So...ok.

Amt2109

H rings me from work this evening. There's a job opportunity in Alice Springs (Australia) that he can apply for. He came home tonight and we had about a ten minute chat about it.

So, pros:
- careerwise for him, this is a good move
- He'd be earning more than he is now
- He's getting itchy feet in MD having spent his life moving every four years.

Cons:
- Snakes (he's scared of) Spiders (I'm scared of)
- Alice Springs is in the middle of fu-nowhere.
- Possible green card issues (mine).

It would be for about three years with the option to extend. Part of me wants to say 'yay, honey, go for it!'. And part of me (the part shaking in a corner) is thinking 'another huge move?' and it'll be starting in May - so less than a year after the last huge move I made. He's used to it, I'm not.

And he needs to tell them by FRIDAY.

Am I crazy/selfish for being just a bit, y'know, scared shiitless and worried?

TheDuckis

Go. Go go go.

mrsconn23

It's a once in a lifetime opportunity.   Something like this may never come up again.  GO!

VarunaTT

You're not crazy or selfish to be scared or worried.  But still, what an amazing opportunity and a great thing to do.  I had friends who lived in NZ for 3 years right after they were married and they loved it.

MinM

No. Listen to your gut, but talk to him about it.

6fsn

Snakes and spiders wouldn't keep me here.  I think anyone would be a little "WOAH" about it, but how awesome an experience.

*Barbie*

i would go in a heartbeat.

hmonkey

1) there are snakes AND spiders in baltimore.  and lots of other, scarier things (did you not see "the wire"?  i haven't seen past the second season because i get too freaked out that baltimore is only an hour away.)

2) alice springs is actually right in the middle of australia.  you're not in the middle of nowhere -- you are perfectly situated to travel to any part of australia if you want.  and fiji, vanuatu, the solomon islands are not that far away.  might want to avoid the maldives for a little while longer.

3) wait until he actually has the job to deal with the green card issues.

4) the more you move, the better you get at it.  and why does it matter that it's been less than a year since your last move?  what's the big deal about a year?

dharmabunny

Not crazy at all.  Not saying one way or the other, but this warrants some initial research and a lot more discussion.

Snake and spider phobia and short moving turnaround time.  No biggie, I would not put that high on the cons list.  You'll adjust or man up and do what you have to do.

Relatives/family.  How important is it that they be able to visit on a very regular basis?  If they were able to maybe visit once (if at all), would this be a dealbreaker for either of you?

Alice Springs might be in the middle of everything, but how much will it cost you to get out of that middle?  It may be a plane ride to everywhere/anywhere.  Getting anywhere big may be over a 1-2 day drive.  Can you live with that?

Green card/visa issues:  Is it imperative that you work?  What if the only visa that you could easily manage to get prohibited you from working legally there?  If you are career tracked in terms of your job, will possibly working outside of your field (or not working at all) be detrimental?  Would you be flexible in that regard?

Because I'm a wet blanket that way :P

Amt2109

Thanks for the encouragement guys.

I didn't sleep at all last night because he kinda dropped it on me right before bed and he can sleep through anything.

Relatives... his family are very spread out, and mine are in England and can't/won't travel. (I do have a cousin in Melbourne but thats over a days drive). Some of his family are wealthy and ballsy enough to want to do the trip... I know mine wouldn't. We probably couldn't afford to leave too often either.

Green card issues... well I'm currently waiting on my green card. I can't leave the states til that gets here anyway... I was thinking renewing issues... he tells me it'd be fine because the base is US soil. But I've got the fun of ringing up DHS today and figuring how that would all go down.

I wouldn't mind not working I guess if it really had to be that way - I'm still doing (not doing) that right now.

I think part of what's causing me to panic is that August this year we were supposed to go back to the UK to have a party with my family. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't give a toss about the party. But, my dad is 83 and going downhill fast - he's currently in hospital with multiple pulmonary embollisms. It would be the last chance I get to see him (if he can hold on that long) and I know we can't afford two large trips like that this year. So it feels like one or the other for me and I'm feeling torn about that.

L_Woods

Everyone already gave the answers I would have, but I am posting only to say I really want Alice Springs chicken from Outback now. Cheese.