Time For A Change?

I heard something very interesting at work today, but not from my boss.  A competitor is closing, and they are right in my back yard.  I live literally 10 minutes from this place but an hour from my job of going on 12 years.  This struck me in a couple different ways:

My boss didn't tell me.  (He is, however, looking to purchase things from the person that is closing.)  I believe he is concerned that I will finally leave and go on my own.  The place that is closing leaves a void in my county that will need to be filled; why not by me? If I leave, my current employer will be left in the lurch.  I am the only person within the organization that can do my job.  A lot of revenue is both directly and indirectly dependent on me.  It will also be difficult to find a replacement.  Work could be contracted to someone, but of course at a higher rate than I am currently being paid.  There would also be no one to answer customers' questions like I do now.  I am not surprised that he neglected to tell me of the closing.

I have been doing some serious thinking about what I want to do with myself.  I have been unhappy at work for a very long time but I couldn't see how I could change jobs and still support Joe and the bills.  Three weeks ago, I was one more complaint from leaving.  It didn't matter if it was a co-worker or a customer.  I was tired of being in trouble over things I could do nothing about and had absolutely no control over.  I wondered if I was even in the right career anymore.  I like what I do, but the circumstances in which I have to do it are sometimes crummy.  People can be especially rude, no matter how hard you try or how honest you are.  I got home that night and got a phone call from someone needing my help outside of work.  My answer was clear- I need to keep plugging away and make a break when I can.  Build a base on my own and leave.  

So does this mean I should risk it and try to go on my own now?  I have two signs that I should be independent, but is now the right time?  If not now, when?  I'm not completely clear yet.  I guess I have some homework to do.  








AND- Blogger is making my first paragraph look stupid.  Guess I have homework to do on figuring out how to fix that, too!