13 Weeks...

Believe it or not, I am at the end of the 13 week contract which set a whole new life in motion for me. In so many ways it seems as though I just started on this journey. In other ways, I have now settled into a life that fits as comfortably as a pair of worn slippers. In all ways, I am glad that I took the risk, followed my heart, and stepped out of my uncomfortable comfort zone.

The 13 weeks have flown by. What seemed like more than enough time to see and do all that I hoped to see and do here in the mountains of Tennessee now seems like hardly enough time to learn what there is to do and where to do it let alone accomplish it all.

The drill for a travel RN is that about halfway through a contract, the recruiter and the RN begin talking about what to do/ where to go next. So, back in the early part of November, "my new best friend, the recruiter Jim" and I started such a conversation. Keeping in mind that when I first investigated this whole way of living and working it seemed as though there were endless jobs here in TN, I first asked to be relocated to some place that would be closer driving distance to Caleb. Granted, 90 minutes is far better than 13 hours away as I was in Florida but still, that makes for a chunk of time I could otherwise be spending with him instead of playing musical lanes with the truckers on the interstate!

All hopes of locating to the Knoxville area were dashed when I learned that for the most part that city uses a local staffing agency to deal with short term staffing needs and travel RNs are a thing of the past there.

Next, "Recruiter Jim" and I started talking about what other states were close enough if I found a job on the border closest to TN... the best bet seemed to be a place called Franklin NC... also 90 minutes from Caleb who lives in Sevierville TN (home of Dollywood and many other attractions) So, in the midst of autumn's splendor, I took a daytrip to this place called Franklin. What a quaint little town! And so picturesque! I fell in love with it immediately. Apparently so did several other nurses and one of them got the job before my contract expired here in Kingsport.

By the time end of November rolled around, I was looking at the bleak possibility of having to return to Florida if this place didn't renew my contract. And, for the record, they had been telling me for weeks that their goal was to be "traveler free" by January 1. Reason? We travel RN's are tough on a budget! They of course offered me a job as a staff nurse but.... I am not ready to commit to that. Besides, if I were going to do that I would go to Knoxville or even Sevierville to be right near Caleb.

It was the proverbial eleventh hour when I got a call from Jim saying that the hospital here wanted to renew my contract if I was still interested in doing so. Why? The nursing shortage is alive and well (unfortunately) here in Kingsport TN just like it is in so many other places across the country. And so, I am happy to announce that I am staying in Tennessee for another 13 week contract which will end on March 17th - St Patty's Day - and since I am Irish, I guess that is the luck of the Irish indeed!

Tim and I have been in daily conversation about the prospects of what next? He still isn't ready to scale back his hours or to commit to any real change in his lifestyle or our relationship. I am not ready to go back to a place that just seemed to drain so much of my life energy from me. That all being said, a real distinct possibility has presented itself. My dear friend and sister of my soul, AnnMarie is encouraging me to take a 13 week contract in Arizona in the spring. She lives in Green Valley which is near Tucson.

My recruiter tells me that the company I am working for "has a very strong presence in New Mexico and Arizona" SO, I am going to go for it! I have begun the process of applying for a nursing license in Arizona and already have my recruiter planning ahead for springtime in Arizona.

Now, I am the first to admit that it is so NOT ME to be wanting to pick up and move hither and yon. As AnnMarie says, I am a "nester" by nature. But, I am also experiencing the freedom of a woman who is finally realizing who she is, what is important in life and how to acheive happiness. I am living life in a way I have never given myself permission to do... for me!
I have reminded myself that going to Arizona for 13 weeks means being away from Caleb for that long. But I have also reminded myself that I can always come back to the Tennessee area in the summer when he is out of school and remain here in the fall again..... unless by that time life proves that something/somewhere else is a better choice for me.

It is nice to have the freedom and flexibility to do this travel nurse thing... It is nice to know that no matter where I work I am appreciated. It is nice to come home to my kitties and the peace and quiet that I used to only long for but never get. It is nice to begin to experience life on my terms instead of everyone else's terms. Life IS good!