Many birds return to the same nesting spots year after year. Coming home isn’t a step backward.

Returning gets treated as failure, as though the only acceptable direction were away and upward. Plenty of living things move in loops instead of lines, going out and coming back as the season requires. Staying near where you started, or going back to it later, says nothing at all about how you are doing.

If you are already bracing for questions about leaving, work out what you actually want rather than what would sound impressive. Say that version out loud once this week to somebody whose opinion you trust.