My family has moved around a lot for my husband’s job. We try to focus on what we stand to gain — usually, it’s financial.
But, inevitably, you always lose things in a move. Some of it is just stuff — books and kitchen gadgets — but some of it is more ephemeral. Things you can’t hold in your hand or pack in a box. Things like identity, community, career, and financial independence.
I’ve spent some time mired in this sense of loss; believe me, it’s not a place you want to dwell indefinitely. My new novel, Em’s Awful Good Fortune, based on my life as a trailing spouse, explores the struggles and compromises between personal goals and family needs.
Ultimately, it’s a story about redefining oneself.