No Bad Decision?

No Bad Decision?

After much soul-searching and discussion with friends and collegues, I think I have it pegged. A good thing, because I have to talk to people about this today. I leaned towards Rural State U all weekend. I looked at flights. I dismissed the insanity of the distance and trying to adjust in three weeks while still teaching an online class. And came back again and again to a couple of things. It isn't TT unless it's in the contract. It isn't. And I have a one-year position that I would also like here. It starts later. And I can use the library at Flagship U, where they have 98% of the stuff I need right now, on the shelves, where I can get it. Rural U is entirely ILL. If I have to be on the market this year, I need to beef up the CV -- I will do that better where I have friends who will kick my ass. And I'll be an inside candidate for the TT job here, too.

I'm bummed, and kind of hope that Rural State will tell me when we speak that they have managed to make this the TT job I originally applied for, because I really think I'd love the job. And it turns out that my grandmother lived in Rural town as a kid, so there are family roots there ;-) But I just can't see risking so much on even the best of departmental intentions. Sigh. And I know I will be happy with local job.

Update: Rural State couldn't, although they said the worst case would be a continuing one-year -- also nothing they could put in writing. And I'm really happy I will be able to keep working on my paper without huge disruptions. I hate to say this (or maybe I'm just surprised to say it) but the kicker ended up being the accessibility of meterials. Knowing I would have to drive several hours to browse the stacks and find ANYTHING I might want was too much. I am remaking myself into the lion cub I started out as. I doubt I'll ever be leading the pride, but I'm also not going to handicap myself more than I have already. Miaow.