What Might Have Been

I can now make this public.

Last October, when I was still out of the workforce, there was something else going on behind the scenes with respect to my then job search.  I was working hard on getting the Nevada gig, but simultaneously there was a possibility in Texas as well.

Shortly after the 4th of July, I noticed an open requisition for a Product Line Engineer position with General Dynamics in Kilgore, TX.  General Dynamics has been a company that has survived mergers and downsizing in the defense market while simultaneously avoiding a buyout from someone else.  From what I can gather from them, they have always been a well-managed company, knowing when to sell off product lines and when to acquire others.  It was something of a surprise to me to learn that they had operations in Kilgore in the communications satellite market.  I read the job description, thought "I can do this job!  But will they think that?", and applied.

A few weeks later I had a telephone interview.  It was at a low point in the job search, and my recollection is that I was not yet aware of the opportunities that my pending employer had, and as far as I could tell the phone interview went well.  They told me it would be three weeks or so before I would hear one way or the other.

In the interim, I was pressing forward with the search, and the machinations to my landing in Nevada got under way.  I sent them a resume, I got a call from their Human Resources department asking me to apply online, and then later on I scored a telephone interview.  That went well, and as soon as I was being invited to fly to Las Vegas the GD folks called.  They wanted to talk further with me too!  They wanted me there the same day that Nevada wanted me here, so I had to tell them there was a conflict.  They accommodated my request, and so I had one on-site interview right after another.

I knew in my heart I wanted the Nevada opportunity.  I didn't really want to go out to Texas, but I figured that I had better, because I didn't know then what Nevada was going to do.  It turned out I got the offer two days before I had to fly out to Texas, after which I *really* didn't want to take that trip.  But, I was committed, I had given my word, and so I figured I would go out there and do my best.

As far as I can tell it went well too.  I liked driving down the rural roads in that area between Kilgore and Longview, where I flew into.  I made a wrong turn and saw even more of the countryside, and upon correcting that mistake I was able to locate the hotel.  I then went out to a Mexican restaurant and learned that I didn't really care for Tex-Mex cuisine.  Years of Arizona have spoiled me on what Mexican food should be like, and I had plenty of exposure to Sonora style, Mexico City style, and New Mexico style (New Mexico style's the best!).  The next day I showed up for the interview.

The people there at the plant, and who I met while exploring the area, struck me as the nicest people you're ever going to meet in the United States.  I found myself enjoying that Texas hospitality, and thinking that if GD were to make me an offer I couldn't refuse, I might have to turn down the Nevada offer.  The only glitch that gave me pause was that General Dynamics had had layoffs the year before; one of my would-be co-workers let that slip.  The learning curve wouldn't have been that difficult and within three weeks I could have been making some key technical decisions.  But that layoff remark bothered me, and with 60% of their sales being to our own military (and other sales to foreign military) I wasn't sure what their business base would be doing.

After the interview, I drove back to the Longview airport, phoned Nevada, and accepted their offer.  I was glad to have seen Texas, but the work in Nevada was more appealing, and I knew that if I didn't take it I'd be missing out on some really neat stuff.

Meanwhile, I never heard back from Texas.  Not until yesterday. 

The verdict?

They have decided to cancel the requisition, and to not fill the position!

It is not unheard of these days to interview for a job, and to never hear back.  Not even the form rejection letter that some companies seem to delight in sending out.  I wrote it off to that, but couldn't have helped but wonder what kind of life I would have had in Texas.  Sheila stated she would support my decision to go there, but she was really hoping I would choose Nevada.  I don't regret my choice one bit, but the wondering about Texas was along the lines of Texas lacking the concentration of drivers native to southern California who help make life in southern Nevada miserable.  I could write a few pages on southern Californian drivers but I don't plan to do that anytime soon.  Besides, if I were to write about them, the drivers in Boston are liable to get angry for not getting noticed by me for their driving habits, and if I'm going to make people angry I've already got something else picked out to write about that would irritate an even larger segment of the population.

So, what might have been in Texas, besides nicer people?  Plenty of hunting and fishing opportunities (I'm sure Nevada has them too, but maybe not as many).  Mexican restaurants that are somewhat better (if  you want good Mexican food in Las Vegas, you have to go to Taco Bell).  A slower pace of life.  That's what might have been.

But as it is, most of us will go to where the money is, and the money is right here in Las Vegas.  I wish there were more of it, but it's a good way to make a living, and I am learning a great deal about human spaceflight that I would not have learned had I not taken this job. 

I can wonder about what might have been, but I think I'd be better off if I ponder some dreams instead, and turn them into reality.