I’ve been in a long-term relationship for the past 8 years. Ups and downs, but happy, real happy.

But the last few days, such ennui. Waiting for the phone to ring, checking email too often, wondering if I should have let the last one go. Or even the one before that. Will I be alone forever. I’m totally having a weird case of Sinead O’Connor-tinged deja vu, all angst, chest pounding, and yearning .

This morning, I realized what it is. I’ve been dating my jobs for the past year and a half.

When I left Stanford for parenthood, I lost a soul mate. Since then my life has been filled with a whirl-wind of contracts, clients, people, projects. Every company I’ve dated has been charming and exciting, but I haven’t been ready to stay.

It’s changing though. In work, as it was for me in dating, I’m reaching that point where I’ve met enough people and I want to start building something more.

Yup, I am ready to settle down. I want to see *you* everyday. I want to know everything. I want us to stick together in the good times and the hard times. It’s time for mr|ms right job. That job where I am all of myself and you all are all of yourselves, and together we grow a future and create so much lovely, lovely, curious and brilliant work.

There will be ups and downs, but we’ll be happy, real happy.

Do wish me luck, again.