Work Life Balance (update) 5

[peterso2]

Hi All,
I was going to reply to a older thread I created that had a great deal of comments about my situation.

http://www.eng-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=270677

In the last 4 years - I have taken on a new job that has moved me out into an apartment on my own and into a new city about 3 hours from where I grew up. Things are pretty positive living on my own for 2 years now. However, I'm faced with some tough decisions. I currently have few friends here - still struggling for that aspect. However I am wondering what to do with housing. I have lived in the apartment for 2 years and I'm looking for something different.

Option # 1 - Find Small House to Rent
Option # 2 - Purchase House
Option # 3 - Rent different apartment
Option # 4 - Find new Job / Town - stay put until this happens

I am wondering what option I should do? This job I am at is pretty easy, I get to travel alot, however I am in Dubuque IA which is a smaller town. I am struggling getting adjusted - and I feel like if you were never a local here its hard to get integrated. I've been traveling home a lot to visit family and old friends and I feel that hasn't helped the progress either. The dating sites Okcupid and POF both have been a bust, I'm tempted to try Match.com. The problem is the pool of girls around here isn't the largest.

I'm looking for some thoughts on what I should do? I am leaning towards Option #2. I just spoke to a Realtor. The friends problem I believe is going to follow me anywhere, even if I do move to a much larger town. The key from last thread was to get active, and I've just found it unable to get into these groups. It's difficult to find places to sign up for these events, and everyone from work is married and keeps to themselves. It's just frustrating. Nobody asks about things to do and I always have to keep making the effort. I often find myself at the bars on the weekends - and we all know how those are - unproductive. I think the current apartment complex is holding me back - its not easy to get outside and I feel trapped in here.

So...going on 30 years old and I hate to reference this, but you see everyone else and you are like? Wow I'm miles behind them. Granted, my life is stable, but without any human interaction what good is that? You need a emotional release at somepoint or you'll go nuts.


Thanks for listening
Jason

 

[TenPenny]

I have a wife, two kids, a dog, and a mother in law, so I guess I'm set.

 

[Liftingengineer]

Well this is coming from the point of view of a 27 year old who has moved throughout his career. You seem to not like the area you live in, SO DON'T BUY A HOUSE. Life after college, you soon realize after college, nobody has any clue on life or anything, they just fake it. Most people just seek out goals and what makes them happy, and they care much more about themselves than you. Don't worry about what others think about you, because honestly thoughts of you probably never crossed their mind. ( You seem to care because of the way you talk about buying a house, friends, and match.com)

Dating is always extremely hard for Males no matter where you are. (Just the modern western world). Just remember woman communicate in an emotional sub-context level when it comes to dating. "I am unemployed and play star craft all day in hopes of going pro, but you look way to nerdy for me so it wouldn't work out between us. Can we just be friends." is a fairly decent pickup line.

Good friends are hard to find. It is hard to make "real" friends at work because it is hard to really express yourself with them. I usually meet friends on meetup.com (accept that generation Y in controlled by their smart phones) and I moved to an apartment with a pool and a volleyball court.

I've got a PHD is Broscience

 

[urgross]

I must really have it made-7 goats. On the down side, mother-in-law moved in along with 4 hens (she taught them how to cackle). Don't worry about having 5 real friends, by the time you get old and cranky you'll just want the whole damn world to leave you alone.