Being who you are, and other stories . . .

I had a bit of a revelation on Saturday. I was at Mum's for an Easter lunch, and after everyone else had left Mum and I were chatting about this and that. We got to talking about the future and what I might do with it. When I started at the Montessori school, everyone I knew heaved a huge sigh of relief and said that now that I was back in Perth and teaching at such a great school, maybe I would just stay put for a while and maybe this job would do me for a good whack of my career. I agreed, I wanted to stay. But deep down I wasn't sure, and even as this term has passed I've become aware that I still have itchy feet. I still have dreams that are unfulfilled and paths I'd like to take before I run out of time. So Mum and I were talking about how I still thought I wanted to teach in England eventually. Mum - although obviously reluctant to encourage that particular plan - pointed out that the longest she's ever worked any job was for 5 years, and that was a bit of a fluke. In general, she hasn't gone more than three years without at least changing position (such as maths teacher to computing teacher) and a lot of the time she's changed career or path entirely. Itchy feet, career-wise, is in my blood. That made me feel a whole lot better. It's true. Switching careers, roles and locations is probably an inherent part of my personality and I should stop trying to fight it. Since that realisation I've felt much more relaxed about the future. I don't need to convince myself that I love my school so much that I'll stay there forever. I won't. I know I won't. I might go and come back but sooner or later I will need something fresh and new. That frees me up hugely. I don't need to commit to being somewhere for 20 years. I just need to be happy where I am until I decide it's time to move on.

My long term plans do include teaching in England. I will do it eventually. It'll happen. Mum and I came up with a budget plan that, if I manage to follow the key points of it, will get me out of debt in about 5 years' time, and well and truly in control of my finances long before that. It won't be long before I'm free to do whatever I like and will have the money to do it.

So . . . I'm not a settler, I'm a wanderer. So be it :)

Addendum: I just chatted to Mum on the phone, and she reckons that after I have kids I won't want to be a teacher anyway. But, in her opinion, that's fine because by then I'll have my next degree and I'll become a book editor. I could do that :D