Asklemmy

Is this a "help I answered my boss' questions truthfully and now I'm worried I may have sunk myself into some trouble" post? If so, you might want to share what you've said. (Like, if you said you don't see yourself there in a year, maybe try speaking less in the hypothetical.)

If you're asking for guidance for how to answer questions you anticipate being asked, the way I'd probably answer is:

• Are you going to leave? I don't have any plans to leave.
• What can we do to keep you from leaving? Given my current situation, the main thing(s) I can think of that could make an offer from another company hard to turn down would be _______(higher pay, more vacation, travel benefits, better medical insurance, whatever). I wouldn't have asked for such from you had you not asked me directly, but if you wanted feedback on what to focus on to be compeditive in the jobs market in this field, that would be my answer.
• Do you see yourself here in 1 year? I hope to be here in a year, yes. (If you quit within the week, you can say things changed between this question and your resignation.)

Try to smile, be polite. Chances are the people directly asking the questions of you will find it as awkward as you do. They're only doing it because they were told to.

If you've already told them things like "I don't see myself here in a year" (or something lesser like "I dunno" or "it's hard to predict that far out" or anythjng), don't sweat it. I really don't think there's much you could have said that could actually come back to bite you. "I don't see myself here in a year" is not the same as "I won't be working here in a year." I doubt anything you've said could qualify as a resignation.