Extreme Commuting

I mostly use the blog for the blogroll and not, obviously, posting. But, I thought I'd post a quick update for the one or two folks who may have their own time-sensitive blogroll and will see it...

On Thursday, I'll be leaving for Minnesota. The family is riding out with me, but will return to Canada on Labour Day. I'll be staying and teaching in Saint Paul for the indefinite future. Some think we're nuts, but here's the deal. We can visit - whether in New Brunswick or elsewhere - a few times a semester. I can come home for almost 7 weeks over the new year. I can come home for the summer, generally mid-May until the end of August. So, it's essentially 3.5 months x 2 away, with visits.

Why, you might ask, would we do this? Well, as a tenured full professor I simply cannot get academic employment in Canada. Too much seniority. Between the union environment (which I support) and the general preference for new and 'trainable' young blood... But, that's not so horrible as having taught as an adjunct here for the last three years, my gig in Minnesota is a better deal - it just happens to be in Minnesota which happens to be in the US.

"Yeah, but...," others might ask, "why not leave academia?" Because we chose to live in New Brunswick. I'm not bilingual, and the province is broke (not to mention, but I did, corrupt and nepotistic - is that a word?). If I even could find a job here - say, a decent government job - it would pay about half of what I make teaching in Minnesota. And, I could be laid off in six months. Things are not pretty here, not when it comes to employment.

"Ahhh" you say, "so it's all about the money?" Nope, not at all. I actually like what I do. But, of greater importance is job security and the fact that we have a ten year old who needs to be kept in clothes and fed. And, there's that pesky student loan debt... I can't afford to give up one of the most secure jobs in the continent only to find myself out of work six months later.

So, extreme commuting. I can't remember who coined that phrase, but I like it - though it's true I'm not going to be commuting, per se.

We'll have a blast on our road trip, seeing old friends and going, for the first time, to the Moosewood Restaurant in Ithaca. This is 10YO's - yes, if there are any long-time readers seeing this, 5YO is now 10YO - first trip back to Minnesota since we left in June 2008. He's going to get to see some of his pals - young and old - and we'll make a pilgrimage to the Great Minnesota Get-Together. P will get to savour some of her favorite things such as Fabulous Fudge Bars from Bread & Chocolate and dinner from Big Bowl. Yes, it's a chain, but she loves it. I'm thinking it will be a great trip!

I'll get settled in my temporary housing arrangement, walking distance from campus and set my office back up, sort of - I'm only taking five boxes of books and stuff. And, maybe I'll even find time to do some blogging. Right now I've got several trips planned since they're easy to do from a 'home' base in the States. E.g., In September I'm planning on going to visit my undergraduate mentor - and the reason I ever pursued graduate studies - who now suffers from Alzheimer's and has moved to assisted living. I'm planning on going on what is her birthday weekend and alumni weekend. And, I'll be visiting one of my best friends from my undergraduate days. In October, I'll be meeting the family in Atlanta. I may even arrange to visit some other friends I've not seen in a while. I figure I'm going to make the best of the fact that I have to be there! Before I know it, it will be December and I'll be heading back to spend over a month at home...