a little twitchy

[aroraborealis]

So, I'm expecting a job offer from this organization, and even though I don't have it, yet, I'm in the panicked stage of, "Oh, my god, is this really what I want to do?" because if I DO get an offer, and take it, it will mean moving to Portland, ME. When I was thinking about it theoretically, this didn't seem like a problem; I like Portland, it's not terribly far from Boston, and I'll get to move in with nifty people. Of course, now that it's looking a little more likely, I'm also focussing on the cons. So I think it's time to get all this down on "paper" for real evaluation time.

Pros:

The job sounds excellent: it's interesting and challenging, with a good mix of different tasks, and clear opportunities for growth in a variety of areas.

The organization is neat, and I'd feel good about working for them.

Portland is a fabulous town.

razil and blivious are nifty and would be fun to live with.

Portland is only 2 hours away, so visiting back and forth shouldn't be too difficult.

Cons:

Portland is smaller than Boston. I hadn't realized that I was quite so attached to the idea of living in a city, but now that I'm thinking about it, I'm worrying about things like, "How will I meet my type of people if I'm not in the city?"

Also, I'm so shy and introverted, it can be hard for me to make new friends, so moving somewhere new requires some real emotional energy.

I may need to buy a car.

I will have to move out of my current extremely fabulous home, which is causing me more pain, even on the theoretical level, than I anticipated.

I will miss all of my friends. Even though Portland is only 2 hours from Boston, I anticipate that moving away will add a big hurdle to many of my friendships, and I'll miss the impromptu swinging-by or last minute planning that comes of being local.

It means packing and moving, which we all know I hate doing.

Comments

[snowy-owlet.livejournal.com]

Pro: Having you, razil, and blivious all in a clump makes a visit from Owlet easier (and therefore more likely).

[orangelemon.livejournal.com]

Sending you good luck across the miles! I know how it feels to have to make these kinds of decisions. :)

[totient]

As much as I would hate to lose the Bestest Housemate Ever, I have some confidence you'll eventually be back, after going to grad school and an extended tour in South America and so on. So let me rebut those cons a little bit:

• How much do you really cross the river anyway? Portland is easily bigger than Somerville.
  
• I spent a weekend in Portland this summer and met more, and more accessible, of "your type of people" than I knew what to do with. Go out flying a kite at Bug Point. Go down to the stealth women-positive sex shop on Exchange Street. Go to a used book store. They're everywhere!
  
• Fuji Sushi!
  
• There's rail service to Portland now -- and some of the stops along the way are awfully convenient too.
  

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the flip side -- very helpful on all fronts!

[mrf-arch.livejournal.com]

Also, I'm so shy and introverted, it can be hard for me to make new friends, so moving somewhere new requires some real emotional energy.

Fear not! The life long inhabitants of Maine (sometimes known informally as "Down easters", presumably because their state is to the east of the country, and everyone's down with that) are among the most outgoing and welcoming people in the world. You'll have no trouble being befriended by scads of 'em, even if you're not the type to usually make the first move.

[yummygirl.livejournal.com]

Well not that it's a contributing factor, but some of us Boston-ites have relocated to the Metro Portland area, and would love to ease your transition.

I may even be able to help with the move on this end.

[jordanwillow.livejournal.com]

can't you just use skis to get around portland?

:)

good luck. i know how this feels; and it'll all work out in the end.