I had a friend and she and her husband had that problem of the company (it was rather large) making them quit (he was an executive). I was dating the boss so didn't have as much problem :-)

I like how you're giving your girlfriend "room" but I think you're overblaming your self esteem for problems when you merely have to "ask" her what she likes/wants and get to know her. It was thoughtful of you not to wake her, even though she says you may -- you didn't know that until afterwards! One shouldn't assume one relationship will be like another but I think you put too much emphasis on knowing your previous wife and being "afraid" you'll make this girlfriend angry. My husband had a little trouble with that too in spots; he was married before me. His ex-wife use to complain often that he wasn't making her happy (not his job to make her happy, that's her job) and didn't like some things, thought they were "dirty"/perverted (lingerie, which he likes :-) but we talked about things and he told me some of her reactions, etc. so in the future I was able to help him by supporting him and what he likes and erasing his feeling badly about those things. Being honest and talking things over is the best help and just seeing how your girlfriend reacts to things. Her reactions aren't about you, but about what she likes/dislikes so should be taken as information, not indications that what you like or think are "wrong" or bad.