The Right Path?

As I've said before, I am blessed to have a good job, wonderful co-workers and a great boss.  Even before the whole mess with the economy I knew how lucky I was to have a job like this.  Now, with so many people out of work I am even more aware about how blessed I am to be where I am.  So, why would I be contemplating leaving?  Well, recently I was glancing through an old newspaper and saw an article about a test being offered for a job within the Courts.  It is a state job which means I can

eventually transfer out of Brooklyn to anywhere in NY State.  Since my sister in law lives near Beacon, NY and one of my best friends lives near Saratoga, NY my heart is Upstate with them and NOT in Brooklyn.  Right now it is a two hour drive to my sister in law and almost a 5 hour drive to my friend RahRah.  I miss their company and desperately want to move closer to them.  In addition to the convenience of being able to work anywhere in the state, the job pays about $15,000 per year more than what I make now.  I already took the first step and paid the filing fee for the test.  Now, all I have to do is pass!  The test is comprised of six sections, one of which is grammar.  As all of you loyal people know from reading my blog, grammar is NOT my strong point!   I am 42 years old and actually thinking about getting a tutor to teach me what I should have grasped in elementary school! It puzzles me how I ever graduated! 

Although I am thrilled at the prospect that this job could get me closer to living upstate, there are also drawbacks to accepting the job.  I would not be as accessible to my children.  Right now I have the luxury of being close to home and could be there in 5 minutes if they ever need me.  I would also have to start taking the bus & train to work which truly grosses me out.  I am a germaphobe and skeeve holding on to those germy handles in the bus and train. YUK!  The next drawback is that I would need to buy a whole new wardrobe.  I work in a very laid back office and dress VERY casual.  I do not own anything that even closely resembles "Professional Attire" (I am sure the judges at the Supreme Court would frown upon me wearing my blue capris and "Super Grover" t-shirt to work). 

I have until October to study for the test and hope by then that I will feel better about this decision.  I do not embrace change very well and pretty much dread starting over.  But, I have to believe that fate led me to read that old newspaper (there was only a few days left before the filing deadline for the exam would expire) and that this will put me on the right path to being closer to the people that I love.