Work Advice: A settler in a world of nomads questions staying put

Q: My supervisor and I were discussing this question: If you are comfortable in your job, is it a good idea to stay there long-term and not look for something new? Is it OK, in this day and age when people tend to jump around, to stay in a job for many years, or is that a thing of the past?

She and I feel happy in our current positions (both here at least nine years) and aren't looking for anything new at the moment. We see other colleagues who have moved on to jobs with more responsibility and sometimes feel that we should be looking elsewhere, too.

A: So you're asking, in essence: Is it OK to be a settler in a world of nomads?

From the 10,000-year view, our species has needed both the wanderers to find new lands and the settlers to cultivate and shape them into homelands. Likewise, employers and economies need both the entrepreneurial climbers and the reliable yeomen who get things done. But our society already devotes so much admiration to the go-getters that I'd like to focus on the stay-keepers.

Staying with the same employer long term has advantages: You can stockpile valuable institutional knowledge, hone your skills, and make a name for yourself as a dependable veteran.

Of course, institutional knowledge can calcify into "this is how we've always done it." Honing old skills may mean less time spent learning new ones. And finally, there's a fine red line between "dependable" and "expendable" -- as many loyal workers blindsided by layoffs can attest.

So is it a "good idea" to stick around? I think it's a good idea to follow a career path that suits your temperament and risk/reward tolerance. I also think it's worth pausing to take stock periodically: Are you staying because you feel challenged, content and connected -- or because you're complacent, coasting or lacking confidence? Are you keeping your skills up to date and your eyes open to opportunities, even if you don't actively pursue them? Does your steady gig afford you the stability to engage in potentially more fulfilling pursuits?

When you start getting a nagging feeling that you "should" be looking around, listen closely. Is it a voice saying, "I wonder what else is out there," or is it saying, "Oh no, I used to train those people and now they're ahead of me"? Is it driven by curiosity? Boredom? Envy? Fear? Those are all legitimate motives, by the way. Fear in particular is a great motivator if your employer is on the rocks -- but it's designed to lead you to immediate safety, not long-term satisfaction.

So to return to my earlier metaphor, of course it's OK to stick around and reap the rewards of steady, patient labor. Just remember to glance at the world beyond your fence every so often in case you need to leave for greener pastures.

• Miller has written for and edited tax publications for 16 years, most recently for the accounting firm KPMG's Washington National Tax office. Ask her about your work dramas and traumas by emailing wpmagazine@washpost.com. On Twitter: @KarlaAtWork.