Hypothetical scenario.

You live in Miami, have a good job, great wife, good house, couple of nice cars, life is good, etc. You're not actively seeking other employment because you are relative happy at your current job. However one day, you get the phone call from a company that you consider to be your strongest competitor. They were given strong references about you by executive recruitment firms and Google. They offer to double your salary, promises of 80% - 100% bonuses, signing bonus and relocation costs plus all of the regular benefits (vacation, health, 401K). They want you so bad that they create a position just for you and state that they are willing to do whatever it takes for your services.

The catch.

You have to move across country to Los Angeles. Miami is home, where all your family and friends live. You and your wife know no one in LA. Of course you will eventually meet new friends but they could never replace lifetime friends and family in Miami. Sure the extra money is nice but money isn't everything and certainly cannot bring about long term happiness. Moving to a new city, knowing no one may be extremely depressing in the short term, especially for your wife.

So what would you do? Stay in Miami or take the new job and move to LA?

 

Stay, but mention to upper management that you had the offer, best case, you get a raise to stay anyway, ok case, you stay exactly the same, worst case, you get fired, but have a job with double the money and all expeses paid waiting fo you.

cant really lose.

Dave

 

Stay where you are.

Next time, give us a hard one.

 

Easy choice - stay where you are. There's something special about friends and family that money really can't replace.

 

I moved, but only ~150 miles.

 

I agree. The grass is always greener. Don't mess with happy.

 

stay in Miami plus the cost of living is more expensive out in LA

and i agree with you money isnt always everything

 

Didnt they make a movie about this with Keanu Reeves, Al Pacino and Charlize Theron?

If you were young and unwed, then I'd say go for it. But since you have some pretty deep roots, you have to stay.

 

In your case you should stay. If you think about it your salary is not really doubled, since cost of living in LA can be twice as much or more.

 

Been there, done that, have the pay stubs to prove it. Hard to say what is right. I always went with the money, from SF to NY and back to LA. I'll agree happiness is harder to maintain than money. But poor & happy just doesn't light a candle to well-off & happy.