Further Complications

Just when you think your situation is difficult enough, more gets thrown on! I know last time I said I was going to think through the list I had and figure out how it would work. However, over the past few days a new problem has arisen. It turns out that the particular agency that I work for is being considered for elimination. So now not only am I faced with the 10% cut in pay associated with the furlough, I’m also faced with losing my job.
While it’s true that I’ll likely be able to find a vacant position at some other agency and therefore be able to stay employed, there are still some considerable issues surrounding that prospect.
1. I may end up hating the job I find as a replacement.
2. I may end up having to take a job somewhere that would require me to drive or take public transportation rather than riding my bicycle.
3. I may end up having to take a job with a lower pay range (on top of the 10% pay cut)
A quick look at these options and what may be surprising to some becomes obvious to me. The option that would worry me most is not being able to ride my bike to work, which would increase my living costs. I have worked at jobs I hated before, and it sucks, but not the end of the world. Also, a lower salary is a drag, but things can be done to increase my income. Out of that list, not riding my bike to work is the one thing that I really couldn’t deal with (I HATED every job I’ve ever had that required a commute). So, as I think through this, a few options come to mind.
1. I could start looking now, and hopefully get into a new position that I like before the whole agency is fighting for the few remaining positions.
2. I could wait things out and hope that I’m placed in a new position that I can stand.
3. I do the research now to prepare myself for the potential change but not act until this becomes a reality.
The problem with option one is that if I leave this job (which I love) for a job that I only kind of like…and my current agency is not dissolved after all…I’ve just given up a job I loved for nothing. Option two really is too risky for me. So that leaves me with option 3. Easier than I expected really…that’s a relief. So I suppose my job now is to research open positions that I would enjoy and are located close enough to my house that I could ride my bike. Wow…that feels much better!

Now I need to focus back on my original problem…the 10% pay cut associated with the furlough! But I think that’ll be my next post.