Would You Change Your Life Path?

[highpeaksdrifter]

The How Seriously Do You Take Your Skiing thread got me thinking about this scenario.
Your job, hours, vacations, benefits will all stay the same, but your boss needs someone with your skills in different areas of the country. You are given these 3 choices:

1. Move to South Florida and your family income will double
2. Move to the ski town of your choice and your family income will be cut in half
3. Stay where you are and everything remains the same.

Which would you choose?

 

[Greg]

2 or 3. It depends.

 

[highpeaksdrifter]

2 or 3. It depends.

Just for conversation, what would it depend on?

 

[deadheadskier]

1. DEFINITELY NOT - I spent four months in Florida once, middle of May to middle of September. I HATED it; not just the weather, just the complete homoginization of the place.

2. Couldn't do it. I couldn't do it if my income stayed the same. The cost of living in most ski towns is MUCH higher than where I live.

3. The only logical choice for me right now

 

[wa-loaf]

1. Move to South Florida and your family income will double

NEVER!

2. Move to the ski town of your choice and your family income will be cut in half

I would need to see if the math worked, but I would do. I really don't think I could afford it right now. Can I double my salary here first? :lol:

3. Stay where you are and everything remains the same.

Well, that's kinda where we end up when the first two don't work out.


There's a couple things I wish I had done differently in the past. I twice passed up opportunities to work in Vail. In the mid 90s I was offered the chance to manage a rental shop by Vail corp on short notice. I couldn't get my shit together quick enough to get out there when they wanted me. The second time I was talking to the Vail Daily about working for them as their graphic designer. I don't really recall why I didn't go, I feel I really dropped the ball on that one.

At this point though, i wouldn't change anything because that would mean I wouldn't have the great kids I have now.

Currently I am looking for work in the Concord Manchester area. My wife and I both grew up in rural areas and would like to move to NH along the I89 corridor.

 

[Greg]

Just for conversation, what would it depend on?

I guess it wouldn't depend. It would have to be #3. I don't think we could swing things if our HHI was cut in half. If I'm keeping it real, we've probably become accustomed to a certain income level. I'm not saying we make a ton of money and we certainly don't flaunt it (I drive an almost 9 year old car and my wife's is 4+), but if we want to all go out for dinner a few times a week, or take off somewhere for the weekend, I don't want to have to constantly sit down and figure out if we can afford it. The money I'm putting away for the kid's schooling and retirement would be among the first things that would have to get cut and that's not a good move either. I'm pretty happy with the life path right now. Are there things I would change if I could? Sure, but overall, we're where we should be. We bought a new house in 2005 and having two kids in day care right now is tough, but things will get easier soon.

 

[Warp Daddy]

We did a modified #2 40 years ago and it works . i took a job in Northern NY state , in teh St Lawrence river valley because

1 It was in my field /higher education
2 it was a pristine environment with small college towns / villages and friendly people where "everyone knows Your Name " and you could leave your doors unlocked
3 . it was 75 - 90 min from Lake Placid and High peaks but with other ski . outdoor venues much closer

It has worked for us so we hope to live out our time in this environment now that we retired

 

[Trekchick]

One -
The only way I'd move to Florida is if I were a Pro golfer in training for the tour.
Even then, I'd need guaranteed time to ski, 30 days a year minimum.

Two -
I could downsize my expectation for income and live in a ski town. I don't NEED three vehicles and 6 pair of skis to enjoy life.

Three -
My current life ain't so bad. I could do this a few more years. Then live off my husband's life insurance. :lol:
*for those of you who will get your panties twisted about that comment. Just kidding!(or am I )

 

[kcyanks1]

#1--not a chance now or in the foreseeable future (or ever)
#2--not at this point, though the biggest downside to where I live is the difficulty I have getting to ski.
#3--yes

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

The How Seriously Do You Take Your Skiing thread got me thinking about this scenario.
Your job, hours, vacations, benefits will all stay the same, but your boss needs someone with your skills in different areas of the country. You are given these 3 choices:

1. Move to South Florida and your family income will double
2. Move to the ski town of your choice and your family income will be cut in half
3. Stay where you are and everything remains the same.

Which would you choose?

Option #1 would really stink for me because the majority of the skiing I do is done locally..either after-work or on weekends. Plus I freaking hate Florida and could not imagine living in an area with an endless summer. Even though there is no skiing this time of the year..I can still enjoy mild days and cool nights in the late Spring and early fall. If I were to live in South Florida and make double as much money and receive the same amount of vacation time, I could go on really steezy ski vacations out west and to Europe..3-4 weeks worth per year but that would be the only skiing I would do. I wouldn't ski in the East because Flying to Newark NJ then to Burlington VT..then a rental car to Stowe would be just as time consuming as travelling out west but for lower quality skiing. It would be sad for me to totally abandon skiing in PA, NY, and VT. Since I would only ski on a few vacations per year I'd go from a diehard skier to a recreational skier and my ability would most likely suffer. At best I would stay the same. Also double as much income...does not mean double as much take-home money.

It would also be tiring to move and start all over making new friends. It would also stink being so far away from family who mostly lives in the Northeast and I would have to use vacation time to visit relatives.

2. Option #2 is something that I could only do if I had a whole lot of money saved up. I could not imagine working for half as much money...Yes I was a skibum in Bozeman MT for 1.5 years and I made way less than half as much as I do now..but I was younger and could better tolerate being broke. Ski towns are expensive places to live and being broke in a ski town is no good. Plus even in cheaper out of the way ski towns..gas and food is still just as expensive as in the big cities. I'd want to live in a ski town for the skiing which is only 4-5 months out of the year..I really don't care about summer activities..heck..I can be hiking on the Appalachian trail 17 miles away in 25 minutes...or be at the Jersey shore in 2 hours.

3. Option #3..is the best compromise for myself. I make decent money for a single person my age..if I had a wife and kids it wouldn't be enough money but by the time that happens I'll be making more. I live near alot of relatives who I appreciate more and more as I get older..and I get taken out to dinner by my parents quite often which is one of the benefits of living in the same town. In the winter I can ski everyday locally afterwork or on weekends. I can ski the Catskills and Vermont on a whim using no vacation time or just a day or two for a long weekend..and I make enough for a trip or two out west each year.

 

[drjeff]

The How Seriously Do You Take Your Skiing thread got me thinking about this scenario.
Your job, hours, vacations, benefits will all stay the same, but your boss needs someone with your skills in different areas of the country. You are given these 3 choices:

1. Move to South Florida and your family income will double
2. Move to the ski town of your choice and your family income will be cut in half
3. Stay where you are and everything remains the same.

Which would you choose?

1) If I was 18 and single, maybe, but I'd definately get out of South Fl by the time I was 25 (all those years of constant sun exposure really ages those Florida Southern Belles quickly past age 25 ) In my mid 30's with a family, I'd atleast give it a thought if you doubled my household income. My family enjoys the water and that would allow us a few trips for skie weeks out West a year. The biggest negative with that though for me is I really don't want to go through the process of starting out in another dental practice - since it's ususally a 5 or so year process until things really get going

2) My wife and I have seriously thought about moving to the Mount Snow area and buying and/or opening up new practices. The income cut of 1/2 would be close to what it in reality would be, atleast for the first 3 to 5 years until things get going. This move would be much easier for me as a general dentist than for my wife as an orthodontist as she's have to look at opening up 2 to maybe 4 offices all across Southern/Central VT and/or SW NH or NW Mass to get enough of a patient base, and that would be a big expense, but one we've gone to the extent of actually doing some research into the finance numbers

3) The winner. Just too good of situation we're in right now(most days atleast) between comfortable jobs, good schools for the kids, and proximity to family. If we didn't have kids, then moving would likely be getting some more thought.

 

[drjeff]

Three -
My current life ain't so bad. I could do this a few more years. Then live off my husband's life insurance. :lol:
*for those of you who will get your panties twisted about that comment. Just kidding!(or am I )

Heck, my wife insinuates the same thing (and makes sure that I haven't excluded her name from my retirement fund

 

[kcyanks1]

#1--not a chance now or in the foreseeable future (or ever)
#2--not at this point, though the biggest downside to where I live is the difficulty I have getting to ski.
#3--yes

It's funny, but I didn't even see the part about your income doubling for #1. I saw "[m]ove to South Florida" and didn't want to read anymore! My answer wouldn't change, but it shows how adverse I am to moving to South Florida! (Of course, at some point if you kept raising the money I'd do it. I can just take a plane anywhere on a whim and not care about the cost, then I guess I can do regular weekend ski trips from south Florida.)

 

[Trekchick]

Heck, my wife insinuates the same thing (and makes sure that I haven't excluded her name from my retirement fund

I gotch-yer back, or should I have hers?
:lol:

 

[Johnskiismore]

1.) If I could move to Florida and income would double, no thank you. Nice place to visit, great place for spring break in college, and I would recomend to everyone to watch at least one shuttle launch! Not to live full though.

2.) Move to a ski town and have income cut in half? Pretty much did that eight years ago when I moved up from Boston, MA. Always wanted to live in a ski town, and figured it was now or never. With great skiing minutes up the road, you don't mind the income loss, but after the snow melts, reality sets in. Once established you network yourself with the locals see where there's money to be made and how you can obtain it. Personally I got into Real Estate, and it worked out quite well.

3.) Stay where you are and everything remains the same? That's the problem, practically everything is going to be the same. Blah.

 

[andyzee]

Most like I would go with 3 stay were I am. But if 2 were doable, lower cost of living, I most definetly do that.

 

[abc]

I'm not at all serious about skiing. ;-) But I'm serious about NOT liking heat!

#1) So Florida just won't do. I've lived there for 2 years in the past and absolutely hated it. Though the double my income part would make a big difference. I would do it for a short while (5 years?) and save up the money and retire. (I AM that close).

#2) Actively hunting RIGHT NOW (sending out resumes right this moment)! Again, it isn't just about skiing. I just love a certain place that's insanely beautiful, with great hiking and mountain biking, plus GREAT skiing in the winter to boot. But I won't have to do it for half the income. More like 2/3 to 3/4. It's not the money. I have to like the work I do, or the skiing and the mountain will not be enough.

#3) Staying where I am is what I'm doing until # 2 becomes reality. I've been going after #2 for the past 6 months (maybe a bit longer). Will keep on trying until I get something suitable.

 

[ComeBackMudPuddles]

1 - Why not? Assuming other expenses stay roughly the same, I'd be able to take more trips and not feel guilty not going to the "local hill" (which is currently a long drive away).

2 - Eh....I like to ski, but, between the increased expense of skiing all the time and the 50% cut in income, this would be tough for the fam.

3 - Meh....Tough to think of options 1 and 2 and then conclude "keeping things the way they are" is the best choice.....

So, Mickey Mouse, here I come!!

 

[KingM]

#2 is exactly the decision I made about 5 years ago. The time I spend with my wife and kids alone is worth it and the skiing part is a definite perk.

I'm not sure I'll be here forever, though, as there are tradeoffs in every choice you make in life.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

For the people who live in a ski town in the east...why didn't you move out west???