Golden Handcuffs: Time to Make a Change?

freeheeln wrote

nepa wrote

 The key is not having children

Would not trade any number of ski days for no kids.

Absolutely!

West Chester

My favorite ski days are skiing with my son who can rip.  He is the reason I live in the mountains.

Skiing is not cheap so too many kids probably are not conducive to getting to a lot of skiing in though.

I also had a great time teaching my kids. they grew up skiing parts of the mnt most people don't see. walking away from a guaranteed retirement is easier said then done.

If Harvey had a like button Coach I would hit it.

Gunny J wrote

If Harvey had a like button Coach I would hit it.

It is under "More"

I walked away from a small biz in 1997 , midlife crack up, luckily my partner has worked very hard on my behalf.
Skied every day the chairs run ( except injuries), rarely bored.
Social skiing is even better with powder snow.

This winter its payback time,I'm hosting my partner on the dream ski trip.

For me, it's all what I make of it day to day to get through the daily work grind. I've ran the gamut of dream jobs to the more recent not so dream jobs. Experienced a lot over the past 33 years I've worked in terms of the daily work grind One thing's for sure..when the tables turn, and the transition from satisfying work and accomplishment shifts downward to shit show, it really stands out like a sore thumb. Yes, one can move on, but depending on so many factors, i.e., age, desired location to work, matching opportunity, to hook another acceptable position... seems more challenging to me then in the past. Career change is possible, but becomes more of a fantasy than reality for most other than the true risk takers. I'll figure things out for myself. My wife suggested I should pack it in at 63, 6 years to go. Seems like an eternity right now, but will probably fly by quickly. Hopefully I'll still be in one piece and moving under my own power by then!

I can relate, though my handcuffs are more bronze than gold. I'm currently mentally sussing out a blog post that will be entitled "Letter to Myself Ten Years Ago" or something like that. The bottom line is definitely make the move to ski country but don't take that next step in your career once you get there, it isn't worth it. Don't buy the house, don't buy the nice car, don't entrap yourself in debt that forces you to keep working when your job eventually becomes a grind. I wouldn't have listened, but it will be an interesting blog post to write any ways.

Bottom line is I took that next step one beyond what was satisfactory. I lived within 2 hours of any ski area I had interest in skiing. I wasn't making a killing but I was making enough to afford rent, a used car, and a comfortable living. Then I got the itch when a promotion was offered. I still kinda live in ski country but a little further away... but I am now tied to my job due to our mortgage and car loan. I didn't think I'd ever hate my job when I took on those financial burdens... but there is no way I could find a job with similar pay without moving... and I can't move because we are underwater.

So the handcuffs aren't quite golden but they are definitely noticeable and not appreciated. Having flexibility to just up and leave is something I never really valued until I wanted to do so but couldn't. Up until then, I just took it for granted.

But working for retirement? F that. I've debated cashing almost half of my retirement out to pay everything off and walk away. I can't because once you get to a certain age, you just can't do the same impulsive costly stuff you once could when you were younger. I can't look at that much money as a sunk cost. So I carry on... but I do so knowing I'm too weak to take the harder option.

No secret that I'm a pretty lazy mod/admin, especially with regard to breaking out threads.  Glad I did this one as there has been some real real posted here.

IMO the only bigger commitment than a house underwater is a child. I'm 56 and I have a nine year old.  We are in a nice town with a good school and reality is that I'm here for another 9.

I'm at bigtime turning point. I've been with my company for 29 years, and now the gauntlet has been thrown down -  I'm either all in with the company or I am out.  Decision is a tough one... continue walking to work, working for the company I love vs going out on my own or commuting 90+ mins each way to NY.  All three options are risks.

Harv

You seem to have very desirable and portable skills that could make a move full time to the mountains possible.  Tele commuting either for a company or as a consultant is very doable.  I would say say it's easier from the Southern Daks that I am doing up here.

The cost of living is much lower than where you live now.  You could take a hefty pay cut and come out ahead in the bank account.

I've seen you post before about the family issues and I'm sure your sister weighed in on that.  From what you have written about her she seems like the your sister would go for the quality of life over the things one acquires.  Listen to Zac Browns Homegrown "everything you need and nothing that you don't".  Your daughter is young enough to make a change to a simpler life but another year is so that will become much harder.

The mountains are calling Harv.  Do it!  It's been 10 years and I have not regretted it for even a second.