Thread: Hey World, you can have my money but you can't take my spirit!

So I looked around and didn't see a board that specifically mentioned stresses of the working woman...so I decided to come here though this is sort of a downer for this board.

At this point, I'm so fortunate to have a job. I've had the same job for almost 3 years (automotive industry) and I've watched nearly 40% of our workforce be let go. On top of that, and the daily fear of losing my job, nearly every company has hiring freezes on and are laying off employees of their own. Makes for a pretty tough situation. So, I have found myself at the point with my job (as others have as well) that I'm scared to complain, to stand up for what I know is right, to WANT a raise, to expect ANYTHING from my company. I've become someone in my job that is so scared I'm willing to accept whatever they throw at me.

This week a job opportunity has arisen (would require moving). Sounds like a very high stress high profile job, nothing I couldn't handle, BUT frequent travel required. But here's the thing about me, I'm single, I live alone, and I have a wonderful dog who has become like family to me. She is my responsibility....my "child". If I move to a town where I know only one person, and then I have a job where I am required to be travelling more than I'm home (may or may not be the case), then I can see myself being very unhappy.

It's frustrating and nowhere throughout schooling does anyone prepare you for economic recessions. Do I plow forward and pursue a job I think will make me unhappy, or do I stay in a job which I go into daily with fear of being let go? I know no one can answer that for ME, I just wonder if anyone else is feeling this tremendous pressure? I am a free spirited person, and I feel like the world today is continously trying to break my spirit.