My choices are limited.

I moved here because of a great job opportunity. For eight years, things worked out wonderfully, I could do no wrong and I prospered, both financially and personally. Then due to a management reorganization, I found myself in a professional cul-de-sac, constantly threatened by demotion, layoff, budget cuts and political maneuvering. And every year it gets worse, I just missed the axe last time.

After 5 years, I have a mortgage, a declining housing market, too much invested in the pension plan, and too many years under my belt to be hired at anything like the same level anywhere else. I'm trapped until retirement. If I'm still alive, I'll make my escape then.

What, me worry? Actually, I'm still better off than most of my colleagues. At least I'm out of debt and the house will be paid off in a couple of years. Most of them live lives of quiet desperation, they have no place else to go, and no time to get there.