Finding "happily ever employed"

Sure, I've been unemployed before. Actually, I've been "between jobs" dozens of times. It comes with the territory when you make a living as a bird biologist. No big deal- it's a big world with limitless possibilities- there's always something great out there on the horizon. You just have to migrate. If it's summer, send your résumé north. If it's winter, head south. The birds have it all figured out. And so did I.

But this time unemployment seems different. This time I have... a husband, a dog, a boat, a mortgage. All together on an Alaskan island in a Norwegian fishing village.

Wait, what?! How did this happen?! Is that an iceberg floating by?!?

Well, this certainly is new territory. Territory that has, I-kid-you-not, honest to God, glaciers. And now even the forests are bereft of birdsong; southbound migration is underway. Winter is practically lurking on the horizon. I can't help but ask myself, "What do I do now?"

Usually, right now I'd be packing all my worldly belongings into my car, topping off the engine oil (don't worry, Dad, I won't forget), and watching it all grow small in my rear view mirror as I follow the birds to my next wage-earning adventure in a reasonable and comfortably warm climate.

But now... I couldn't drive off this island if I wanted to. Dan and I had talked about marriage for years;  it only took moving to Alaska with him to finally get that ring. I adore my husband, that sweet-talker that he is. And so, here I am to stay - for better or for worse - in Petersburg, Alaska; population 3,000 fishermen. This snapshot from our wedding, two months ago at the local fishing lodge, really says it all.

As a forester (and of course, part-time fisherman), Dan works out of a field camp located on a different (and even-more-remote) island. He and his field crew fly in by float-plane and stay a string of eight days straight. Dan works long, hard days in the old-growth woods, wearing striped suspenders and big lugged boots, and loves every minute of it. So now we are happily married, and Dan is happily employed.

As for me- I'm still working on my "happily ever employed" fairytale. And apparently, some get a thrill out of hearing my 'desperate housewives of Alaska' stories (thanks, Mom), so this is for you. Besides, what else have I got to do now, anyway?