I'm thinking of making a major life change. 

I have been offered a job.  Let me start off by saying I've been in my current job for 16 years.  I am comfortable here, I like my co-workers and my job a lot.  However, it's a 45 minute drive to and from work on a good day when traffic's not backed up.  The new job I've been offered is 5 minutes from my house.  I could go home for lunch, not to mention all the other conveniences it would have, being in my hometown.  Plus it would be a promotion for me, but only slightly higher pay.

Seems like a no-brainer, what with gas prices as they are now and the time I'd save driving back and forth every day, right?  Then why am I having such a hard time making this decision? 

I feel a huge sense of guilt leaving my position after so long.  Why do I feel this way?  No one's irreplaceable.  I haven't had a raise in 3 years.  This new job would be a great career change for me, in every sense of the word. 

I just do not like change.  And what if I'm looking at this through rose colored glasses?  I'm comfortable here and it's scary to jump off the deep end.......

But I think I'm going to take the plunge.  No, I'm going to stay where I am.  Geez, I don't know what the heck I'm going to do. 

Stay tuned.....

How often we must bear the challenges of life; The endless roller coaster between happiness and sorrow; The constant ups and downs of daily strife. And always the question remains .... why? Life is not an easy road for most; It twists and turns with many forks in the road, Although always, and inevitably, we are given a choice ... Do we turn to the right ... or the left? Do we take the high road ... or the low road? Do we take the easy path ... or the difficult one? Decisions are not easy for those struggling for direction ... And sometimes the many choices and signs become overwhelming. While standing at a crossroads in life, The urge is to take the most comfortable path; The road with least resistance ... The shortest or most traveled route. And yet, if we've been down that comfortable road before; Have gleaned its lessons in life, and learned from our experiences; Do we yet again follow the known? Or does our destiny lie in another direction? The fear of the road less traveled is tangible and all too real; It manifests itself in many ways, And tends to cloud the issues that might otherwise be clear. It is in these times of confusion, That we must seek peace and solitude; Time to contemplate on our life, Our experiences and our choices past; Time to look back, and reflect on what we have learned Without fear or confusion. For only each of us knows our own personal thoughts; Our unique past and personal history; The experiences that brought us to the crossroads we now face. We can always learn a small degree from others experiences, And yet ... no one person can walk in our shoes, Others know not, the trials and tribulations faced in private ... For each is individual ... unique ... and personal. And that is why ... while standing at a crossroads, Only "we" can formulate the decision for ourselves; The true direction that lies within; The choices we must deliberate on with clarity and wisdom. For it is only through personal reflection, That we can now choose our destiny; ... Our next adventure; ... And the future we will embrace.

I love this.

Aww, I love you, Stantrell!! 

Punky,

     I have found myself in these same situations several times. I have ALWAYS found that it is better to take a risk to better yourself. This change sounds like it could be better for you financially, even if slightly at first, in the long run and sometimes it is not good to get stuck in our comfort zones. I can forwarn you that if you decide to go for it and take the new job, I am almost quite sure there will be times you question your decision. That will just be what is called a "grumble phaze". It will eventually pay off!! I know it!!

I kind of collect quotes and sayings and I have one for you I think might help.

Andre Gide:

One doesn't discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time.

 

MY OPINION:   DO IT!!! Things that are worth it are never easy...........

 PS. Congratulations on the offer either way!! You must have worked really hard for it!!!

WAY TO GO PUNKY!

Woo-hoo!  Punky's got a bloggity blog!  Wait!  Does this mean no more PMs or phone calls?!

Well you already know how I feel about the job situation!!

JUMP!!! 

No way - pm's and phone calls remain as they are!!!!!!! 

(Am I supposed to reply to replies to my bloggity blog?? I don't know how this works exactly....)

Thanks for all the great advice everyone!!

You only are required to reply to me.  You know me--HIGH maintenance!! 

do it! hey change isn't bad once in awhile. being in the millitary for almost 8 years i've grown accustomed to change. i'm always getting moved around, given new responsibilities, and so on. it kinda sucks to deal with it as often as i do but it keeps you on your toes.

plus i mean, do the math. not only will you be getting paid better but you won't be using nearly as much gas which is a raise in itself. it's nice to have your work right in town. makes everything easier!

DO IT!

....there's change & then there's RADICAL change.....your situation doesn't sound radical, so think of it that way.....if you decide to run off and become a hippie or run for president, that's radical
 

.......as an old lady (LOL) I can tell you that you will never know your own strength/brillance/happiness until you step out of the box & take that adventure of doing something that you'd never think of yourself trying...... give yourself the ok to fail, because most people fear change thinking it could go "all wrong" ~ once you accept both (failure & success) scenerios as possibilities, it's a clear path to actually succeeding (rather than failure) because you have acknowledged all the possibilities......Just remember to let all your old coworkers know how much they were a part of your life, how special that time was even if you never let them know that (along the way) & you will be "free" to begin a new job/relationship with coworkers without any lingering "unfinished" stuff from the old one......

Life's too short to pass up anything that captures your attention   Go for it.....

I love you guys!

Hey Punky. I know change is very scary as well. but i have changed jobs myself in the past and i am still best friends with two people from my previous job and still hang out all the time. New people bring new meaning into your life. they can also open new doors spiritually for you and maybe make life even better. but of course there are those few like sludge we just wish we could conveniently avoid. hahahah. (kidding sludge).

 but your heart will tell u the truth and you will know what to do. I'm not sure if you are spiritual but i always ask for a sign. but you must be intuned with this to know the truth. think of it like a rebirth. god i wish i had something cooking for me like that. life gets stagnent afer a while of doing the same thing. and you could even be brought to new places and faces for a reasons you dont' even know. like to help others in a wierd way. but like i said your heart will tell you the truth. Good luck.

Ah Punky my dear, you said the magic words "I'm comfortable"  and because of them you must take the plunge and take the new challenge.  16 years in one job is phenomenal and because of that they're probably taking you for granted - hence the crappy pay rises. 

I hear ya, we all fear change and it comes with an endless list of "wha ifs?" but my advice is get out of your comfort zone and grab the new world by the scruff of the neck and shout "I'M HERE - BRING IT ON!!!"

Whatever you decide, you'll make the right decision for you and your family, that I'm sure of and you know you've always got the support of everyone here, 'cos we think you rock and rule!!!

I so hear ya Punky!!! I am very comfortable in my job too, I've known the bosses for a few years now but I deserve a much better pay than this but then I just stick around cuz it is kind of easy and am bloody scared of the unknown. So I wont look for something else but if I have an offer, then it's another thing alltogether! Grab the occasion....

I walk to work now in about 10 mins (and it's a nice pedestrian path too!) but I've always lived in big cities (Milan, London,  Paris) where it could take you up to 1.5 hours to get home after work (or school for that matter) and I tell you, it does change your life!!!!!! Especially if you have a family...To have lunch at home (no more junk food) and save money on that and gas, no traffic stress, you walk (which is something that we dont all do enough of), new friends and you gain 2 hours of your life!

I'm not sure if you do the job you have always dreamt of but I dont...I like it but it's not what I wanted to be doing so I do it properly and smile but..It is only my job, not my life...."wonder should I be working so late?"....If I can have 2 more hours with my friends I'd take 'em!!!!

Plus changes keep you young...routine makes you grow old!!!!

I say GO FOR IT!!!!