some people fall off the ladder. some people fall off of the grid. some people have a way of falling off both simultaneously, without even an inkling of regret. but it’s not an easy path.

some people exert everything they have towards the goal of being somewhere elsewhere from where they are now. which is sometimes a cruel necessity. and sometimes a luxury. but does it make it any easier or any harder to be where one is right now?

i am not sure how i would answer this question if it came up at a job interview (but it helps to be prepared). i might tell the search committee that living with one foot out the door takes its toll on the foot that’s inside the door after a while. and then the foot that was out the door might fracture under the shift in weight that was caused by the fatigue of the foot that was still in the door. that’s one possibility

another possibility is that leaving that door slightly ajar let’s in the air. and sometimes all one really needs is air, just a tiny bit of air, to get things flowing. sometimes that’s all you really need when you’re basically just trying to get your foot in the door. but that door is always somewhere else.

i’m not sure which answer the search committee would want to hear. the last time this question arose, i told the search committee, just tell me what you want me to say and i’ll say it. but in retrospect, i can see that this wasn’t the best answer. but it was the best answer i could offer. especially since i could not even recall the question.