Possible relocation - what would you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you really can be home for 3-4 days per week, it’s not that much different than some of my friends who are consultants.

+1. A 90 minute flight is a 5 hour door to door commute including driving to the airport and security check. Not bad at all. This is very possible. I'd do 3 with DH and the kid staying put for one year and the kid moves with you then DH does the commute to you guys every week for 2 years.

[Anonymous]

I would move but keep DC area house and rent it out, then you can move back later easier if you want to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would move but keep DC area house and rent it out, then you can move back later easier if you want to.

But if you rent it out for more than three years, you won’t get the tax benefit when you sell it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DH and I are both federal employees. I have been misersble in my job all year but managing to avoid being laid off. DH still loves his job. We have one son who is in seventh grade.

I just got an offer for my absolute dream job - it is very secure and pays about 20% more than I currently make. Problem is that the job is halfway across the country in a town where DH would have trouble finding a job easily. If he did, it would be less money and not as good as his current job.

The way I see it, I have three options:

1. Decline the job offer and remain miserable as a fed, hoping things might change.

2. Take the job offer and we all move. Not having DH’s salary immediately would be a financial hit but housing is much cheaper in the new city so we probably could afford to purchase a house with no mortgage.

3. Take the job offer and only I move. DH stays in DC with son (who likes his school). The new job allows partial telecommuting so I could be back in DC most weeks from Friday-Monday.

What would you do?

option 3 until your son goes to highschool- then re-evaluate. We faced this decision in 2018 and my instincts were to stay behind with the kids and I caved to "keep the family together" and we moved only for covid shutdowns to happen 9 months into the move making it completely unnecessary. I'm not saying something insane like that will happen but I wouldn't uproot everyone if you can do it gradually and with intention, making it less painful. look for a nice neighborhood, school, house while you work there and really suss out what you'd like and need and what life will look like. We ended up loving our midwestern neighborhood but I would have bought a different house and made some decisions differently if I wasn't under pressure to do it before the school year ended. let your husband wait this administration out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you really can be home for 3-4 days per week, it’s not that much different than some of my friends who are consultants.

+1. A 90 minute flight is a 5 hour door to door commute including driving to the airport and security check. Not bad at all. This is very possible. I'd do 3 with DH and the kid staying put for one year and the kid moves with you then DH does the commute to you guys every week for 2 years.

Tend to agree as a former consultant who did Sunday through Thursday out of town for years. My only hesitation with that is the cost. Obviously as a consultant that was all paid for and not out of pocket.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Option 3 for a year.

+1 on option #3.
You rent for a 6-12 months at your new job. Travel back home, spending quality time with family. Do whatever you need to ensure DS/DH is set for the week!

Maybe next year they will offer VERA, then DH should take it for health benefits etc.
Even if they don't offer, consider asking his agency for remote or VERA!
Best of luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 3 for a year.

+1 on option #3.
You rent for a 6-12 months at your new job. Travel back home, spending quality time with family. Do whatever you need to ensure DS/DH is set for the week!

Maybe next year they will offer VERA, then DH should take it for health benefits etc.
Even if they don't offer, consider asking his agency for remote or VERA!
Best of luck.

Do any federal agencies allow remote work anymore?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 3 for a year.

+1 on option #3.
You rent for a 6-12 months at your new job. Travel back home, spending quality time with family. Do whatever you need to ensure DS/DH is set for the week!

Maybe next year they will offer VERA, then DH should take it for health benefits etc.
Even if they don't offer, consider asking his agency for remote or VERA!
Best of luck.

Do any federal agencies allow remote work anymore?

no

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Option 3 for a year.

+1 on option #3.
You rent for a 6-12 months at your new job. Travel back home, spending quality time with family. Do whatever you need to ensure DS/DH is set for the week!

Maybe next year they will offer VERA, then DH should take it for health benefits etc.
Even if they don't offer, consider asking his agency for remote or VERA!
Best of luck.

Do any federal agencies allow remote work anymore?

no

Some still do. It is rare but can happen.

[Anonymous]

Do 3 for a year to make sure it really is a great job.

[Anonymous]

Option 3 works if you live near an airport in the new place and it’s a hub with frequent/cheap flights to DCA (I’m thinking Atlanta, Boston, Minneapolis, Chicago, etc.) If your new city only has a few daily flights to DC or you live far from the airport, it will be much harder logistically.

[Anonymous]

OP- what city? I agree with those above that there is a very large difference in advice depending on where you’d go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP- what city? I agree with those above that there is a very large difference in advice depending on where you’d go.

OP here. I probably shouldn’t say the city but there are very frequent direct flights to DC and the flights aren’t too long.