We are both in our early 30s, no children, and we probably won’t have children, given to how unstable his career is. He once was laid off for 27 months, once out of town for what was supposed to be 4 to 6 weeks, but ended out of town for 4. Per hour his pay is very generous, but when you consider he often only works half he year (if we’re lucky), his yearly pay is pretty average.

He is not generally fearful. Often, he is a rock to me. However, he is highly concerned that moving won’t make things better for us.

Thank you, Anita, for your reply.

Yes, I have told him a number of times that I don’t like it here, without trying to make it sound like I’m nagging. I have told him that I live here because of him. I did tell him at the beginning of the eight years, but we both chalked it up to me being homesick. I have mentioned it to him in subsequent years, as well. He knows I don’t like the place, as he has said to me, “I know you don’t like anything about this area.”

He responds by being genuinely sad that I am unhappy. However, anytime I make suggestions that I look for another job in a different area or suggest a job posting for him that he would be qualified for, he gives me some logic-laden response why we should just stay put.