Why Stay Here When I Could Go....
I did some job-hunting at work and found positions in just about any city I'd want to live in. St. Louis doesn't have much unless I want to move up to the lead position, which isn't very tempting. Or, I could move to a new city, and do practically the same thing I'm doing now, except I'd guess it'd be less call-centery. I'd be an actual corporate travel agent rather than someone who just changes online bookings.
Now the main question: Is it worth it to pack up and move to a new city for almost the same job, only for the experience of living in a different city? Would I be stupid giving up my family and my friends and my hometown just for that experience? Would I find it too lonely to bear? And how do I choose which city to live in? Do I throw darts at a map and move wherever the dart lands? Heh... that might be fun to do for a couple years. :) Or... maybe highly impractical...
Of course there's only one way to find this all out and that's to just go. If I don't like it I can come back. I'll tell my company that I want to be able to come back if things don't work out. I just have to figure out how important it is to me and what my goals really are. Right now I just don't know. I just need to experiment with ideas...
Labels: work
posted by Kristi at 6:07 PM
10 Comments:
As someone who moved constantly growing up, I'm a firm believer in the idea that people should move at least a couple times. I know that you moved away from St. Louis for college, but let's face it: Mizzou is really like St. Louis's backyard.
I think it would be a good experience for you. I'm fully supportive of you - and I wish you lots of luck in this process of figuring things out! :)
I think you should move somewhere you at least know one person, who could help you get a little more comfortable. And maybe go somewhere you have visited before, so you wouldn't feel totally lost. Lastly, it might be best to stay in driving distance of the family, unless you will get cheap flights with your job!
There are no jobs a little closer to what you want to do somewhere? Would it have to be a lateral move?
As I'm now on my 5th state of residence, I'm a big proponent of getting out and experiencing life in different parts of the country. One reason I've embraced it is because you'll meet a whole new set of people who don't know anything about you. It's almost like reinventing yourself. They don't know what you were like in high school or college or even grade school, so it allows you to change in ways that living in the same city as people you've known forever just doesn't offer.
Ultimately whether & where you move will have to be decisions you feel you can make work for at least a year or two, or the expense and hassle won't be worth it. One good thing in the cost department: if you have to move a certain distance (50 miles?) due to a job change, much of those expenses are tax deductible.
You have my full support, too, regardless of what you choose. And if you're considering any of the areas I've lived in or have connections in, I'd be happy to talk about my experiences and/or do anything else I can to help. We'll keep you in our prayers as you consider your decisions!
I'm suspecting Tanya and Joan moved around because they had good reasons to... I would be moving JUST to move. So it's not like I have to move for my job...I'd be switching jobs JUST to live somewhere else. Which may not be smart, but I dunno...
But thanks guys... I appreciate the support!! :)
I moved, just to move, once. I met a lot of cool people, and still talk to a few of them. Sometimes I find myself wondering why I ever moved back. It is a fun experience, but, there is also something to be said for having friends and family around.
Kristen's comment about knowing someone is a very good one. I knew one of my co-workers before I moved and our landlord rented out the residence next door to people he guessed(and quite accurately) that Jennifer and I would get along with. So I had a rather unique situation. It is scary, fun and a bit hard, but, if you are going to do it, now is the time. You really have nothing tying you down and, your friends and family are always only a phone call or plane ticket away.
Good luck with your decision.
When I graduated from high school, I wanted to move far away from where I grew up, so I went to college outside of Chicago. After those four years, I still wanted to explore new places while I was unattached - nothing to hold me back. So I opened my job search up to the entire U.S. and wound up in northern CA. Unfortunately, the work environment I found myself in was miserable. I was hoping for a way to escape when I was offered the position in Denver and jumped at the chance.
So really, I was moving for similar reasons you would be - just to get away and see what a different place might offer me. Coming to St. Louis was the first time I had a "good" reason to move somewhere; all the previous ones were just to leave the place I was in. But I had to be in Denver in order to meet c2, which never would've happened if I hadn't made the other moves that led me there.
Moving can be exciting and terrifying all at once. You still have our support, whatever your choice. But don't be discouraged by the idea that you'd be moving just to move. Sometimes, that winds up being the best reason. :)
Ok so emotions aside... I would suggest that unless you have your heart set on specific cities, perhaps a way to look at it might be distance to drive. I would think that a consideration might be: "Can I get home for a weekend last minute activity?" The first 7 cities (ranked by distance)could have you home easily by Friday night for a Saturday shin dig. The rest I add as food for thought. The first number is miles and second is hours assume 65/hour. But I assume, Kristi, that your lead foot might get you home sooner :)
Co-Bin
Indianapolis 244 3.8
Kansas City 255 3.9
Louisville 275 4.2
Chicago 287 4.4
Memphis 296 4.6
Nashville 318 4.9
Cincinnati 351 5.4
Milwaukee 387 6.0
Tulsa 404 6.2
Oklahoma City 511 7.9
St. Paul 547 8.4
Atlanta 575 8.8
Dallas 661 10.2
Houston 817 12.6
Washington, DC 821 12.6
Baltimore 824 12.7
Richmond 865 13.3
Denver 874 13.4
Charleston 888 13.7
Philadelphia 890 13.7
Jacksonville 932 14.3
San Antonio 936 14.4
Newark 962 14.8
New York 976 15.0
Orlando 1,030 15.8
Boston 1,212 18.6
Miami 1,326 20.4
Phoenix 1,570 24.2
Las Vegas 1,650 25.4
San Diego 1,870 28.8
Los Angeles 1,904 29.3
San Francisco 2,159 33.2
Seattle 2,234 34.4
WOW, Cobin! Just... wow. :)
Indianapolis is actually a beautiful city... I loved it when I visited it. That was about 10 years ago though... (wow, was our liturgical music conference THAT long ago???) I have thought that it would be a good city to relocate to and wouldn't be too expensive. And you just made a pretty compelling argument for it. :) I wonder what the job market for travel agents is like there...... don't know anyone there though. Would be totally starting over. 'Cept it's only just under 4 hours from STL. Hmmmmm...
Thank you for your research!!!
Wow.
First things first Kristi. Let me just say how proud I am of you for even considering this. Moving to a new city is no small thing, but can be such a rewarding experience.
Moving to St. Louis was one of the best things I have ever done. Yeah, my parents lived here and for the first year and a half or so I really didn't embrace it. But once they were gone and I was on my own...THAT was when I started finding out who I really was.
Family and friends are SO very important. And guess what, they'll always be here. I love the idea of you being close enough to come home when you want to, and I hope you don't let the fact that you don't know anyone in Indianapolis stop you.
I am behind you 100%! It will be hard to have the courage to take that first step. I'll help with whatever you need! :)
Ok, so I know this post is old and I am quite sure you can already guess what I am going to say, but here goes:
At least once in your life, take the plunge and move to a new place. If it doesn't work out, you can always move back and no one will fault you for that. Don't think of the decision as something you're bound to forever.
I do, however, echo the above-stated sentiments that it would be best if you try a place that is close enough to travel home, a place you know someone in, and a place you've been to before. Lisa and I moved out here to Reno knowing no one, never having been here, and obviously it is really an expense and a chore to get home for things like weddings, graduations, funerals, baby showers. The experience has been great, but we are ready to move back to the midwest. We are glad we moved out West and we will be happy to move back closer to home too...it's not an all-or-nothing sort of thing.
Good luck with your decision!
-Ryan
Post a Comment
<< Home