I need opinions. I know all of you are good at voicing them....

[louielouie2000]

I say go where your heart leads you. I found myself in very similar shoes last year. I detested my job with every fiber of my being. It had turned a very happy go lucky, light hearted person into an angry, bitter man. I had a GOOD Federal job... more than a month of paid vacation a year, free healthcare, dental, and a decent salary. But I worked under the crappiest possible management from the stone ages. I was continually the highest performing member of our whole department... which I think threatened certain department heads. They took extreme pains to sneak around and spy on me, and make an example of me if they thought I wasn't doing exactly what I was supposed to, when I was supposed to being doing it. I went high up in our organization trying to take care of it... but nothing ever happened. Except I got angrier and more bitter.

So when it was announced last summer that my department was taking voluntary buyouts, I took the offer without a second thought. It wasn't the smartest move financially to give up a solid job in this market... I'm still out of work. But I still wouldn't do it any different. I feel like a tremendous weight that I'd been carrying around for YEARS has been lifted. I am glad I haven't gone back to work yet either... I needed the break to calm down and let off some steam, and get my mind straightened out. I know the next place I work for I will go in with a different attitude. The thing is, we only get one shot at life (as far as I know). Why waste it on being miserable?? You'll figure it out... go for it. Follow your heart.