Howdy! I guess I'll introduce myself, especially since my situation seems to be a little different from most on the site.
I'm 42. Ex-schoolteacher who went back to school to get an environmental science degree. Graduated 4 months ago; still unemployed.
He's 41. US Army vet who went back to school to get the same degree. Graduated 16 months ago; working.
I live in Texas - still in the college town where we met - and he is now in Wyoming at Grand Teton National Park as a ranger and started last month in March. 1400-some odd miles away. His first assignment was for 6 months at Waco Mammoth National Monument, 1.75 hrs away from here.
We both knew by the second date that we were meant to be. We've both been married before, no children. He went to college for the first time after 13 years in the Army. I went back in order to change careers. Students our age are few and far between, so it was only natural that we'd meet eventually. A mutual friend introduced us at a volunteer event but I didn't think about him much. I was in a very tumultuous relationship at the time and was looking for a way out. Our mutual friends kept trying to push us together and, eventually, when I got rid of the boat anchor of a boyfriend, Joe and I went out and hit it off immediately.
We were together for only 10 months - 3 of which lived together - before he moved to Waco. I lost my $#!+ initially because we didn't realize how easy it would be for him to come down every week on his days off. Once we figured that out, things went a bit smoother. Still hard, but doable.
When he accepted the position at GTNP, I was crushed. I knew I couldn't find work up there (plot twist: can't find it here, either) and with Jackson - the nearest town - being all about resorts, off-park housing would cost a fortune. Although the initial arrangement was that I would go after my lease expired here in Texas, it's become painfully obvious that our scenario isn't going to happen. Not to mention that I don't want to be 16 hours away from my parents and I hatehatehate snow and cold weather.
Not only is my immediate future completely uncertain (I have no idea where I'm going to live come July 12th. I have nowhere to go and no job as of yet), but even after his 2-year stint in GTNP, we have no idea where he'll go next. The national parks system is uber-screwed and there are very few permanent positions available, so rangers move around quite often.
We're on the phone most of the evenings every day and video chat about once a week and text pics of interesting stuff in our lives every day. The only problem, besides the separation, is that our conversations are mostly silence. I guess that just comes with staying on the phone with someone for literally hours every night. It's just nice to know he's there, I guess.
We're both very depressed. He's completely isolated up there with no real way to make friends and there's virtually nothing to do. I still do things around here that I used to do on occasion, but I don't see my friends very often and don't go out like I used to. I've always seen a psychiatrist - about once every three weeks - but I've bumped it up to once a week now. My symptoms are very severe now and his aren't good either, but he hides it well.
Anyway, I'm sorry this was so long. It's hard to find people who are or who have been in the same situation, so I'm hoping I can find and give support here. If you made it this far, congrats! I'm glad to be here.
I'm 42. Ex-schoolteacher who went back to school to get an environmental science degree. Graduated 4 months ago; still unemployed.
He's 41. US Army vet who went back to school to get the same degree. Graduated 16 months ago; working.
I live in Texas - still in the college town where we met - and he is now in Wyoming at Grand Teton National Park as a ranger and started last month in March. 1400-some odd miles away. His first assignment was for 6 months at Waco Mammoth National Monument, 1.75 hrs away from here.
We both knew by the second date that we were meant to be. We've both been married before, no children. He went to college for the first time after 13 years in the Army. I went back in order to change careers. Students our age are few and far between, so it was only natural that we'd meet eventually. A mutual friend introduced us at a volunteer event but I didn't think about him much. I was in a very tumultuous relationship at the time and was looking for a way out. Our mutual friends kept trying to push us together and, eventually, when I got rid of the boat anchor of a boyfriend, Joe and I went out and hit it off immediately.
We were together for only 10 months - 3 of which lived together - before he moved to Waco. I lost my $#!+ initially because we didn't realize how easy it would be for him to come down every week on his days off. Once we figured that out, things went a bit smoother. Still hard, but doable.
When he accepted the position at GTNP, I was crushed. I knew I couldn't find work up there (plot twist: can't find it here, either) and with Jackson - the nearest town - being all about resorts, off-park housing would cost a fortune. Although the initial arrangement was that I would go after my lease expired here in Texas, it's become painfully obvious that our scenario isn't going to happen. Not to mention that I don't want to be 16 hours away from my parents and I hatehatehate snow and cold weather.
Not only is my immediate future completely uncertain (I have no idea where I'm going to live come July 12th. I have nowhere to go and no job as of yet), but even after his 2-year stint in GTNP, we have no idea where he'll go next. The national parks system is uber-screwed and there are very few permanent positions available, so rangers move around quite often.
We're on the phone most of the evenings every day and video chat about once a week and text pics of interesting stuff in our lives every day. The only problem, besides the separation, is that our conversations are mostly silence. I guess that just comes with staying on the phone with someone for literally hours every night. It's just nice to know he's there, I guess.
We're both very depressed. He's completely isolated up there with no real way to make friends and there's virtually nothing to do. I still do things around here that I used to do on occasion, but I don't see my friends very often and don't go out like I used to. I've always seen a psychiatrist - about once every three weeks - but I've bumped it up to once a week now. My symptoms are very severe now and his aren't good either, but he hides it well.
Anyway, I'm sorry this was so long. It's hard to find people who are or who have been in the same situation, so I'm hoping I can find and give support here. If you made it this far, congrats! I'm glad to be here.
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