So, the next topic I said I'd write about is my dear husband's new job. This has been a long time coming, mostly due to the stress and workload at the previous job. Although it was a very good job, he came home every day exhausted (mentally), couldn't leave his problems there as there were so many, and could barely recover over each weekend before facing Monday morning again. Not fun.
He had said when he started there, that he hoped to stay at least 5 years, for the experience. He did end up there almost exactly 5 years (to the week) and learned a wealth of knowledge for future jobs and possibly owning his own business someday. But, it was time to move on. He felt obligated to stay for many reasons though, one of which was comments like "be thankful you have a job, so many people are out of work right now" (well meaning, but not very helpful). So, he'd grudgingly pull himself out of bed at 0430 and try his best to be thankful.
The last straw came last fall when he was taking a much needed 1 week of vacation (which was a rebooking for a canceled vacation in the summer, canceled by work, not him). His folks were in town and had agreed to watch the kids overnight so we could go to the beach for a getaway. While we were there (Tuesday, his second day off), his boss called and wanted him back "urgently" for work on Thursday and Friday. Being the good employee he was, he of course went back, but on the way home stopped in at a shop on our way to talk to them about a job.
The next step was updating the resume, and then getting it to that new shop. He also toured another shop while waiting where he knew someone. The shops both called him back wanting to hire him, but he ended up taking the first one in Kelso (where he had first stopped, had the first interview, etc). It wasn't an official interview, as Greg had just stopped by the shop again to talk to them. I was supposed to meet him in town that day after he had done that (1/2 hour later), but 4 hours later he hadn't called me yet, so I assumed either things were going really well or else really bad. His new boss is quite a talker, and he and his wife (who also works there) were just visiting all that time. Needless to say, I didn't meet him in town that day, as it was bedtime by then!
The transition came then in giving his notice at his old job, and starting the new one in reasonable time. We had really hoped for a warm, relaxing family vacation, so we were able to fit that in between jobs as well. His old boss made a very sweet offer in hopes that he would stay, but Greg felt he would throw up if he even considered it. That was how burnt out he was.
The new job started, and he loves it. The people at the second place he applied at is friends with Greg's new boss, and was joking at how the new boss "stole" Greg away from him because he was a few days too slow. Oops. That's the way it goes! At least Greg knows he has another option if this job doesn't work out for whatever reason (although he is loving what he does now). His boss is very laid back, and they have alot of fun at work, still while getting stuff done. Totally opposite his old ex-Marine boss. He also has some old customers who've shown interest in him, if he should ever be in the job market again.
And me, well, I'm glad to have my husband back. He's happy and relaxed, not distant like he was for so long. I felt like he'd either have a heart attack or end up on blood pressure meds if he kept up the stress level he was at. He now also gets every Friday off, so that's a good change in our household. His pay level went down, so we'll see over the long term how that affects us. So far we're doing just fine and know that God will provide for our every need.
He had said when he started there, that he hoped to stay at least 5 years, for the experience. He did end up there almost exactly 5 years (to the week) and learned a wealth of knowledge for future jobs and possibly owning his own business someday. But, it was time to move on. He felt obligated to stay for many reasons though, one of which was comments like "be thankful you have a job, so many people are out of work right now" (well meaning, but not very helpful). So, he'd grudgingly pull himself out of bed at 0430 and try his best to be thankful.
The last straw came last fall when he was taking a much needed 1 week of vacation (which was a rebooking for a canceled vacation in the summer, canceled by work, not him). His folks were in town and had agreed to watch the kids overnight so we could go to the beach for a getaway. While we were there (Tuesday, his second day off), his boss called and wanted him back "urgently" for work on Thursday and Friday. Being the good employee he was, he of course went back, but on the way home stopped in at a shop on our way to talk to them about a job.
The next step was updating the resume, and then getting it to that new shop. He also toured another shop while waiting where he knew someone. The shops both called him back wanting to hire him, but he ended up taking the first one in Kelso (where he had first stopped, had the first interview, etc). It wasn't an official interview, as Greg had just stopped by the shop again to talk to them. I was supposed to meet him in town that day after he had done that (1/2 hour later), but 4 hours later he hadn't called me yet, so I assumed either things were going really well or else really bad. His new boss is quite a talker, and he and his wife (who also works there) were just visiting all that time. Needless to say, I didn't meet him in town that day, as it was bedtime by then!
The transition came then in giving his notice at his old job, and starting the new one in reasonable time. We had really hoped for a warm, relaxing family vacation, so we were able to fit that in between jobs as well. His old boss made a very sweet offer in hopes that he would stay, but Greg felt he would throw up if he even considered it. That was how burnt out he was.
The new job started, and he loves it. The people at the second place he applied at is friends with Greg's new boss, and was joking at how the new boss "stole" Greg away from him because he was a few days too slow. Oops. That's the way it goes! At least Greg knows he has another option if this job doesn't work out for whatever reason (although he is loving what he does now). His boss is very laid back, and they have alot of fun at work, still while getting stuff done. Totally opposite his old ex-Marine boss. He also has some old customers who've shown interest in him, if he should ever be in the job market again.
And me, well, I'm glad to have my husband back. He's happy and relaxed, not distant like he was for so long. I felt like he'd either have a heart attack or end up on blood pressure meds if he kept up the stress level he was at. He now also gets every Friday off, so that's a good change in our household. His pay level went down, so we'll see over the long term how that affects us. So far we're doing just fine and know that God will provide for our every need.
