I’ve been figuring out what to say in my Obligatory New Year’s post–resolutions and all that. Before I do that, though, I wanted to give an update on recent goings-on.
First, the writing: I’m making excellent headway in the latest draft of Mercenary Savior, and should be finished by the end of next week. WAFH is coming along too, but at a much slower pace. It’s hard to juggle a good book that only needs a polish with a crappy book that needs a complete overhaul, because the one that needs the most work looks so much worse in comparison. Still, I’m making progress on both.
I just recently noticed, though, that I’ve spent the last two years working almost exclusively on Mercenary Savior. Whenever I took a break to work on something else, it was never more than a month or two before I jumped into another major revision of that project. I worry that that’s going to handicap me, especially as I reach the point of diminishing returns. Mercenary Savior is an awesome novel, and I totally stand by it, but I worry…well, I worry too much. Let’s just leave it at that.
Second: jobs! To my surprise, a number of places have been calling me in for interviews and such. My first pick would most likely be with the BYU Political Science Department, since I already know everyone there and would probably love it. However, a number of other opportunities have been opening up, which means (inshallah) that I’ll probably be employed by the end of next month. Woohoo!
In the mid- to long-term, though, I’m thinking very seriously about teaching abroad. I interviewed today with a program that places people in South Korea, and that could be quite interesting. If I choose to go through with it, I’d probably be shipping out in September, hopefully after completing a TEFL certification program. After working there for a year or two, I could probably land a much more lucrative job in the Gulf, which could be an interesting experience.
Then again, I could stay here in Utah, where I’m much more likely to find a wife…
But you know what? I’m starting to think that that’s a horrible reason to stay here in the bubble. I don’t need to live in Utah to find the right girl (or, as my dad says, for the right girl to find me). She could be anywhere.
And as for all that stuff about the odds being better out here, I’m starting to think that’s a bunch of crap. Yeah, there are a ton of young, available LDS women here in Utah–but there are also a ton of guys, and the competition has like a gazillion advantages on me. I mean, come on, I’m a writer–what have I got on a Marriott School graduate? Even a pizza can feed a family of four…
So maybe I should spend some serious time abroad, even if it does mean fewer dating opportunities. In the meantime, I need to renew my passport and get a job. And who knows what the future ultimately holds? Maybe I’ll stick around. Maybe…
Regarding finding a spouse: you need to be where you are happiest and doing what you are meant to do. You can’t expect to just find a spouse when you’re unhappy about where you are. There are plenty of LDS women out there looking for a spouse…that DON’T live in Utah.
Plus, if you don’t want a “typical Mormon housewife,” why on earth are you living in Utah?
Having somewhat limited experience outside of Utah, I would say your odds of finding a wife here are significantly better, provided you’re at least aggressive enough to ask girls out. Once you’ve piqued a girl’s interest, the “competition” has almost nothing to do with it.
That said, staying in Utah exclusively to find a wife is kind of silly, and in that respect I completely agree with the above poster, especially in regards to wanting to avoid a “typical” Utahn.
Utahns tend not to be attracted to people who harbor bigotry against them. Zing!
(Admittedly that was a little unfair. But the rest of my advice stands.)
I didn’t move back to Utah to find a wife; I moved back because:
1) it’s one of the cheapest places to live in the country,
2) it has the best job market of any other state,
3) it has a thriving sf&f writing scene, and
4) most of my friends and family live here.
I mention the whole “finding a wife” thing, because other people (especially family members) bring it up whenever I talk about going abroad or moving elsewhere. I used to think that was a valid reason, but now I’m less sure. I’m not blaming anyone of anything, though; like most things, I suppose that the true fault for this problem lies with me.
Well. Hurrah for jobs. Work is a blessing. Be glad you are able. Good luck in the job search.
Don’t lump me in with those family members who bring up finding a wife. That said, I like the reminder comment that you have to actually date…
Thanks for visiting Gma and Gpa Stephenson. Family is most important as Gmp McQueen says!
Sounds like a lot’s on your plate. Good luck with all your endeavors there–I know I could use some luck in each of those things as well.
LOL hahahahaha I thought the comment about harboring bigotry against Utahns was heeeeeelarious.
I dated a zillion gazillion more people in Massachusetts than I ever did in Utah. I always thought it had something to do with the fact that in Utah, there’s always another girl more beautiful than me available for dating close by. But not so in MA. At least I FELT like I was the hottest single girl around, and that everybody wanted to go out with me. I was also an overly aggressive flirt who made it a game to date as many people as possible, which was actually not a great idea.
It really did have to do with beauty, though.