Life question -- what would you do?
I've always been someone who is happier when I live in a location that is interesting to me -- mainly access to nature, camping, the outdoors...nice restaurants are good too. I never liked Toronto much, but loved living in Western WA State near the mountains and ocean. I'm liking Calgary due to the proximity to the mountains, but would prefer to get back to somewhere warmer if possible.
I have a great career opportunity in Edmonton. I could buy into a practice where I really enjoy working (I currently drive up from Calgary and work here 1-2 weeks a month) and where I make decent money. Financially, long-term I would increase my income quite a bit ($40-60k a year) if I buy into the practice, but to make it a realistic investment I would have to live here for at least 7-10 years.
I really don't think I would enjoy living in Edmonton long-term -- it's cold, isolated, far from the mountains, etc. On the upside I could afford many more vacations to warm and interesting locations.
I realize that many people live great/happy lives on less money than I am currently earning, but as I get older I start to worry a bit about adequate savings for retirement, etc.
What would you do?
I have a great career opportunity in Edmonton. I could buy into a practice where I really enjoy working (I currently drive up from Calgary and work here 1-2 weeks a month) and where I make decent money. Financially, long-term I would increase my income quite a bit ($40-60k a year) if I buy into the practice, but to make it a realistic investment I would have to live here for at least 7-10 years.
I really don't think I would enjoy living in Edmonton long-term -- it's cold, isolated, far from the mountains, etc. On the upside I could afford many more vacations to warm and interesting locations.
I realize that many people live great/happy lives on less money than I am currently earning, but as I get older I start to worry a bit about adequate savings for retirement, etc.
What would you do?
Comments
I haven't lived in either city for a loooong time, but as a visitor I've always preferred Calgary to Edmonton. Growing up out there, cold never really bothered me.
...if you still get the time off you could fly somewhere in Canada that you do like for next to nothing.
On the serious side if you find a way to make a living you enjoy, you will never work a day in your life. From other posts by you I have pictured a man of passion. Follow that passion and happiness will be your companion.
Cliché as these are they do not lose truth.
In this instance, you know what your life will be like if you do not take this opportunity.
You also have a pretty good handle on the positives that this opportunity brings, right?
So, you already have the "no" option worked out fully, why not take the opportunity as presented, and maximize your positives?
I hear Leduc is a nice suburb . . .
Edmonton is the wrong direction.
- I really don't think I would enjoy living in Edmonton long-term -- it's cold, isolated, far from the mountains, etc.
then why consider moving there?? just for the extra money? more money usually means more hours working so less time to do other things you enjoy. Money isn't everything and with your career you are likely earning an adequate salary to live a decent life. What about Jasper?
- as I get older I start to worry a bit about adequate savings for retirement, etc.
Sounds like you need some money management, seriously. If you have money problems now, wait until you have kids and you have the added expenses of daycare, etc. What does a vet earn $100k - $150k a year and you are worried about retirement?
Based on what you have said, it sounds like finding a similar practice on the west coast (Victoria/Vancouver) might be ideal for you. Also long-term, is Edmonton the place you want to raise a family?
What would I do? If I was serious about buying the practice, I would likely take a leave or vacation from my Calgary job and try living in the Edmonton area for a while to see how it goes. btw, have you told the Ms. yet?
Have you lived there?
I would still have 4-5 weeks off a year, but I generally travel to the US or overseas.
Yes, it is 3-4 hours to the areas that are 1 hour from Calgary and the winters are pretty cold for months in Edmonton. I did not mean to make it sound like Calgary was my dream location. I was simply using it as a comparison -- if I had my choice based solely on geography I would be living in Vancouver, Seattle, possibly the California coast, etc.
Obviously the money would be nice along with working at/owning a clinic where I enjoy working.
Dirtiest nice cities? What do you mean by that. Have you spent time or lived there?
My girlfriend and I enjoy being close to areas with nice restaurants, etc...we aren't really suburb types.
But what is quality of life? Is it living somewhere that you enjoy living on a daily basis or making more money so that you can get away from where you live more often?
Up until this past year I haven't really considered long-term career opportunities,,.this one just kind of fell in my lap due to circumstances with the current owners and some specialized experience I have within my field. I do my work and then go home and don't worry about work at all once I'm done. I'm not extremely money driven -- I would rather take a few vacations a year (not all expensive ones, this more relates to taking alot of time off to enjoy things and thus not be making money while I'm not working) and work less/make less money than I optimally could and enjoy my life at the same time.
Commuting may be an option, but not an ideal one.
Obviously Edmonton is the wrong locale -- that is why there is a question.
The move would be for more money, but also other factors. I enjoy and have worked emergency for the past 9 years and there simply aren't many opportunities anywhere (Canada and US) to buy into a successful emergency practice.
Jasper is very small there wouldn't be any opportunities there although it is a nice place to go hiking/camping -- I need to be near a large city centre more or less.
Most experienced vets who are not owners make $80-90k. As a self-employed vet I make near the higher end of your guess, but this is not common. However, I did not always make this much (income was 45k 10 years ago and has gradually increased to where it is today) and I had tonnes of debt to pay off as I had no financial assistance through school. I did not really mean that I am worried about retirement specifically, but more that saving an increasing amount of money is more of a thought these days than it was when I was younger. I don't know if I want to have kids.
I would likely work the same amount or a bit less than I currently work if I were an owner while making more money.
Vancouver may be the ideal location, but this specific type of clinic/opportunity does/will not exist there. Incomes in Vancouver are much lower that Alberta...likely because it is a nicer place to live and they will find people to fill the jobs at a lower pay scale.
I don't have a specific job to take leave from -- I make my own schedule working at a few different clinics so I could do what you suggest. I already work 5-10 days a month at this clinic in Edmonton, but I don't do much else while I am here as my girlfriend is back in Calgary and I work long shifts and just relax between them. I don't know the city that well although from what I've seen driving around it looks quite industrial. I do know the weather and it is very nice during the short summers, but otherwise it is cold.
Obviously all this has been a conversation with the girlfriend.
I didn't live there, but I seriously considered it and spent several weeks with friends that did live there sussing it out..
It is filthy and my exact thought about moving there.. while driving through it one day was: "Is it better to serve in Heaven or rule in Hell?" As the community did feel pretty trashy.
Whether its -20 or -40, there isn't much difference at that point. Its not like comparing Bahamas and Calgary.
I lived in Vancouver for almost 16 years. You'd love it there if you want great restaurants. Everything you could possibly hope for. It's certainly warmer than anywhere else you've described. If you can deal with significant periods of cloud and rain over the fall/winter/spring months. Not necessarily hard rain, more like a constant drizzle. My understanding in general is that vets make a killing there, although I have no clue realistically what that means.
Decent number of good casinos nearby as well which I'm sure that you'd enjoy.
Despite having amongst the highest real estate values in Canada, things are slowing down there a bit since the Olympics are over. Coming back down to a level that's more in keeping with reality.
Anyhoo, that's my two cents.
Yes, if this opportunity were in Vancouver I would snap it up. I know the weather, I used to live around Seattle -- I think I would love Vancouver, but I would not make as much money and would not have an opportunity like this one...so just thinking things over out loud for a bit.