Cha-Cha-Changin'

Stan has been married to the same person for nearly 34 years.

I've been married to the same person for nearly 34 years.

Stan and I have had the same kids for a long time

and even though they've changed a little over the years,

one of them has been around for 32.86 years or so.

We've lived in Montana for almost 30 years, somewhere around 3/5 of my life

We've lived in the same house for 25 1/2 years.

Stan has worked for the same firm for nearly 30 years.

He loves his view out his office window. He's been enjoying it for years. From this window he can see the hospital where he was born, his childhood home, his elementary, junior and high school.

I know what you're thinking:
"Wow, those Joneses are stuck firmly in a rut!"

All that is about to change. Today Stan is starting a new job. 
The last few months have been a nightmare of frustrating, humiliating, and depressing events, culminating in Stan's decision to change employers.  He has become increasingly disgusted by the way his firm tries to force investments on some clients and charges exorbitant fees to customers with smaller accounts.  And if that isn't enough, he has been subjected to a boss who insists on telling him he's going to hell because of his religious beliefs, and that this treatment is God's way of punishing him for his religious choices, and that he hopes Stan is looking for "other options". 



These last few weeks have been agonizing.  Stan couldn't eat.  He couldn't sleep. Stan didn't know when he went to work each morning if he'd have a job when he got there.  His confrontations with his boss have become increasingly stressful.  He hated the growing feeling he could no longer recommend investments in the best interests of his clients. 

Fortunately, he is a top producer in our area, and has been headhunted by a number of firms in the last five years.

Finally, he got the right offer from the right company at the right time.

By the way, that's pronounced "Steefle". 

So last night Stan, Megan, Stan's brothers, sister-in-law, and I visited his old office after closing time and cleaned it out.

Stan signed the Stifel contract, did the paper work, and this morning he turned in his letter of resignation at the old firm and moved to a new job with a new company.  He didn't have far to go. The new office is right across the street from the old.

 We're both a little nervous. 
Although there are 5 other Stifel offices in Montana, the first Stifel office opens in Billings today. 
Stan is currently its sole stockbroker.
It's scary to be starting over at our ancient mature age.

But we know it can't be worse than the last several weeks.