Decision Time

[jacey.ATX]

Right now I have to make a big decision, and I want to know what you guys think. Here is the deal, as succinctly as I can make it. Sorry, in advance, for the extremely long post:

1. I just finished my Master's degree and I've been applying for jobs. But I found out Friday that I didn't get the job I really wanted here in Austin. In my opinion, it's the top place to work in Austin if you're doing what I want to do. They said I was the runner-up applicant and it was a very close decision. They asked me to please apply again next time there's an opening, which will likely be in September. On average, they probably have openings there 2x per year.

2. It is very likely I will be offered a different job tomorrow which is similar, but superior in many ways. It's actually kind of a dream job for me. The salary is more than I ever thought I'd be making at this point, plus the director has real mentor energy, and spent a lot of time during my interview talking about how we could work on my career development needs together. It's really an amazing opportunity. But the catch is, this job is in a small town 2 hours away, and I would have to move there.

3. Because I was counting on getting the job in Austin with no problem, I haven't exactly searched exhaustively for other opportunities here. But from my cursory search, I can't see anything I'm very excited about, or anything that would feel like near the positive career move that the small-town job feels like. Meanwhile, the director at the small-town job called me last week and indicated she would likely be making me an offer on Monday (tomorrow.) I'll probably have to give her my decision the same day.

4. My parents are behind me totally in making the move, and have offered to pay for my moving expenses. I think they even want to hire one of those companies that packs and unpacks your stuff for you. Nice, right?! Additionally, my salary would be such that, in this town, I could live in a decent 2-3 bedroom house, pay down my student loans and debts, and still have some money left over for savings. Whereas, in Austin, I would be struggling on a tight budget, and I'd have to live in an apartment (which is fine with me, but a house would be nice, of course.)

5. Regarding the small town: I actually have 2 friends who live nearby, and I'd be working at a large facility (think hospital), plus I'm very friendly, so odds are I would make plenty of friends. It's a beautiful town, with a gorgeous river running through it. A lot of people actually have vacation houses in the area. But it's still a small town. There is a Wal-Mart, but no Target. There are exactly 3 good restaurants, and a couple of bars that, in any other city, would look like "country/western" theme bars. There are a ton of conservative, country-folk, and I'm a raging progressive. Plus, 30% of the town's population is 65+! How will I ever meet my soul-mate? I'm 31, so, you know... tick tock.

6. Regarding Austin: It is my home. I honestly adore my city. I've lived here for 13 years. I have a lot of friends here. I'm very used to all of the luxuries of living in a city. I grew up in Dallas, and I've lived in Austin my entire adulthood (except for that 1st year of college in Madison, NJ, but let's be honest-- I spent all of my free time in Brooklyn and Manhattan, so it wasn't exactly a small-town life.) I'm decidedly a "city girl."

7. But I'm trying to think this way: It's only 2 hours away. I could easily come back every other weekend to visit friends. And in 6 months, if I hate it there, I can watch for openings in Austin, and maybe move right back. And with even 6 months of experience at the small-town job, I'll be even more qualified for what I want in Austin. If I can make it 2.5-3 years there, I'll earn my advanced licensure, and I'll be able to move back to Austin into a higher position, or if I had enough money saved, I could even start a private practice at that point. But with less than 2.5 years there, I'd likely have to take a pay-cut to move back.

Ugh! Too many unknowns...

So, Katgers-- what would you do?
*Would you take your dream job if it meant you had to move somewhere you'd never choose to live?
*Or would you turn down an amazing job offer, and take a chance you'd find something acceptable soon in the place you consider your home?
*Is there any chance that a city girl could learn to love a country town full of old people?

What should I do? S.O.S!
Thanks in advance.
Xxoo,
Jacey

[jacey.ATX]

Originally Posted by Rufio

you should've made this a poll

I know!! I meant to, but I must have missed a step, and now it won't let me. Bew.

[campy]

I would move to the small town to cut my teeth with the longer term goal of moving back to Austin. You can't turn this opportunity down and it is only 2 hours from Austin, not a million miles.

I would make sure to maintain my social connections in Austin. In fact I might even consider buying a small property "crash pad" in Austin to make the socializing easier. I would actively look for a life partner because 31= serious tick tock.

[DWarrior]

I would move out of Texas because it's way too hot.

[BrianAlt]

Take the job 2 hours away. Making a move like that will get HARDER as you get older. This is the time to do it. As campy said, look to move back later. The crash pad idea probably isn't an economical one. And anyway you probably have friends you can stay with when you visit.

If you hate it, stick it out a year, bank some $$$ and then look to move back.

[campy]

Originally Posted by BrianAlt

The crash pad idea probably isn't an economical one.

If she could swing it it would be a great investment and an incentive to come back...If she is frugal in the small town and doesn't buy a 3 bed home but rents a small flat she could then take the other funds and invest. At first she could rent it out or just have it for her weekends knowing that when she decides to move back to Austin she can sell her property and use the proceeds towards a 3 bed in the more expensive city.

It would mean a smaller lifestyle to start but the goal would be the full life in Austin, where her heart is...

ahhe, if I were Jacey and had the world at my feet...

[amyuilani]

I would take the move. It sounds like such an amazing opportunity, especially in this economy, and it's only 2 hours away. Your home will always be your home, but there are so many things out there that you should experience. If you still want the local job, apply for the next opening that comes up. If you decide the new job works, you can withdraw your application. If it doesn't, you've kept your options open and can tell the new boss you didn't expect to get this chance, but you're going for it.

[jacey.ATX]

Originally Posted by campy

If she could swing it it would be a great investment and an incentive to come back...If she is frugal in the small town and doesn't buy a 3 bed home but rents a small flat she could then take the other funds and invest. At first she could rent it out or just have it for her weekends knowing that when she decides to move back to Austin she can sell her property and use the proceeds towards a 3 bed in the more expensive city.

It would mean a smaller lifestyle to start but the goal would be the full life in Austin, where her heart is...

ahhe, if I were Jacey and had the world at my feet...

To be clear, I would be renting. I wouldn't think about buying a house there unless I lived there 6-12 months and totally fell in love with it.


I'm so surprised that, so far, everybody says to make the move! Nobody thinks I should stay in Austin and keep looking???

[BrianAlt]

Originally Posted by jacey.ATX

I'm so surprised that, so far, everybody says to make the move! Nobody thinks I should stay in Austin and keep looking???

Seems this is what you really want to do. Seems you are looking for us to agree with you so that you can feel better about a decision that is not the best decision.

So, if that's what you really want, go for it.

[DWarrior]

I said keep looking