Going back to the Heat Box...I love it

 Well, as long as my background check and drug test come back clean, I'll be a resident of Arizona in a short while.  The positives win in a landslide.

• Being close to Castle & Roman
• attending events, concerts, competitions, etc
• having more impact on thier development & growth
• holidays, vacations, & breaks
• Better work schedule; no holidays, weekends, or night...but I will be on-call.
• More access to personal relationships, friendships, and social life
• No more living in snow
• Ability to actively participate in my faith
• Access to hobbies & entertainment that fit my lifestyle

The only downsides to going to back Arizona is being away from Mom & Dad and the cost of living in Arizona...it's going to be expensive.  But the plan I have will work.  

On another note, last Wednesday...the 20th, Dad got all serious and wanted to tell me something...and it sounded serious.  He proceeded to tell me he didn't know how much more time he had, but wanted to tell me that he loved me and loved being my dad.  It's was a special moment, sincere and heartfelt.  It will be difficult to regret the last 6 years being close to and growing my relationship with Dad...there been more trust and memorable moments together.  Even though Mom and I have butted heads the last few weeks, it's been nice to connect in a different way. 

still weighing on my mind...

I've now discussed this move, back to Arizona, with Mom, David, Marshall, Lynzee, & Whitey.  It seems like a clean, clear choice...go back to Arizona.

So why is it difficult?

It all evolves around money...making it, saving it, investing it, spending it...

I'll make less, save less, investing will roughly be the same, but I'll be spending more too.  

I want to reach out to Erik, our financial guy and see what my options are to buy a house in Arizona ASAP.  I don't have anything for a down payment, nor do I have anything as collateral, not that would be an option. I would like to use my income and work history of Williams to back my mortgage.  I saw a house in Mesa, modular/manufactured home that was extremely nice for $150K and my payments would be $1200/mo...which is great. The other possibilities...cash out my 401K...pay crazy taxes on that to pay for a down payment?  The last option, wait until we sell the houses in Kemmerer in two years and cashout with them for my down payment? 

Again, I put myself in this position.  I should have over $100K in equity or other investments...then this decision wouldn't be so difficult.

I would be awesome to find a sugar momma that just wants a 46 year old boy to tag a long in life?  But again, I probably wouldn't gel with her if that's what she wanted.

I don't want to adult this decision

In the next 2 weeks I will interview for two different positions...one that will allow me to work straight days, no weekends, limit my income, and remain in Kemmerer...potentially for the remainder of my career.  The second position will take me back to Arizona, work days, no weekends, limit my income, raise my cost of living, be closer to my children and potentially slow my financial plan.

There's no real way to weigh the pros & cons of these decisions.  I've been giving it so much thought that I'm really struggling.  If I move back to Arizona, I get to be close to my kids and have regular interaction, my social life sky rockets.  If I stay here, my cost of living will stay low, allowing me to save & invest more.  Going to Arizona, I'll need to budget and find a healthy side hustle.  Staying in Kemmerer I have accepted being single and my companion will be adventure & season ski pass to Beaver Mountain.  

Buying a house in the Phoenix area is not going to happen with the wages I will make from this position, so I'll need to find a realistic side hustle that can bring me $10k-20k extra a year??  Selling mattresses? Delivery? Remodeling? Turo?

If I stay in Kemmerer for 2-3 more years, I'll have to stay with Williams.  When I get over 50 years old, I'll be un-hirable.  There's no doubt, it's tilted to Arizona...but the cost of living is a big weight to consider.  I've been looking at places to live...rent is going to be $1300-$2000 a month...then utilities on top of that?  I'm just not sure how I'm going to make that work?  

First step is to interview and see what comes back?