This is why those of us who have chosen to build a life of teaching and discovery in a small college town need to be more vocal about the reasons behind this choice.
Choice, eh? What lies wouldn’t people tell themselves to feel better. Like academics ever get to choose where they live.
I have spent a lot of time talking up my place of residence — to myself. Most academics have very, very limited range of choices, especially if they want to optimize for quality of institution plus spouse’s ability to find a job.
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Exactly. One comes up with ways to get to like a place but calling it a choice is way too escapist.
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” Like academics ever get to choose where they live.”
To be fair (without reading the link because that site? I don’t think so). It’s possible they’re writing generically. Going into academic a person is far more likely to end up in a small to mid-size college town than an international center of business and culture….
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I don’t blame you. That website is getting worse than Shakesville.
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Wait! Is this a problem only for academics? Only the truly wealthy get to choose their geography and lifestyle. The great American work ethic is keep your nose to the grindstone and stop complaining. As if a displaced, middle-aged factory worker has only himself to blame because he continues to live where he is? All he has to do is Pack up the truck and hit the road and he’ll find that magical place where milk and honey and good paying jobs abound? How’s that for a lie?!
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Very true. This is no longer a choice for anybody who wants reliable employment and professional prospects.
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A conservative literary critic and college professor
Clarissa's Blog 
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