I'm torn...

[sgorny]

As some of you may know, life has been kind of up and down for me lately. I worked at a job for 4-1/2 years, in which I loved the staff & the patients, but not the boss. Things finally came to a head in early September, when he decided not to sell the practice to me, and not only that, but to let me go effective immediately (with 2 weeks severence, luckily). At first, I felt broken - I'd planned to buy the practice, had invested a lot of time in figuring out how to make it better, had made plans with 2 of the staff members... and it was gone.

So I applied for unemployment, listed my availability in all the local & regional websites, called doctors I knew... and (after about 2-3 weeks) made a pretty busy schedule for myself freelance (or per diem, as we call it). I only got to collect less than $500 from unemployment, as a matter of fact. At about 2 weeks out, I heard that a friend of mine was leaving a very nice, "feel good" practice about 10-15 minutes from my house, where she worked Mon & Wed. The schedule is slow to allow for excellent patient care, the patient base is very loyal, and the pay is very good for a 7 hour work day. I also knew the owner from local society meetings, and after I met the staff (who were wonderful, funny, and had a great time at work) he offered me Mondays. Which has now (starting in Dec) grown to Mon & Wed.

Meanwhile, I interviewed in October at a very high-tech medical practice 55 miles from home, clear on the other side of Seattle. They originally said they wanted someone fulltime, but wanted a "working interview", which led to me working 3 full days & 2 half-days over the course of 3 weeks. They had one other doctor working 3 Fridays, and they were trying to decide who they wanted. Also, they were considering trying to expand their pediatric practice, and I had made it clear to them that while I like kids, and don't mind seeing a few, I wouldn't want to work somewhere where that's all I saw. I didn't hear from them for over a week, so I figured they had gone with someone else. It was in this time that I told the nearby doc that I'd work on Wednesdays starting in December.

Then they called me back (the far, high-tech practice), and said that they wanted to offer me a position, part-time to start (a trial run) for 6 months, for Thursdays & Fridays. I was excited, because that didn't conflict with the nearby fun job, and I could do both, so I agreed.

At the same time, a doc that works under a mile from my home asked if I could fill in one day a week in December, since she & her husband share a practice, and she was going on maternity leave. Since that would fill up my Tues, giving me Mon-Friday. Wonderful! I was so happy... I could still pick up some Saturdays for extra $$ if I wanted, and after the maternity thing was over, I'd have Tues & Sat-Sun off, or at least some combination of those days.

The far place sent me the contract, and it looked good. So I told them I'd sign it. Then they dropped the bomb. They said off-handedly that they might have to re-do the contract in January, because they would like me to work Mondays, maybe only 12-6, but it could be all day (they said that when I asked if they would pro-rate the pay, since it was based on an 8 hour day) - so obviously, they are worried about the bottom line, and don't want to pay me any more than they need to. Not that I fault them for that, but I can tell that negotiating with them will be work.

And if I work Mondays for them, I can't work at the nearby place anymore (because he really wants Mondays, but is willing to toss in Weds too). And I really love working at the nearby place. The pay is great, the patient & staff are great, the boss is great. But it's only 2 days a week.

The far place is very fast paced, very high tech, and the boss is pretty high-strung. I think I will always feel like I don't know enough there, but I'm sure I'd learn. Thing is, if I'm working there 3 days a week, that's a lot of commuting. I mean, I might be able to work it out with the hubby to have Tues, Wed, Sun off, and pick up Saturdays... but he'll be pissy I'm not working more. And he has this bug up his ass about wanting to relocate. He isn't happy in his job, and he wants me to work at the far job so we have to move up there. So all he will do is push me to go for the far job. Which means 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hour commutes each way for as long as I live here, vs 15 minute commutes each way for the near job.

But I love my house, and I don't want to sell it. And there is no way that we could get anywhere as nice of a house up there for the same $$. In fact, it would be much smaller, no view... not a winning situation for me. Although this could lead to full-time work, and a partnership. But they are very driven people, and I'm more laid-back. I don't know that I will fit into their style longterm. I know I fit into the near place's style.

God, what do I do?