Background on the changes, fiscal no-brainers

A couple of people have implied that they missed the story triggering this pile of research into new places to live. No need to go looking; ya didn't miss much. :-) This entry, written shortly after a two-week vacation overseas, described my dissatisfaction with my current life and listed a few things I needed to do. One of those is ditch high-tech, which for me also means move.

Rob did the legwork on getting our current house price guesstimated by a local real estate agent. Mercy. Buying that thing eight years ago was the best financial decision the pair of us ever made.

When we start looking at the purchase prices of lovely homes elsewhere, the tiedown or hangar fees, utilities costs, various taxes, and so forth, we realize we would have to be absolutely butt-stupid not to move. A couple months ago I thought "maybe this would be a good idea"; now I'm thinking "DUH". I really wasn't quite prepared for the power of that realization. It's as impossible to ignore as a fist to the face. Unless we have ties to this place so strong it would break our souls to move, this is a complete no-brainer.

There's a lot I'll miss about this area, including people. I'll come back and visit if y'all want. The savings on utilities alone could pay for quite a few round trip plane tickets.

Becoming a veterinarian?

"Veterinarian" is one of those "maybe-somedays" I've had in the back of my head for a long time -- probably ever since I've considered changing careers out of high tech, and that's been well over a decade.

( It will take an awful lot of work to get there. )

( It's now or never. )

( Am I trading one high-stress job for another? )

( Could I handle all of it emotionally? )

( Would I just start to hate neglectful pet owners? )

( Am I doing it for the right reasons? )

Lots to think about.

I think it's time to take a local vet to lunch.