Sorry I fell off the blogging wagon again. I miss you guys!
A lot of changes happened. DH left gov. job for private industry and a lot more money. We bought a dream house in Arlington, 15 min from the White House, so we are near a lot of things. I love this house! Beautiful, big, stylish, full of extras and details (it was build by a successful furniture upholsterer for his family, so this was quality build). I never dreamed I would be here. We sold our NYC coop, btw.
Everything was set. Hubby's job is great and he is appreciated, kids schools are great, little one got a spot in daycare... We were very happy. And then we are offered another dream. That conflicts with this one. A job in Switzerland that we always wanted. HD applied before we even bought this house, and the wheels there turn very slowly. Now we are offered this rare opportunity.
Being expats is something we wanted to do, since we were college students, studied abroad and met expats there. And I want to give kids diverse experiences and a pretty different European lifestyle... Not to mention, at their age, they would pick up French in no time.
But, we would be giving up everything here, have to purge entire house and pack up what we can take, rent it out, move schools, face new unknowns in the new job, start everything again. Plus, the cost of living is much much higher there, but his salary would be about the same (benefits and leave are better though). So it would be downsizing and living much more modestly, but we really could see and show kids so much more of the world...
Would you give up your dream life for this?
November 29th, 2019 at 06:40 am
November 29th, 2019 at 07:04 am 1575011067
November 29th, 2019 at 07:22 am 1575012147
November 29th, 2019 at 01:37 pm 1575034678
November 29th, 2019 at 02:31 pm 1575037914
I worked overseas for a short time, and it was one of the highlights of my career.
If your husband has the skills/resume to get the job he has and be offered this job, he will be able to find a good job when this adventure is over.
You will be keeping the house, so will have it to come back to.
Your things will never mean more than the memories you will make.
Your children will have an advantage as they move through life because of the experience.
Life is short. I say go for the dream!
November 29th, 2019 at 03:32 pm 1575041533
November 29th, 2019 at 05:31 pm 1575048663
November 29th, 2019 at 07:50 pm 1575057054
November 30th, 2019 at 05:10 am 1575090617
Butterscotch, tax situation wont be a problem.
Jokeabee, the job... may be more stressful. In his current job, he is in a senior position with full authority over his team. In a new one, he will not be. But, on the other hand, he will have 4 extra weeks of vacation.
Lots of Ideas, Monkey Mama, FrugalTexan, that is what I am thinking.
November 30th, 2019 at 01:56 pm 1575122166
But if money is no issue then go for it.
November 30th, 2019 at 05:47 pm 1575136039
December 1st, 2019 at 12:59 am 1575161967
Yes, I would. I'd make the concessions to make it work. Houses and jobs come in different versions, but this opportunity is presented now.
December 1st, 2019 at 03:57 pm 1575215821
December 2nd, 2019 at 01:58 pm 1575295093
The cost of living makes it a tougher call. Any chance your DH might get an overseas assignment with his current job (with a salary adjustment to maintain something similar to current lifestyle)?
December 3rd, 2019 at 04:37 pm 1575391058