I would relocate within bounds...must be mountainous with great access to public lands and recreation. If the location were right, I would probably relocate for even an OK job with some security. It would have to be a perfect job to relocate if the location was bad.
I agree with Kevin
If you are underwater in debt, anything more will just sink your boat even deeper. I like Dave Ramsey slogan.. "live like no one else, so you can live like no one else".
Perfect or not, there has to be a balance here. Moving is never fun or easy however, the opportunity to work the perfect job in a place that meets my needs would be worth the effort. Distance from family and friends only raises the bar on "perfect". (The greater the distance, the greater the perfection required.)
I'd move for a good job if it was to a location I'd already thought about moving or could at least see my self being happy living in. You job is only part of your life, I wouldn't want to have a great job but living in Fargo or something...
I have relocated 4 times in the last 10 years for what I thought were amazing opportunities at the time. Each time things turned out not to be at all what I'd been led to believe they were -
-600 mile move...One company completely restructured 2 weeks after I started. My position was eliminated, but they kept me on *a* job there and it took me 18 months to find something new.
-800 mile move.....The next job was better, but after 2 months there everyone was laid off for 5 months. I stayed with that company for a total of 4 years getting laid off again and again or working 16-20 hour days for months straight without a day off.
-1200 mile move.....After finally leaving there, the next opportunity also was falsely advertised. The company changed direction/priorities and kind of phased me out. When I put in my 2 week notice, they just told me to go ahead and leave - without even training anyone there on how to do my work.
I've become completely jaded and have no idea what I would consider even an OK job at this stage. I'm about to start a new one in February, so here's hoping it is tolerable!
...assuming I could recognize that it really is perfect, I'd go almost anywhere for the perfect job! I like a lot of things about where I live now, but I spend so much time working that the perfect job would be worth sacrificing a LOT of conveniences.
Assuming the perfect job was in a city I didn't hate, then yes, in a minute. No job in the world would convince me to move to Houston, or Atlanta, for example; however, I'd definitely move to Seattle for a not-quite-perfect job. Though I suppose if I were unemployed, I'd consider even moving to Houston... well, maybe if I'd been unemployed for over a year.
Phillip you are a brilliant writer. The more simple I've made my life the more happy I have become.
Less clutter, less distraction, less stuff. What I have is good stuff that I take great pleasure from. Stuff just for the stake of stuff is bad!
I went to a poor country on vacation. The people had almost nothing and were MUCH happier then in the United States. Interesting huh?
I foolishly left myself with only $40.00 left in my pocket when I jumped on the plane to come home (I was half way around the world in Asia.) I had so little money left because I was thrilled to meet happy people that didn't have a 70 pound double chin from shopping QVC. I was buying food for poor people until I only had $40 left on the way to the airport.
Regarding lifestyle, I don't live in the woods or some hell hole. I live near one of the greatest orchestras in the USA and almost every amenity I can dream of is within walking distance. The trick is simplicity. Simplicity doesn't make my problems go away it just makes life seem much more human.
Yes, definitely yes. Happiness can be hard to come by, especially in your career, so if the perfect job was handed to me. I'd go. there is no rule that says you can't revisit the choice later down the line.
So fast, it'd make your head spin! Having been stuck in a dead-end job for years to have enough money to pay off debts and put my son through college, I'm actively looking for the perfect job now.
We applied for HAMP 2x. We were denied the 1st time, and told we didn't "qualify", but were given no other explaination as to why. Even the customer service reps were unable to tell us why. Then we defaulted a few months later (as well as on ALL our credit cards) and reapplied in November '09. I called our bank to see what was going on with our application. I was told we passed a "preliminary review" and our app. was sent to a "trial office" to come up with a payment we're supposed to pay for 3 months.
My question's are: Why would someone NOT qualify after making 3 months of successful, on-time payments?
Does anyone know if being in default of revolving debt, such as credit cards have anything to do with NOT qualifying?
I moved from southern BC to northern BC (for those who don't know, western Canada) to go to school to follow my dream career. After grad, moved back to southern BC, then to the Island for a job. Then over to the eastern US for a year and a half for another job more specific to my goal... then back up to eastern Canada when I got offered a job with a company I'd been dreaming of working with since 3rd year.
Overall best experience of my life!
Only words of warning - make sure you have the financial resources necessary for all that moving =)
I would gladly move for the perfect job, as long as my husband was on board. In fact I've already done it once. It takes a while to reestablish yourself, but in the long run it's worth it. New opportunities, new things to see, new experiences. Besides, you can always move back if you hate it.
I read the article a few days ago. When I was in grad school--late 70s/early 80s--there was a group of Bloomington people who lived without money. Same kind of thing. I found the concept kind of romantic and mentioned it to a friend. She replied, "Honestly, is that what you want to spend your day doing?" Good point.
But this woman isn't spending her whole day doing that. She wrote a book about it, which is available for purchase. So the article is part of a publicity machine. Writing a book about such experiences--which in her case are a CHOICE--is a time-honored activity. Recent examples would be "Not Buying It," the family that lived without a footprint in Manhattan, even the tome of the infamous Edmund Andrews falls under this category.
I would relocate within bounds...must be mountainous with great access to public lands and recreation. If the location were right, I would probably relocate for even an OK job with some security. It would have to be a perfect job to relocate if the location was bad.
I agree with Kevin
If you are underwater in debt, anything more will just sink your boat even deeper. I like Dave Ramsey slogan.. "live like no one else, so you can live like no one else".
Joe
Probably not. I like where I live, family is nearby, and money isn't that important to me.
Perfect or not, there has to be a balance here. Moving is never fun or easy however, the opportunity to work the perfect job in a place that meets my needs would be worth the effort. Distance from family and friends only raises the bar on "perfect". (The greater the distance, the greater the perfection required.)
Great stuff, keep up the good work
I'd move for a good job if it was to a location I'd already thought about moving or could at least see my self being happy living in. You job is only part of your life, I wouldn't want to have a great job but living in Fargo or something...
I sure would! unless it was somewhere tropical because I am so, so scared of spiders. short of that I'd go pretty much anywhere.
I have relocated 4 times in the last 10 years for what I thought were amazing opportunities at the time. Each time things turned out not to be at all what I'd been led to believe they were -
-600 mile move...One company completely restructured 2 weeks after I started. My position was eliminated, but they kept me on *a* job there and it took me 18 months to find something new.
-800 mile move.....The next job was better, but after 2 months there everyone was laid off for 5 months. I stayed with that company for a total of 4 years getting laid off again and again or working 16-20 hour days for months straight without a day off.
-1200 mile move.....After finally leaving there, the next opportunity also was falsely advertised. The company changed direction/priorities and kind of phased me out. When I put in my 2 week notice, they just told me to go ahead and leave - without even training anyone there on how to do my work.
I've become completely jaded and have no idea what I would consider even an OK job at this stage. I'm about to start a new one in February, so here's hoping it is tolerable!
I haven't relocated for a job, but I might be willing to depending on the job or location that was being offered to me.
...assuming I could recognize that it really is perfect, I'd go almost anywhere for the perfect job! I like a lot of things about where I live now, but I spend so much time working that the perfect job would be worth sacrificing a LOT of conveniences.
Assuming the perfect job was in a city I didn't hate, then yes, in a minute. No job in the world would convince me to move to Houston, or Atlanta, for example; however, I'd definitely move to Seattle for a not-quite-perfect job. Though I suppose if I were unemployed, I'd consider even moving to Houston... well, maybe if I'd been unemployed for over a year.
If I weren't married - absolutely in a heart beat. I love moving! As it is, I probably wouldn't move unless I was offered >80k, or DH's job moved.
Phillip you are a brilliant writer. The more simple I've made my life the more happy I have become.
Less clutter, less distraction, less stuff. What I have is good stuff that I take great pleasure from. Stuff just for the stake of stuff is bad!
I went to a poor country on vacation. The people had almost nothing and were MUCH happier then in the United States. Interesting huh?
I foolishly left myself with only $40.00 left in my pocket when I jumped on the plane to come home (I was half way around the world in Asia.) I had so little money left because I was thrilled to meet happy people that didn't have a 70 pound double chin from shopping QVC. I was buying food for poor people until I only had $40 left on the way to the airport.
Regarding lifestyle, I don't live in the woods or some hell hole. I live near one of the greatest orchestras in the USA and almost every amenity I can dream of is within walking distance. The trick is simplicity. Simplicity doesn't make my problems go away it just makes life seem much more human.
Given that DH and I would like to leave this town, I'd be happy to relocate for the imperfect job, too!
Yes, definitely yes. Happiness can be hard to come by, especially in your career, so if the perfect job was handed to me. I'd go. there is no rule that says you can't revisit the choice later down the line.
I would move for a dream job as long as the location met certain criteria. I've already done it once.
Yes, if it worked for my husband & kids and the weather was agreeable also.
So fast, it'd make your head spin! Having been stuck in a dead-end job for years to have enough money to pay off debts and put my son through college, I'm actively looking for the perfect job now.
I would! :)
After all, we are talking about ideal cases.
Thanks for this article, Philip. I didn't see the original article until you linked to it, and it's fascinating.
We applied for HAMP 2x. We were denied the 1st time, and told we didn't "qualify", but were given no other explaination as to why. Even the customer service reps were unable to tell us why. Then we defaulted a few months later (as well as on ALL our credit cards) and reapplied in November '09. I called our bank to see what was going on with our application. I was told we passed a "preliminary review" and our app. was sent to a "trial office" to come up with a payment we're supposed to pay for 3 months.
My question's are: Why would someone NOT qualify after making 3 months of successful, on-time payments?
Does anyone know if being in default of revolving debt, such as credit cards have anything to do with NOT qualifying?
I moved from southern BC to northern BC (for those who don't know, western Canada) to go to school to follow my dream career. After grad, moved back to southern BC, then to the Island for a job. Then over to the eastern US for a year and a half for another job more specific to my goal... then back up to eastern Canada when I got offered a job with a company I'd been dreaming of working with since 3rd year.
Overall best experience of my life!
Only words of warning - make sure you have the financial resources necessary for all that moving =)
I would gladly move for the perfect job, as long as my husband was on board. In fact I've already done it once. It takes a while to reestablish yourself, but in the long run it's worth it. New opportunities, new things to see, new experiences. Besides, you can always move back if you hate it.
I read the article a few days ago. When I was in grad school--late 70s/early 80s--there was a group of Bloomington people who lived without money. Same kind of thing. I found the concept kind of romantic and mentioned it to a friend. She replied, "Honestly, is that what you want to spend your day doing?" Good point.
But this woman isn't spending her whole day doing that. She wrote a book about it, which is available for purchase. So the article is part of a publicity machine. Writing a book about such experiences--which in her case are a CHOICE--is a time-honored activity. Recent examples would be "Not Buying It," the family that lived without a footprint in Manhattan, even the tome of the infamous Edmund Andrews falls under this category.
Do I seem too cynical?
I already have the perfect job, but no, couldn't leave my friends and family.