TOTALLY OT: should I stay or should I go?

Ladies this has nothing to do with fashion or style, but I am hoping you can help me. I need to decide whether I should stay in my current city or move to Melbourne for next year.

In the last 2 days I have got the allocations for work I would be doing next year in both places. I was hoping one would be great and one would be bad and that would help me make the decision. Amazing they are surprisingly similar, which is a little freaky in itself as there are so many different terms I could have been allocated to instead but didn't get. Unfortunately though this doens't help make my decision any easier. Argh!

Here's what I'd be doing current city:
- 10 weeks relief (a bit of everything)
- 10 weeks emergency dept
- 10 weeks obstetrics and gynaecology
- 10 weeks orthopaedic surgery (at a hospital 1hrs drive away)
- 10 weeks anaesthetics

Here's what I'd be doing in Melbourne:
- 10 weeks obstetrics and gynaecology
- 8 weeks emergency dept (at a small hospital 2 hrs drive away)
- 10 weeks orthopaedic surgery
- 5 weeks mental health
- 3 weeks geriatrics
- 10 weeks intensive care

So similar! So I've made a list of work pros and cons, and "general life" pros and cons for each place, but still can't decide!

Current city
------------------
WORK PROS:
- I know my way around the main hospital there, know bosses already etc
- ED rotation is in biggish emergency dept
- Rural term only 1hr drive away
- Anaesthetics is my 2nd career choice at present and I got a rotation in that

WORK CONS:
- Teaching not as good
- Hospital underresourced with too much junior Dr responsibility (can be good and bad)
- Not a major training hospital (thinking beyond end of next year)
- After end of next year would be easy to get a job back here even if I moved away but only place would be easy to get a job in would be Sydney which I don't want to go back to

PERSONAL PROS:
- Family are here
- Friends here
- Beautiful beaches here

PERSONAL CONS:
- City v small - no decent shops/bars/resturants etc

Melbourne
------------------
WORK PROS:
- Got an intensive care term (my #1 choice)
- Great teaching reputation
- Major teaching hospital
- If I worked in Melb this year would be much easier to get a job there afterwards
- Always easy to get a job in existing city as they are perpetually short staffed on docs

WORK CONS:
- A bit dissapointed my emergency term is at a smaller hospital - I wanted to be in a big trauma centre. However sometimes this can be a benefit as you get way more hands on stuff in small towns too depending on what walks in the door.
- No anaesthetics
- 3 weeks of geriatrics!

PERSONAL PROS:
- Melbourne! Good restaurants, good shopping etc!
- Always wanted to live there, this would be a good opportunity for 1 year at least
- Have a friend who's moving down to same hospital, we would live together

PERSONAL CONS:
- Cold in winter, hot in summer (means I get to wear lots of boots though!)
- Beaches NOWHERE near as good (and water is MUCH, MUCH colder)
- Far from family and friends - would I get lonely or would I not have time to?
- An interstate move would take planning and organisation - not my forte

Thanks for reading this far, what a tirade!

I am really hoping for some impartial advice here as family and friends as lovely and helpful as they are don't always see things subjectively. I'm leaning towards going, but it's all just a bit daunting!

tam

16 years ago

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

I'd go for the change. It's just for one year, so if you end up not liking it you can come back, right?

Alecia

Gosh, Tam. What an exciting time! These choices are always hard but I think it's helpful to remember that they reflect the fact that you have multiple opportunities, which is always a great position in which to be. I am partial to Melbourne because I LOVE Melbourne. I studied there for a few months in college and had the most wonderful time. It seemed like there were festivals (music, comedy, sport, etc.) all the time. And I had such a marvelous time exploring all the streets downtown and the neighborhoods further afield. It was so urban and urbane. I want to go back!

Maya

I ditto what Khris said.

I have a couple of friends from Melbourne and they universally love and adore their home city. It also regularly gets ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world (alongside Vancouver). Personally, I can't stand being away from a big city! I bet it will be so much fun to move somewhere more vibrant and active. I know you have hit some hard times recently and sometimes when things are rough, it can really help to start fresh. You have such a lovable personality--I'm sure you'll make new friends in no time at all. Better to take the plunge than to wonder "what if"--even more so if it's only for a year.

taylor

I vote change..I think we grow the most when we step out of the familiar:)

Travel and experience now while you are young and able to do so...:)

Laura

(website)

Just from reading your lists, it feels like you are stronger about the "pros" for Melbourne. It feels like you are excited about the job in Melbourne, if you could get over some fears. Is that right?

Angie

Fashion Stylist

Ooooooooh, honey-pie. Without a doubt move to Melbourne! NOW. You need the change and you’ll make friends fast. We have 6 friends in Melbourne we’d be able to hook you up with immediately.

Congrats! Being able to choose like this means that you are hot medical stuff! We are proud of you Dr. Tam.

Michelle

Tam, Melbourne sounds highly promising, both from a career and social point of view. I'd be inclined to go there, especially since a change of scenery may help you heal from the other traumas you've experienced lately. Leaving the comfort of family and friends may be difficult, and that's not a factor to be discounted, but remember that they can all support you from a distance too. And as you pointed out yourself, this move doesn't have to be permanent.

marianna

I vote for change too. Sometimes a new atmosphere makes all the difference in the world.

Misia

Change is good and you should GO!!!

yublocka

OK, wow, overwhleming verdict, thanks guys!! I thought about it before getting back here and decided I'd rather do it and not have a wonderful year than not do it and regret it throughout the year (and possibly longer). So I handed in my notice earlier today. SCARY! Yet another move is on the cards for end of next month!! Argh!!!

Tanya

Hi Tam, another belated vote to move. Change is good.

Yet again we are in the same boat, I'll be moving too in about 6 weeks

RoseandJoan

I believe you have made the right choice for the right reasons. I would not like to look back on a life of missed opportunities.

It was pretty clear you were leaning that way from your list, so huge congratulations on making the leap, and what an exciting 2010 you'll have! Now we expect fashion reports from fabulous Melbourne in the coming year

Sihaya

Tam - from reading your list, I'd vote to move to Melbourne. If you think of it as a year only, it doesn't sound like you have much to lose and you get a stint in your #1 choice of IC. I wonder too if a complete change of scenery will help mend your broken heart better.

medusa

After reading your list, I also thought that you should go! I'm glad you decided to go for it.

LoP

Tam: I'm late to the game here, but I'd definitely vote for moving to Melbourne. It's one of my favorite cities on earth. I love the artsy and cosmopolitan culture, people and food there! Longest I loved there was a month, but I wish to spend a year there one day! Do it while you can. It also sounds like it will just be a better option for you professionally. You'll be surprised how quickly you'll make good friends once you're there. I have some friends I can connect you if you need contacts when you arrive.

Dawn

Active Member

I'm late to the game as well but I vote to move as well! As Khris said, it's only for one year and if you hate it, you can move back! 2010 is going to be an exciting year for you!

Kari

Tam, I know it's a scary decision, but I'm so excited for you.
I also think that starting over in a new city might be good and healing for you - being able to have some physical distance between you and reminders that might be painful right now might give you some much-needed breathing space, and meeting new people could be a huge lift.
Lots of positive thoughts and high hopes for you!

greenglove

As the daughter of a scientist I vote Melbourne because of the teaching hospital, much better for your growth as a doctor!

Also agree, change will do wonders for your spirit- old ghosts- GONE!!

More unanimity (is that even a word???) Love it!!! Seriously I think it is interesting noone said stay! I'm amazed how many of you guys have lived in Melbourne at some stage too! Come back! Hehehe It will be a fresh start but it will also bring back lots of memories - Andrew and I visited there many times together, and he was working down there for about 9 months in 2007/2008 and I visited alot. But I'm sure living there myself will be different!

But you will make it work, Tam. I'm so glad you're going with the change. When is the big move? Wave to Tanya!

Category