I was sworn to secrecy on this topic, but had already let it slip to my BFF (yeah J-dogg!!) beforehand-- so since she is the only person on this site that I interact with in "real" life (so-to-speak, as opposed to "cyber" life lol)--I guess I can share it here.

In case my life is too incredibly boring or I'm too delinquent in my entries to the point where all but my screenname is but a memory---

We live in Frederick, Maryland. (Come stalk me y'all!)

Reese is very seriously pursuing/considering a job opportunity in Galveston, Texas.

His work environment as a federal employee has gotten pretty hostile as the proposed budget cuts for FY13 (fiscal year) have many of the folks around him worrying for their job security. Additionally, the head of his division was recently replaced and the new supervisor is pretty micro-managing. He feels as though he would rather be the one to cut ties if job separation is ultimately to occur and he has mentioned in the past that he would like to live somewhere closer to "nature" (which means we either live in a forrest or by a beach in his mind). 

Maryland is so expensive that if Reese lost his job, even though we make the same salary at this point, it is unlikely that I could support the family on what I earn.  

A former army captain under whom Reese had worked when he was military is now working at the Animal Research Center in Galveston (as a civilian) as is another former colleague that he has been emailing. The captain (Dr. Klages) came back to Maryland on a recruiting trip where he essentially convinced Reese that he should abandon ship here and move to Texas where "standard of living costs are much lower" and "they could pay your moving expenses" and "you could go back to school" and "it would be a RAISE as compared to what you earn now"--

Obviously, this move would be a massive ordeal for a variety of reasons. I'm not really sure how I feel about it to be completely honest.

Here's my current pro/con list:

Con's

-I don't really maintain many friendships, but Joli & I have been best friends for almost 13 years and it would be REALLY REALLY hard to move somewhere that I couldn't see or talk to her regularly (as she is not much for the phone though she is pretty good on text!)

-I JUST got a job that I really like and that pays quite well.

-All three of my children's living grandparents are located in Maryland, we would be moving them to Texas where they would have much less contact/access. I know that my mother in specific will guilt me extremely hard about that.

-It would be a huge change and there is no guarantee that it would be for the best. After all the stress/details of moving and making a big decision--what could be worse than realizing it was the wrong one?

-I think the school systems in Texas may not provide the same level of learning as local schools (not discrimminating, just researching!)

-I might miss snow. Can you imagine growing up with no snow?? -I'm sure that some of you can... :)

-Even if Reese's salary is higher, he won't be earning what we both earn together now-- what if it is not enough money, even if with the lower costs in TX?

Pro's

-I might be able to work out some sort of telecommuting arrangement with my current job.

-Even if I couldn't keep my job, due to the lower costs, we could probably afford a decent home and I might even have the option to be a stay-at-home mommy for a while if I wanted to- maybe just until the kids are enrolled in school. Depends on how it goes. I think having a backyard will make the 'staying at home' thing feel a little less suffocating. As of now we're all mushed together in a tiny apartment with no breathing room and it is tough to get outside in freezing weather plus four flights of stairs between us and outside.

-We would live about 20 minutes from the beach in a fairly temperate area where the climate pretty much stays between 70-90 all year round. (We would live on the mainland in La Marque or somewhere thereabouts which is close to the coastline). 

-Reese's job would be 4 ten-hour days per week, so we would have three-day weekends with the kids which would be great for little trips and such.

-A round-trip ticket to Baltimore is only $180-- which considering the distance is not very much at all--so I could visit home a few times per year.

-It would be a fresh start and something new/different since I've lived in the same state my entire life with the exception of ONE semester in college living abroad in Spain.

-Not living by my parents means less feeling disappointed when they aren't supportive or feeling like I have to do all the work to ensure that they see the kids all the time since they don't ever really like to drive. I would also feel less...monitered...if that makes sense.

There's much more to consider--but my work day is about over so I'm going to have to end here. If anyone has any input/advice, I'm all ears!!!

Until there's a job offer on the table, I guess none of it really matters--but I can tell that he is pretty set on this--- though of course would not make a final decision of this caliber without my mutual agreement-- He seems to think he has an 80% shot at this job--that's fairly high.

*sigh*. Must life always be so complicated?