in a strange space

[allyn]

it's 3.5 months until we go on holiday to the U.S., and the plan is that as soon as we return from that trip we'll start working on getting Bex her U.S. residency so that we can move to Oakland in March of 2012

Comments

[meesto]

Have you considered the benefits of *not* moving to the US? If you are happy, then why not stay put and see how things continue to develop?

[allyn]

i'm not closing off any options out of hand, but at this point we're still planning on moving. but we're not really committed until we start the U.S. residency for Bex ... and we're not doing that until we get back from holiday* so i suppose one could say that to a certain extent we're still in a wait and see mode although we have taken some steps/trending toward our plan for moving.

* the only thing that would change that is if i suddenly landed a really good job offer in the U.S., at which point we would start Bex's paperwork immediately. this is all very unlikely given that i am not really applying anywhere in the US yet beyond a casual email conversation with an old friend and co-worker

[rivet]

I certainly have fallen prey to the 'sunk cost' fallacy, doing things because I've committed time/attention/resources to doing them rather than because they're the best choice right at that moment. What if the commitment was to *being able* to move to the US at X time? (i.e. having enough money, an up to date CV, strong network, etc) Then, if it seems like the better plan at that juncture, you can jump on it?

I guess the question I'd be asking myself in your position is what I'm not doing because I think I'm leaving in X amount of time.

[allyn]

we are, admittedly, wondering about if this is the best time to move to the US.
Evil Cheryl (Foreman) is having to move back to NJ, partially because she hasn't been able to find employment in several months.
both Karyn and Phoebe have recently been laid off from their respective jobs.

none of those three work in the tech industry, which means their situations aren't strictly analogous to Bex's and mine, but i think it is an indication that the US economy is still in pretty shaky condition.
and as someone who just passed the six-year mark with my current employer, i've really come to value having stable income.
as i was just saying to Chris we're still planning on moving but we're not really committed to the move until we file Bex's US residency application

not doing

[allyn]

it's part and parcel of the whole "saving money" gambit, but nonetheless think merits its own mention.
one thing we would be doing differently if Bex and i weren't moving to the US is to not have housemates. sharing our apartment is a concession specifically made to further our plans.

[8ball_gag]

I still have days where I mull over the Melbourne decision. I've [tentatively] decided recently that I want to be in Melbourne by this time next year.

Life is getting somewhat better here but it seems a lot of people I know are moving away at some stage, you and Bex included. You two will be missed :(
Still weighing up the pros and cons but there are very few "pros" keeping me here after new years.

Oh, and I totally agree with the weather thing - that's a HUGE factor.

(not sure what all this has to do with your post but meh)

[allyn]

i'd say that your comments are very relevant to my post. and i appreciate them.
you've given me your own perspective on similar questions to the ones that i'm looking at.

... and you also confirmed what i had already started to note as a trend. the way people responded to my questions very much lined up with their own decisions around these same issues. and this response shouldn't be at all surprising, but it was interesting (to me, at least) how very clear it was in this scenario.