I’m 27 and working full-time in an administration job that I adore. I’m very happy where I live, although it’s nowhere near where I grew up and away from most of my family. I have a boyfriend who lives in a city a few hours’ drive from me – we see each other at least once a month and talk on the phone every few days. No children.
Even though I’m happier than I’ve ever been before (I imagine it on a graph – charting an arbitrary happiness score throughout my life according to various factors), something has stirred in my subconscious and I’m seriously considering a big shake-up in direction. Mostly, it’s career-related. I’d like to get into a university and study something I’ve discovered I have a passion for – something that in future could translate into a much better career prospect than the admin job I have right now. I do love my current job and I'd be very sad to move on.
I’m quite firmly decided that this course is the next step for me (if I’m able to find a uni to accept me!). The dilemma comes when I try to think about where I’d want to study. Would I stay in the small city I’m currently in? At some point in the future, me and my boyfriend want to move in together. If I’m tied into a three year course in my current city, it could put a roadblock in the way of that happening until I’m finished. (I know the possibility of switching to another uni may be available, but I also know myself and how I react to big changes – I worry it would take me a long time to re-adjust if I moved part-way through).
I moved to my current city to be with my now ex. After we split, it was the job that kept me here. If I left the job to study, why not move as well? Get two massive life changes out of the way at the same time..
So, if I moved away – I’d have two options in reality. One has been suggested by my DSis – she has a flat which is empty most of the time (used for visiting her DD) in same city where she studied the exact degree I’d like to get into – I could live at her place and get to see her every fortnight! Currently we see each other maybe a few times a year.. She’d also be able to give me practical help and advice with course stuff if we were spending more time together this way.
The other option would be to look at moving to my boyfriend’s city. I don’t know yet whether that would mean moving in together right away – although if I decide to move, it would be at least the summer before I left my job and packed up, so by that point we might be ready to take that next step. For now, I’m not completely decided yet on that.
What am I asking here then? Well, I guess.. firstly, is it crazy to be thinking about leaving a job I love? And if it’s not – what would you do, if you found yourself with these options? On the one hand, I'd like to have a closer relationship with my sister in future - I'd also like the same with my boyfriend!