Suddenly everyone's leaving...

[emprof]

When I took this job I originally lived in Big City an hour away.  Exciting restaurants, great parks, good cultural scene. But the commute was exhausting and I felt cut off from my departmental community - many of whom were in the life stage I was entering, families with young kids.

Fast forward 2 years, we're happily settled in Rural College Town. I love the shorter commute, bumping into friends, the more intimate scale of life. Everyone is positive about building community, improving the town and campus life. But in the last week I've found out that a half-dozen colleagues (not all in my department) have been hired away or are planning to leave. Those leaving have started to be openly very negative about this town, where my family and I will still live (probably for many years). It's got me feeling, well, more dissatisfied and a bit abandoned. And like something's wrong with me for NOT getting lured away. Realistically it's 5-7 years before I can move on. Sigh. Any insights or experiences you can share?

[spork]

As larryc would say, bloom where you're planted.

[mamselle]

Yes. The weeds are clearing out. Take up your share of the sunshine.

Make even more use of the pluses, and remember that "the attitude is gratitude."

That ~1913 text, Desiderata, might have some good wisdom, still.

M.

[professing]

I agree with the above. I know from experience it is hard to lose friends and colleagues you have become close to, particularly if your sense of community where you live is more intimately tied to them. However, I would assume there would be new folks hired and, who knows, you may form close connections with them too.

The only thing that would greatly concern me is if massive amounts of people were moving on due to concerns about the viability of the institution. Otherwise, i would let the cards lay where they be, and see what the future brings. And, who knows, maybe other things will entice you away for other reasons, or lure you into staying until you retire :)

[polly_mer]

Smaller places aren't for everyone and bloom where you're planted is great advice if there's some turnover due to people wanting some other kind of life.  I've purposefully looked for smaller places and been pretty happy when we've ended up there.  We're currently at a small place and have no plans to move.  This might be the place from which I retire.  It's definitely the place we'd like Blocky to finish HS.

However,

The only thing that would greatly concern me is if massive amounts of people were moving on due to concerns about the viability of the institution.

Turnover because the institution is sinking and/or the region is dying and everyone who can get jobs elsewhere is doing so means, regardless of what you think your reasons for staying are, you should be on the market preparing to move.  Otherwise, you'll be in the situation of being unable to move on short notice when the time comes. 

Don't panic (unless you're at Super Dinky or somewhere else that has publicly announced fundraising to cover this term's budget), but start doing targeted searches. 

Don't panic unless your institution is about at the point that "senior" faculty means "anyone who has been here more than two years" with four years putting you in the top ten of longest serving faculty and academic staff.

However, you might want to spend some quality time with the institution's financials, enrollment, and strategic plan to determine how viable that institution is.

[marshwiggle]

When I took this job I originally lived in Big City an hour away.  Exciting restaurants, great parks, good cultural scene. But the commute was exhausting and I felt cut off from my departmental community - many of whom were in the life stage I was entering, families with young kids.

Fast forward 2 years, we're happily settled in Rural College Town. I love the shorter commute, bumping into friends, the more intimate scale of life. Everyone is positive about building community, improving the town and campus life. But in the last week I've found out that a half-dozen colleagues (not all in my department) have been hired away or are planning to leave. Those leaving have started to be openly very negative about this town, where my family and I will still live (probably for many years). It's got me feeling, well, more dissatisfied and a bit abandoned. And like something's wrong with me for NOT getting lured away. Realistically it's 5-7 years before I can move on. Sigh. Any insights or experiences you can share?

From what I see, you were very happy here until other people started to say why they were unhappy and leaving. Unless the reasons that you liked this place have changed, don't let other peoples' drama become yours.  That's a game yo can never win.

[Ruralguy]

Plus there can be all sorts of confirmation and/or negative attribution bias here. People tend to leave rural colleges...I don't mean in droves. I just mean that they have challenges such as spousal employment, not finding a community with common values, etc.. My college regularly loses 1 or two tenure track per year.
Almost all leave between 2-12 years in. I don't believe anyone has ever left after becoming full, but being too young to retire. Some people who leave are very well liked and they like the place. But sometimes a spouse can't find a job, a kid has special need, a parent needs help and can't be moved.

So, as others have said, it could be a sign, but probably isn't. Be happy in your happiness. It really doesn't matter if others don't like the life you like or have other issues to contend with .

[AJ_Katz]

The grass isn't always greener on the other side....