I Have a Headache

Literally and figuratively. My head just hurts trying to make this decision about moving/not moving. Here's the situation - a job in Seattle that doesn't pay enough (we were barely making ends meet with Jeff's previous salary, and this salary is considerably less, plus I'm not getting my full child support these days.........so, we'd have to learn to live on a LOT less, and worry about making the bills each month), but a job that's close, the stability of a good community/friends/neighbors, living in our house which we can't sell anyway........or moving to Post Falls, taking a loss on our house, going into unfamiliar territory, taking a huge risk, but making a better salary (still less than before!). The cost of living there would be less, but we would start out at a disadvantage, having just dumped our house (or worse, not being able to sell it for months/years). It's waaayyyyy too much. I've remained calm and supportive throughout this layoff business and I'm starting to feel myself unravel now. I don't like stress. Not this kind of stress anyway.........I wish we could just snap our fingers and make a decision. Jeff negotiated a tiny increase in salary for the Seattle job, and tomorrow will try to negotiate a better deal with the Post Falls job and by Friday morning, a decision will have to be made. My stomach is in knots. What to do?? Feel free to weigh in. We're certainly no closer to a decision today than we were yesterday.

Should We Stay or Should We Go?

Now we have a quandry. All things considered, in this economy it's a good quandry, but it's a quandry nonetheless. Jeff is entertaining two job offers. One involves staying right here in Seattle, in our home, not changing our lives, except for the teensy little problem that the job doesn't pay as much as his old job and we were barely making ends meet with the previous salary. He would like the job, but it's not a dream job by any means. (Not that anyone can afford to be picky in this economy). The second offer involves moving out of state. The pay is better, but the move would be expensive. Plus, selling our house right now would be next to impossible. But Jeff would LOVE the job. It's more of what he's looking for and he would be very happy at this job.

But.......moving would disrupt our lives. It would be expensive. We'd lose our great neighborhood and neighbors. We'd lose touch with many people - friends, colleagues, etc. On the other hand, we would have a chance to live in a less expensive area, lead a slower paced life and maybe get ahead. What to do?

He has to make his decision by tomorrow afternoon. No pressure! Geesh......too bad he doesn't have more time to decide. Either way, he should be working by next week, so we will be getting a salary again. It just might be a smaller salary and we'll have to learn to make ends meet another way. Very stressful day. Stay tuned.