Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda

This Thursday, I have a meeting with the graduate studies coordinator of a program I am considering. Yup! So that's the first news; I'm considering grad school.

Grad school was never on my radar before, but now, when I work at a university and get tuition benefits from said university, grad school is on my radar. I mean, come on, how could I pass up those benefits, right? So many people have told me that this is the 'right thing to do'. I told my mom I had this meeting and she ecstatic! Because 1) shes proud of me for being awesome (aw, thanks, mom!) and 2) that means I wouldn't be moving away in the next 2 years.

See, if I don't do grad school, we want to move. To mountains. Where we can ski in powder and have all sorts of adventures that just don't happen in flat, flat Minnesota. Also, because new places are fun and I want to go to there.

Or at least we've talked lots about moving. We are very indecisive and have no idea what to do with our lives. Move? Stay here and continue with our awesome jobs? Go to grad school? Buy a house?

One person oh so helpfully told me to make a pro/con list to decide what to do. Because obviously one side will clearly out weight the other? I don't think so. I made the pro con list and it looked something like this.

Moving West: Pro list
- mountains! (aka skiing opportunities so I can finally learn to ski powder/bumps/anything other than ice)
- won't be wishing, ten years down the road, that we had
- life experiences with new places and new people

Staying: Pro List
- we have jobs and health insurance
- could go to grad school
- security
- "there's always vacation"

In other words... moving west is what we WANT to do while staying and being adults is what we SHOULD do. Bah humbug!

Here is something that surprised me today, though. I was out to breakfast with some co-workers I had at a past University job. They are older, have been very successful in their careers, and are generally awesome. I completely respect their opinions and was hoping to get some advice with this dilemma from them. I told them I had this meeting with the grad school but was unsure what we wanted to do. They both, without missing a beat, said go for the wants and the fun. They sited my young age and told me how they had both done lots of fun things in their twenties but both wished they had really taken that leap and went for what they wanted.

Not what I was expecting, but hearing them say it made me feel excited. It made that little part of me say, "Yes! Exactly! Listen to them!" And now I think we should. I want to take that leap and not do the grown up thing and do the fun thing. The thing that may or may not be the best career choice but will probably be the best life choice.

So. Anyone got some cool communications and natural resource positions they want to give us out on the west coast?