relocation

in the past couple of months, susan has been fielding numerous employment opportunities. after eliminating all but two, we have finally narrowed down the choice to south bay or orange county. each has their own strengths.

south bay affords the opportunity to stay in west los angeles, where we're familiar with surroundings. the commute to usc would be easier. we'd be closer to the ocean and the schools are strong. it's more urban and nearer to the social heart of LA, yet still in a residential area. the job is 5 days on, 10 days off, working 12-hour day shifts. the group is established and a bit older. the position offers an opportunity to become adjunct faculty at ucla harbor.

orange county offers the chance to move to a suburban location, also with strong schools. we'd be furher from the ocean (10 miles) and further from usc. the area is newer and safer. the job entails driving to 2 different hospitals, alternating weeks. the schedule is regular, basically 9-5 with 1-2 wknds/month. it is a teaching program with surgical and family practice residents rotating through the medicine wards. a new hospital is being built near laguna woods, and one of the leisure worlds. it's a great opportunity to develop improved clinical care standards for inpatient geriatrics.

so after months of deliberation, we've decided to relocate to orange county. we even did a spreadsheet and gave weights to different qualities. it was a close call, and we feel a bit sad to move further from the city, but this seems like the best decision for family. the parents on 5/10 or 7/7 schedules said that during work weeks they never see their children at all. and with hue on a regular day schedule, it works better for the couple too.

the median home price in both locations is about 900k, but we can stay with in-laws in the area and save some money. we've already chosen the neighborhood we like, but we'll get into that more another day. houses are bubbling a bit- time will tell how low they go. the new job also has some good benefits that includes housing assistance, pension, malpractice, free health care, and partnership after 3 yrs.