matter - conferences ensure that we continue to see them - but it is hard to be uprooted!

Anonymous said...

Congratulations! I'd figured as much from your last post, having noticed the possibilities for you two in the fall job list. There are always, trade-offs, of course, but this is wonderful news. Shall we celebrate at RSA?

TG

Belle said...

Fabulous news and many congrats!

Renaissance Girl said...

Ah, living with the spouse. What a lovely idea. I'm happy for you both. Though it's true that all good dishes temper their delights with sharpness.

Dr. Koshary said...

Congratulations! I may just have to keep apologizing for belatedness for a while. Haven't been poking my head out of my cave much lately.

I'm looking forward to more posts about this triumph — even the bittersweet ones.

Flavia said...

Thanks again, all!

And yes, TG: let's do. As I recall, you have something of your own to celebrate...