And the saga continues...

[grrrr]

What a roller coaster ride.

Three weeks into my sudden and unexpected "vacation" and so much has changed so fast. Took 2 weeks off to get my head together, roaming around the mountains, unfortunately pre-snowfall. Got back to town and called a friend. He put me on as a carpenter the same day, with better than starting wages and some bene's. Decided for the heck of it to throw my hat in for a job in my field. Set my resume in a week ago, and landed the job today. In my business, that's unheard of, and I expected a job search to take me 2 to 6 months.

It pays well over twice what I'm getting as a carpenter, and my pension rolls over to keep me on track to retire at 50. Figuring the cost of living, and it's a step up from my last job. Further, it's with a better department than I have been working at, and it's right on the Mt. Baker Highway just outside Bellingham. Cuts my commute to the mountain down from 4 hours to 1 hour or less. I could hardly pick a better place to live right now, still close to Grrr jr, but without the island isolation.

The only downside (still) is that Grrr jr would end up with his mom and I would get every other weekend, etc. Up til now, we have had a week-on/week-off arrangement.

I have a very short window to decide this.

[The AD]

It doesn't sound like you can pass this one up. Congrats grrrr!

[powstash]

bro, I can't imagine how tough that decision is. As a dad, I'm SOOOO friggin' lucky that I'm not in those shoes.

You know, that job sounds like a true score and my gut tells me to tell you to go for it knowing that it'll provide financially for your retirement at 50 and to be able to support grrr jr. all the more. BUT, then I think, "when you're 50 will you be more stoked about retiring and that job you took or that you spent more time with grrr jr and have a better relationship with him?"

I suppose despite the situation with grrr jr's mom and custody being less if you more that taking the job and being able to make your time with grrr jr. completely count is really going to rest on you being COMPLETELY focused on making him your priority number 1 when you have time with him. The fact that you're torn by this decision leads me to believe you will do just that. If that's the case, take the job.

My $.02.

[bc]

Certainly I've absolutely no qualifications nor nearly enough info to advise, but instinct says take it--job sounds like you can't possibly pass it up!

Just make sure those weekends with jr are done right. I lost my father when he (and I) were far too young, but I certainly remember--and treasure the memories of--those weekend camping trips and weekday-ski-vacation days far more than the many tired, post-work/school evenings.

[13]

What a roller coaster ride.

Three weeks into my sudden and unexpected "vacation" and so much has changed so fast. Took 2 weeks off to get my head together, roaming around the mountains, unfortunately pre-snowfall. Got back to town and called a friend. He put me on as a carpenter the same day, with better than starting wages and some bene's. Decided for the heck of it to throw my hat in for a job in my field. Set my resume in a week ago, and landed the job today. In my business, that's unheard of, and I expected a job search to take me 2 to 6 months.

It pays well over twice what I'm getting as a carpenter, and my pension rolls over to keep me on track to retire at 50. Figuring the cost of living, and it's a step up from my last job. Further, it's with a better department than I have been working at, and it's right on the Mt. Baker Highway just outside Bellingham. Cuts my commute to the mountain down from 4 hours to 1 hour or less. I could hardly pick a better place to live right now, still close to Grrr jr, but without the island isolation.

The only downside (still) is that Grrr jr would end up with his mom and I would get every other weekend, etc. Up til now, we have had a week-on/week-off arrangement.

I have a very short window to decide this.

FWIW, I got every other weekend with my pops for years. It didn't really make a difference, as he always came to my soccer games on weekends that he didn't have visitation, and we had standing dinners/library trips every other tuesdays. He made the effort, despite the strain it placed on his relationship with some of his ladies who wanted to be #1.

It was no picnic and I'm sure my dad hated the idea that I spent more time with the old lady than him, but that's taking your lumps like a man.