Foo - What should I do? Should I stay or should I go?

I've given myself three options thus far.

1. Stay in the Phoenix metro area
Pros:

I'd be close to family.
Year round good cycling.


Cons:
All the friends I've made thus far are 15-20 years older than myself. I don't have a solid group of core friends that I hang out with.



2. Move to Hawaii
Pros:

Amazingly beautiful and simple lifestyle.
Year round riding weather although probably a tad more windy.


Cons:

I have no family or friends in Hawaii. Although, one of my good college buddies said he'd move with me if I gave him some heads up.
Cost of living is very high.
I'd probably get island fever eventually.


Move to Boston:
Pros:

I'd be moving in with one of the coolest people I know right in the middle of downtown Harvard, BU, and BC. There'd always be something to do or experience.
I'd be close enough to my old high school and college friends that we could see each other once in a while.

Cons:

The weather sucks for riding. I can stand humidity, but riding in 10 degree below zero weather might be a pain in the butt, especially if they don't clear the roads very well..
I'd be away from my family.
Cost of living would probably be expensive, but maybe not as much as Hawaii.


I'm starting a new career whatever decision I make. I'm considering becoming a spin instructor if the money is enough to live off of. Or perhaps find a job at a live music venue. Or a job at a bike shop. Or a bartending job. Something that gets me out from behind a computer and puts me in a position to be active and interacting with other people.

What do you suggest I do?

based on what you said I'd look at the availability of jobs you seek in Hawaii and Boston to see how viable it is for you. That will probably be the main factor beyond your control.

It sounds like Hawaii would obviously give you weather more like what you are used to. But there are thriving bike communities in the NE so if you invest in the right riding gear and can handle some brisk weather, you'll find riding here.

We've considered Hawaii before (The wife loved it and pushed to move there) but I like a change of seasons...and I am thinking I would absolutely get island fever. I do admit it was gorgeous there.

i think you should consider the NE area. :D

everybody's doing it!:D

Why not stay in Phoenix and fix the problem? Go find some people your own age and become friends with them... or am I over-simplifying?

I chose move to Boston. Seems if you really want to be a spin instructor, the bad weather would force people to seek indoor activity more.

*sigh* Hawaii. Only APA majority state in the union, great eats, beautiful. Then again, rock fever could potentially suck hard.

Play "The Clash" and let them help you decide.

Play "The Clash" and let them help you decide.

That is what inspired the title, although it is one of the songs I absolutely hate. This is because of the lyrics.

"If I go there will be trouble. If I stay it will be double."

Well, then go. Who wants double the trouble? That is such a stupid thing to say and actually have to take more than 2 seconds to decide on. Go you idiot. Get out of here.

God I hate that song.

I'm considering becoming a spin instructor if the money is enough to live off of.

I teach spin classes occasionally. You'll make a whopping $12 - $15 per class. You can probably teach two classes per day, although if you're a decent instructor you'll get pretty tired. There's no way you could teach three times per day and be an effective instructor for your class without pooping out.

Spin instructor is not a full-time profession, unless you turn it into a business like Johnny G.

Where's the 'other' vote explanation?

Hawaii is a nice place and all but not somewhere to live. It'd be harder to make friends there anyways since the whole local/tourist thing.

Hawaii is nice, and after a year it is starting to grow on me a bit. Just be aware that the cost of living is outrageous here. Gas is still at $3.60, a gallon of milk can bring twice what it does on the mainland, rent for an apartment goes at about $2 a square foot or more depending on the location. Honolulu is crazy crowded and not in a cool Boston kinda way. Still year round outdoors, total laid back vibe (too laid back at times), decent riding, and great diving.

You will have a very hard time making a living wage here with your chosen career options, but hell you will be in “paradise.” My personal paradise is somewhere along the Rockies.

I'm starting a new career whatever decision I make. I'm considering becoming a spin instructor if the money is enough to live off of. Or perhaps find a job at a live music venue. Or a job at a bike shop. Or a bartending job. Something that gets me out from behind a computer and puts me in a position to be active and interacting with other people. You could do all those things right where you are right now. The search is not "out there" somewhere, but within. Go for bartending, makes the most money, meets the most number and variety of people.

Hawaii is a nice place and all but not somewhere to live. It'd be harder to make friends there anyways since the whole local/tourist thing.

I'm sure it depends on where in Hawaii...Hilo does not seem particularly touristy.

If you're not married and have children, move to Boston for a year or two, then move to HI for a year or two. Check out Denver and Chicago while you're at it. What about Atlanta?