Job offer in Baltimore

[Ultralight]

I got an official job offer in Baltimore.

My current job vs. Baltimore job:
$50k vs. $52k
15 vacation days vs. 22 vacation days
0 personal days vs. 3 personal days
0 administrative days off at Xmas vs. 3 administrative days off at Xmas

Sick days are the same; retirement is essentially the same

Thoughts?

[bae]

All I know about Baltimore is what I learned from "The Wire"...

[Ultralight]

All I know about Baltimore is what I learned from "The Wire"...

During the interview process I learned that most Baltimorians HATE "The Wire." haha

[herbgeek]

For me, it wouldn't be enough of a bump to justify the expense and effort of picking up any moving. But that's me. You have expressed an interest in trying something different/living somewhere else and maybe the extra time off is something you value more.

[Ultralight]

For me, it wouldn't be enough of a bump to justify the expense and effort of picking up any moving. But that's me. You have expressed an interest in trying something different/living somewhere else and maybe the extra time off is something you value more.

Vacation days mean A LOT to me. And my move would be one carload (minimalism).

The renting of an apartment and such is a pain though.

[razz]

Sometimes, it is helpful to remember that the decision is not forever but you could advance there or find another job closer to where you want to be.

[Float On]

Did you check cost of living. How much more is an apartment in Baltimore than in OH? Crab cakes are great. That might be worth the move. It was worth us doing the American Craft Shows there...

[Ultralight]

Did you check cost of living. How much more is an apartment in Baltimore than in OH? Crab cakes are great. That might be worth the move. It was worth us doing the American Craft Shows there...

Cost of living is higher, especially if you want to buy a house. But I don't want to buy a house. House prices there are apparently insane.

I like oysters. So that'd be cool. haha

[iris lilies]

All I know about Baltimore is what I learned from "The Wire"...

yes, to that.

Much of Baltimore‘s Victorian architecture looks exactly like St. Louis’ Victorian architecture. There are times during The Wire when I could not tell if I was looking at Baltimore or St. Louis. Plus, the public housing from the 50s and 60s where
The Wire took place looks exactly like the public housing units Two blocks from my house.

Baltimore is Edgar Allan Poe ‘s old stomping grounds.

[Teacher Terry]

Are you vested in your pension in Ohio? How much higher is renting, food, gas, etc?

[Ultralight]

Are you vested in your pension in Ohio? How much higher is renting, food, gas, etc?

My retirement vehicle is vested.

The costs of everyday items are a little more in Baltimore. Houses and childcare are apparently a lot more there.

Rent seems higher too. It would eat up that extra $2,000.

But man... all those days off! Ya know?

It could also be a good jumping off place for my East Coast travels. I have not been to Delaware, Rhode Island, or Maine. So I could check those out on long weekends or for a week long vacation. Plus Vermont and New Hampshire are not too far either. So I could get more states in my travel collection.

It is a tough choice. But my current job has really sucked my soul dry.

[catherine]

Baltimore has some really nice suburbs, and the proximity to DC and Philly makes for nice day trips. But you have to learn the accent. You have to say "awn" for "on" And you have to call it "Ball-uh-more". My companies headquarters was outside of Baltimore so I went there often.

[Ultralight]

Baltimore has some really nice suburbs, and the proximity to DC and Philly makes for nice day trips. But you have to learn the accent. You have to say "awn" for "on" And you have to call it "Ball-uh-more". My companies headquarters was outside of Baltimore so I went there often.

Napliss would be a cool city to visit too. ;)

[Teacher Terry]

That’s good that you are vested because you can collect when old and start working on a new pension. I definitely get the killing your soul. That’s why I left my job in Kansas at 43. I wasn’t vested.

[Chicken lady]

I grew up mostly on Maryland’s Eastern shore. Delaware has nice fishing beaches. Your dating pool might be larger too.

[Ultralight]

I grew up mostly on Maryland’s Eastern shore. Delaware has nice fishing beaches. Your dating pool might be larger too.

I like beaches.

I have mostly given up on dating though. :)

[Tammy]

How does it affect your student loans?

[Ultralight]

How does it affect your student loans?

Stays the same. I will remain in the PSLF program like I am now.

[Tammy]

I’d be tempted to go there. You know how to live cheap. About two more weeks off every year and the extra few thousand can cover a few surprises.

[Chicken lady]

One more thing that might matter to you - with or without you, MD will go democrat in 2020.

[Gardnr]

If the increase take home salary covers the additional expenses AND you have less travel cost to get to those places on your list AND more time to get to those places...... you'r above a breakeven point. I don't see a downside. Go for it!

[Ultralight]

The more I look into the more I think B-more is just too pricey for a workin' man like me. If I was married and moving with a spouse, yeah, I could do it.

But it is looking like a financial sink. I would need to make $62,000 to keep my standard of living.

I might get more vacation time, but I would have no money to buy plane tix or Air BnBs.

[razz]

No one else has mentioned it so I will venture to raise the question. How do you know that any other similar activity office will be less dysfunctional? What have you heard that makes you willing to consider a new location and position?

[Ultralight]

No one else has mentioned it so I will venture to raise the question. How do you know that any other similar activity office will be less dysfunctional? What have you heard that makes you willing to consider a new location and position?

Well, I don't know that a different office would be less dysfunctional. I only know that the one I am in is bad. And Several of the people in my office that I really liked have left or are seriously trying to leave too.

It is often a mistake to stay in a crappy situation because other, unknown situations might be crappier.

I will roll the dice.

At this point I feel like I am going to decline the Baltimore job and just go for broke with the job near Chicago. When I visited them and did the interview everything just felt so much better.

I have increasing levels of uneasiness about the Baltimore job.

[LDAHL]

Personally, I think you’re making the right call. The misery you might encounter is no reason to stay with the misery you’re already living with for another 20-30 years.

And it’s just my opinion, but to paraphrase an old movie line I’d rather be a lamppost in Chicago than King of the Eastern Seaboard.

[catherine]

Yeah, going with your gut is a good way to go. I really believe that if they weren't going to entertain your counteroffer they would have said so right away, or soon thereafter. I think they're discussing it and will let you know (hopefully soon).

Now practice saying "Chicaaaago"

[Ultralight]

I officially turned this one down... I turned down the Baltimore job.

Here's to hoping this wasn't a horrible idea...