# Is there a word for what I'm feeling?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-what-im-feeling/251220>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [June 19, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-what-im-feeling/251220 "2004-06-19T19:39:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-what-im-feeling/251220/1 "2004-06-19T19:39:34Z")

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College graduation is looming on my horizon.

I’ve lived here almost 6 years and I’m happy. Yeah, the local economy sucks, but I’m going into a field where I will always be able to find a job. I could make better money in other states, sure, but the crime rate here is pretty low, our families are here, etc. I want to raise my kid here.

But …

There are times when I start thinking of all these other places that would be cool to see. Every now and then I just want to pick up and move far away. Maybe Wyoming. Or Montana. Idaho. Somewhere isolated, with mountains and snow.

Or Alaska. Paralegals are in big demand up there. Some firms will even pay for your housing and help you get a 4 wheel drive.

It’s not that I’m wanting to run away from anything. I have friends here, I like my family, I go to a great church. I can be happy in West Virginia for the rest of my life, barring any kind of disaster.

So what’s up with this weird urge to pick up and start all over again somewhere that I’ve never been and know nothing about? Is it hormonal? Do a lot of people about to graduate go through this? Have _you_ ever done it, just up and moved to somewhere really far away? Is there a word for this? Will it pass?

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**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-what-im-feeling/251220/2 "2004-06-19T19:44:21Z")

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I’m pretty sure it’s not school related. If anything, you’re bored with all the repetitiveness. That goes for people who work the same job for a long time, or in your case, going to school for a long time.

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**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2004, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-word-for-what-im-feeling/251220/3 "2004-06-19T19:54:09Z")

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It’s called “[wanderlust](http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=wanderlust&r=67)”.

I don’t think it’s necessarily about school. More about being bored with where you are. Growing up and realizing that the town you grew up in has become too small for you.