But I did have some much better circumstances most recently.

I've worked from home for the last 6 years. The last 4 years they have allowed me to work a 6:30am-3pm shift during wrestling season so I could coach my kids middle school team.

The job has been extremely stifling of my once heightened thirst for new things and being creative. I'd love to get back to more of that but I haven't made much of an effort on the move because my work life balance is much more pleasant. I still feel I do a lot more work than a lot of other people at least 9 of the months out of the year. But having those 3 months to be more active in my kid's lives and no commute has tied me down.

Well yesterday I get the news that due to our division being purchased by Blackstone and the changes they are making my role has been eliminated. I will no longer be employed on June 1st. I now have no choice but to look for the job I once only passingly thought about looking for with the feeling I'd outgrown this job and was only able to work harder but no real growth.

My likely equalizer on the stress level comes now...forced into job hunting; and 5 kids still at home full time; a 6th home from her first year of college and putting in her paperwork for a mission; a 7th currently on her mission (home end of Nov/beginning of Dec); and an 8th in her 3rd year of college. Luckily the other 2 are out of the house on their own or with their spouse...

My wife started working for the first time outside the home after 17 years of marriage 3 years ago but only pulls in about $20k a year. It has only been a drop in the bucket that has helped with college student spending money and missions (2 oldest girls are recent RM's).

I do remember the long commutes - it used to be a 75 mile drive to work and then 75 more back home (Chicago traffic) the first 6 years with this company...

BTW - if anyone has any leads on anything...I have a bachelors in education (not a k-12 teaching certificate) and a masters in information technology. I've worked in the medical field (laboratory work while in the USAF) and in medical information systems as well as done IT Operations for HR/Payroll/Learning Management Systems on windows servers through out my career. I was previously PMP certified (lapsed) and I can do some coding/db/web development work. And I built and have lead a team of people for the last 12 years.

My wife was recently promoted and is in love with her new role (which has barely started) and doesn't want to lose the opportunity but would for us to move if the right thing came along. We currently are beyond the NW suburbs (more West than North) of Chicago.