NC - regular UN potentially recognisable. Cutted up pear, etc.
Background: DH main earner, 8-6 kind of hours. I work PT in a busy job involving shiftwork. My job is relatively transferable but I've recently (last 12m or so) found a team I like and I'd like to stay with. In order to transfer, the new workplace would have to be in/around a fairly major city. 2DCs, one in primary school, one in nursery. We've previously relocated a few times with DH's work, including overseas. I've not enjoyed the constant moving (every 2-3 years) but it's been right for our family to do it.
DH's company have recently announced they are moving a number of the regional offices to London. His choices are effectively:
- Commute from current home - East mids, not far from East Coast mainline. Financial assistance will be given for at least a couple of years. Expectation would be 3 days in London office with the remaming two days from home or in a token regional office.
Pros: keep house, continuity for DCs/us, I stay in the same job/
Cons: Could be expensive if financial support withdrawn, tiring, isolating?, I'd need help with childcare when shifts fell unhelpfully.
- Move to commuterville nearer London - one-off lump sum to help with relocation costs would probably be available.
Pros: closer to work/mates, would be a pretty much permanent move (though we hoped this last one would be too!).
Cons: House prices would be significantly higher, I'd need to look for a new job. Uprooting DD1 again. I'd still need help with childcare given how far out we'd probably end up living (see house prices, above).
- Leave the company. This terrifies him, he likes his job, the company (despite this move!) and his colleagues. Probably not an option we want to look at - and prospects locally are probably only best described as fair. I'd become the main earner and would have to step up to FT work, at least in the short term (not a problem).
I'm tired of moving house, and I really quite like our home, our neighbours here, feel like we're making friends at school, etc. We have people who like our kids enough to babysit them regularly! I want to put roots down. He's of a similar view, but is afraid of the commute - he's worried about damaging relationships with the DCs, interrupting his hobby (does 2x weeknights at present), general exhaustion...
So I'm looking for your tales of commuting - mostly successes (please 
), but cautionary tales also welcomed. Thanks in advance...