I've told the firm, so now I can tell you: I've accepted a new job. In Fort Worth. With the SEC. I am over-the-moon excited and overwhelmed with a to-do list a mile long. We have to sell a house, move, buy a house, unpack, find new daycares, find new schools, meet new people, find new doctors, find new EVERYTHING. I don't know a single person in the DFW area. Having lived in Texas for 20 years and having gone to undergrad at UT, it's kind of amazing that I don't. I've only been to Dallas twice and Fort Worth twice. I never, ever would have thought I'd move away from Austin to somewhere more Texas-y. But I am and I am SO EXCITED.
I said this would be a year of adventure and it's going to start out with a bang!
(To get the back story, see New Adventures parts 1: the Application; 2: the Interview; 3: the Background; and 4: I got the job! Or, just click on the new tag "Ft Worth" to read them all.)
Squeeeee!
Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! When you'd mentioned DC as a possibility a few months back, I have to admit I was hoping you'd end up here, but this sounds like a wonderful, wonderful opportunity for you guys. When are you starting?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! This is so incredibly exciting! Best of luck on the move!!
ReplyDeleteHoly crap! Congratulations! You'll be awesome!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh! I need to go back and read the story, but congratulations!!!!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATULATIONS!!!! I'm so happy for you!!! (And envious, because I really really want to work for the feds. Though not the SEC, because despite BarBri's best efforts, I'm not sure I even know what a security is. But it sounds perfect for you!) While DC would have been amazing, how great that you can stay near your family! (Typing that, I realize I'm not sure where your family is, and I don't know Texas geography at all, so you might not be all that terribly near your family. But hey, closer than DC!)
ReplyDeleteCZ here. Go you! That is wonderful. What you want to do and possibly better balance as well. How cool you made a blanks on your resume for what you wanted to achieve, and you did it. I admire your goal-setting and achieiving. Must do more if myself.
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I'm a long time reader, but hardly ever post because I read on Google reader, but I had to post! I am planning on a job change this year as well. Looking forward to continued posts! Yay!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Speaking from VERY recent experience, these quick moves to places unknown are hard, but super super exciting too. Good luck and have fun!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteYou are in for a wild ride, but it will all be worth it in the end. We moved last August for my husband's job, and it was insane. It was roughly 2 weeks from the job application to the first day of work with a quick move in a Uhaul truck with a 7 month old and a thousand miles in between.
JP is right about following the dream job especially since your firm is in transition and you were thinking about making a change anyway. My husband (then fiance) followed me to Los Angeles for my dream job, and now I have followed him to Portland for his dream job. We both agree that even though those were tough moves, there were well worth it in the end.
I am sure you will find many familiar faces in DFW once word spreads that you are moving there.
Once again congratulations and good luck with all of the new beginnings.
Holy crap! Congratulations!!!! I am so so so so so happy for you!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, and I am seething with jealously. I have been looking for something new for forever!
ReplyDeleteWhat excellent news!! Your dream job... how many people can say that?! You're a very lucky girl! Congratulations and good luck with the move. When do you start??
ReplyDeleteI don't comment much but just wanted to say congratulations! Even though I don't know you, I was feeling worried for you with all of the overwhelming work that you have been doing. Your life is about to get a million percent better! So happy for you!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I never comment on blogs but I've been reading for a long time. I don't know much about Fort Worth (although I'm running a 1/2 marathon there in feb) but I live in Dallas and have a toddler if you have any questions about Dallas!
ReplyDeleteI always read and never comment but as someone who is days away from graduating for law school, and about to start a babylawyer job in Fws, and someone who grew up in FWs I had to. You will love it - great schools, great neighborhoods, great people. I would love to answer any questions you have about Funky town - which you ll now have to start calling Fort worth so you sound like a local
ReplyDeleteI am so excited to read about your new journey!! Congratulations -- this is so wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I can't imagine putting "dream job" and "SEC" in the same sentence, but get on with your bad self. Go investigate the hell out of those banks. (Just do me a favor and leave innocent tech startups alone.)
I am so impressed by your post on how you prepared by diving into securities law. I'm going to bookmark that. No, I'm going to print it out and keep it on my bulletin board. Inspiring.
Best of luck with the move.
I read but hardly ever comment, but just had to congratulate you! That's great! I'm a law student at Wesleyan in downtown Fort Worth and I LOVE the city! Let me know if you need any recommendations on great things to do. Both the Fort Worth and the Dallas Zoos would be great for the kids.
ReplyDeleteYAYYYYYY! love fort worth! also this means next time i'm home we can grab a margarita whoooo! :)
ReplyDeleteSO thrilled for you!! I lived in Dallas during my summers in college and really grew to love the entire DFW area. Many congrats on a job well-earned.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!! Loved hearing about how you researched and prepped for the interview.
ReplyDeleteAnd I'm definitely taking inspiration from how you decided that you needed to write an article and then DID IT!
OMG, that is huge. Congratulations!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteAwesome! Congratulations! Can't wait to hear more :)
ReplyDeleteThat is wonderful. A huge congratulations. That is such a leap and I am impressed. Cannot wait to read the rest!
ReplyDeleteI lived in Fort Worth for three years as a kid when my dad was stationed at Carswell (right before it closed). I have to say that, of all the places we lived growing up, it was one of my favorites! There was always so much to do. I don't know what of these things still goes on, but some of my favorites were:
ReplyDeleteShakespeare in the Park- free outdoor Shakespeare in the summer. Families would bring blankets and picnics and watch awesome shows. Even as a 3rd grader, I adored it.
The Botanical Gardens- specifically, I loved the Japanese gardens. Sometimes, they would have martial arts exhibitions.
The Museum of Science- we used to get a military discount at the Omni Theater, and for a little kid that was pretty unsurpassable.
The Stockyards- they do a cattle drive twice every day and there are some fun shops, museums, and other things to do.
The Water Garden- sculptural park with water features. You get to walk down inside some of them and the water cascades all around you. I went a couple years ago and it was a little scary, but as a kid I was fearless!
The Fort Worth Zoo- I don't know about now, but when we were there the zoo was incredible. It goes far beyond just animals stuck in sad cages. I remember getting to milk a cow once!
You guys are really going to love Fort Worth, I feel. If it is anywhere near as awesome as it was when I was there (which, granted, was the 90s) then it will be a great fit for your family. I can't wait to hear about this latest adventure!!!
Congrats! From a reader and fellow SEC lawyer (in HQ) :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! One thing you may want to consider is relocation support - I had a friend whose job it was to help families relocate - usually countries, but it may be worth the investment to talk to someone who knows all about schools, doctors, neighbourhoods. That said - it is still in Texas so the cultural shift isn't there and you'll navigate fine I'm sure!
ReplyDeleteI live in Allen which is about 20 mins North of Dallas, I'm not your neighbor but I am in the area. =)
ReplyDeletecongratulations :) i'd wondered if you would consider the SEC. it seems like a great choice for someone with your interests and leaves the door open to return to firm life down the road if you ever wanted to return (our firm has a small handful of partners who spent most of their career at the SEC). anyway, very excited to read about your new adventure.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteCongrats LL! My husband and I actually live in Houston now but we grew up in the Fort Worth area (near Texas Motor Speedway... but before the Speedway was there!) What part of town are you looking at?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! Really looking forward to reading all about your new adventures! So exciting.
ReplyDeleteHi LL,
ReplyDeleteI comment very rarely (although I love, love reading your blog - yes, I know - bad reader!) but just wanted to say that I'm very happy for you since you sound oh so very happy. I hope this move/job is all that you're hoping it to be and you all settle in well. Hug that husband of yours tight every day - he's a keeper!
Ash
LL, congratulations on earning this dream job! Life is too short to be stuck in anything that doesn't bring us joy and fulfillment - be that work, relationships, whatever. Go forth and conquer.
ReplyDeleteLL -- finally read the whole story... OMG do you know how to go about making things happen. Seriously, so happy your efforts paid off. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteHoly crapola! I have been out of blog land for five weeks and I have missed A LOT! I must go backwards now to the 13 posts I have waiting in my Google Reader and catch up on your life. And CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!
ReplyDeleteI am going through the whole career and future meanderings right now. So happy for you that you are doing what you really want to do and that you are inspired by it. What a gift to get that! How exciting!
How exciting! I live in the mid-cities, which are the suburbs between Dallas and Fort Worth (takes 15 to get to downtown FW and 30 minutes to get to downtown Dallas). I'm sure you don't want to get too specific, but are you moving into the TCU area? That would be great for a growing family: older, cool houses; 10 minutes from the arts district and downtown FW, and right near the FW zoo. I don't have kids, but if you want any other info, just let me know. I grew up in the metroplex, and I'm in FW all the time now.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!!!! Yay! So behind... Congrats!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! Good luck in FW!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! That's wonderful news. Career changes that you are happy about are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I have family & friends in FW. I'm sure you will feel right at home there in no time. We adopted a rescue puppy (Romeo)from Fort Worth in November. He is a doll. I can definitely hook you up with an awesome dog rescue community there. :)
ReplyDeleteKathy--engineer mom to 2 sons, 3 dogs and a cat
Congrats. I've needed an attorney at the SEC a few timmes before. So, now I kind of "know" one! Ha. Plus, the kids will love Great Wolf Lodge and you guys will love being near for the State Fair and TX v OU game!
ReplyDeleteCongrats! I was born/raised and currently live in Arlington, a hop, skip & jump from FTW. Fort Worth is my second home. You will love it. I would like to live there, if I didn't have both sets of grandparents in Arlington. Enjoy the new chapter in your life and if you ever have any questions, let me know!
ReplyDelete