Severance is a good thing. Obviously, I am in favor of leaving sure things that are making you miserable for uncertain things that are likely to make you happier. Midlife is a perfectly cromulent time to have a crisis, and the severance gives you a reasonable financial footing in which to have it. You might check out some books like Simon Sinek's "Start With Why" to see if you can't suss out a path you might like to explore.

Yay for new furniture and rug! I loved our tile floors in the end, and they were very handy for the pup. The new house is all hardwood, and then tile in the kitchen and bathroom.

Hope that works out, meara. Silly salesperson.

Pretty, Scrappy! I'm sure it will really tie the room together. (I can't help it, it's a sickness)

-t, that's just what we said about it. :)

I think severance and making the best choice for your health and family is a good thing.

Although I'm 44 and returning to work in retail so there is that.

I do like my job and I'm glad I took this job. I got my first survey compliment!

Also the Ritilan seems to be making a difference.

Glad to hear that, askye!

That's great, askye!

Nice living room, Scrappy!

Jessica, the restaurant is really a viable thing if you can find investors. But, speaking as someone who has worked in a small private eatery for the last almost three years, you would really need to identify why the restaurant is failing now, and how you would change that.

Plus, what everyone else said about crazy hours, etc. That said, there's a lot of joy to be had in creating a space where people love to come and eat, and you develop a lot of really awesome relationships with regular customers.

Jessica, the restaurant is really a viable thing if you can find investors. But, speaking as someone who has worked in a small private eatery for the last almost three years, you would really need to identify why the restaurant is failing now, and how you would change that.

So Much this. The restaurant I'm at right now is losing money because it's big (like a city block long), and it's set up to be a dinner house. The current dining trend is away from old-school white tablecloth, especially for lunches, and so our business is suffering. There's not much that can be done about it except trimming shifts to the bone.

Jess, take the severance package. You won't get any happier by waiting it out.

I'm in the same boat, including the need to figure out what I would do besides what I do now.

I'm going to buck the trend, and tell you if one of your goals is to spend time with your kids, stay the hell away from owning a restaurant. My father was never around--he woke up after we went to school and came home long after we were in bed. We got Sunday mornings with him, because the pizza shop didn't open up until 4. When we got our liquor license, we started opening at 11 on Sundays and that was the end of that. He was late or absent for games, dance recitals, doctors' appointments, and anything else that you could think of. It has given us a great life and in January we'll have been in business for 37 years, but it has also taken away a lot. My dad is still up there every day at age 78, my sister is physically falling apart and doesn't get a day off now because we can't find people who want to work, and even though I managed to avoid getting sucked in full-time, I still get the call to help when employees don't show. I run the social media and handle the website because I'm the only one that has time to do it (I really don't, but what am I going to do?), and I fear making weekend plans in case I have to cancel. Instead of handing out candy tomorrow night, I'll be working at the shop. We get slammed on trick or treat night, no matter what.

If we want to eat together as a family, we have to eat at the restaurant. My sister is constantly crunching numbers because the price of ingredients is skyrocketing, but we can't raise the prices too high or we'll lose business. We've been robbed five times, twice at gunpoint.

On the good side, we've made some wonderful friends and our customers are usually awesome. We're into our second generation (and a few third) generation of customers from the same family. We've been part of the lucky few that have made a successful go of it. For a long time, it was truly a family affair because all four of us helped out. Even when we were at odds, it was fun. We could never leave work at work though, and it has made for tense moments outside of the restaurant that frayed family ties.

I'm in the same boat, including the need to figure out what I would do besides what I do now.

Buffistas Inc. Our products are high-end luxury snark, virtual smiting of enemies, and wise advice.

Glam, what size shoe do you wear? I may have a pair I never ever wear (...I really need to dig everything out of my closet and remember what I own and should wear, also)

Am I a snob if I think I'd be giving up something important by looking for something that's just a *job* and not a career? Why, at age 39, am I still completely blank about what I want to be when I grow up? If I went back to school, would that help, or would that just make me 20 years older than everyone else I'd be competing with when I got out? What would I even go back to school for? Am I having a completely normal midlife crisis, and should I just wait it out?

I was in the same position, having the same worries at your age (lololol - like I'm a granny now at 47). I think it's normal to get to mid-career and feel this way. Take your money and look around. I would say I'm more in a "job" than a "career" right now and I'm good with it. I make decent money, have low stress, and enough time for my family. You have a great job background and will land somewhere that works for you. Just keep on looking until you get there. I landed in a few jobs that were meh, but kept my eyes open until the right opportunity popped up. Wishing you quick success!