Jesus, this isn't my decision, but I'm already starting to agonize over it. I think I'm gonna start a thread on another board to ask for advice on what advice to give you.
First of all, why in the blue blazes are you working full time for a contracting company... they're no doubt screwing you tighter than the proverbial light bulb. They can't guarantee you another assignment once this one's done, so there's really no reason to do the fulltime thing. If it's just for health benefits, I used to get that for about $1-$3/hr (I'm single, though). When I left Houston, I had 3 job offers : Enron in Houston MCI in Tulsa, Oklahoma Saber in Dallas. Luckily I made the right choice by coming to Dallas. Tulsa's cost of living back then was lower than Houston, but man... it's Tulsa. On the other hand, the best time in life to save money is when you're young, because the money is potentially worth several-fold more than the money you earn later in life. Ultimately no one but you can make this decision... good luck.
And you'll really need that money to help you forget you've just spent twenty years of your short life in a town you only went to for money. "Just something to think about." Here's an idea. Rob a bank and steal like, I don't know, a million dollars. Then hide it before you get caught. Go to prison, get 20 to life, get out early on good behavior and dig up the money. This is a much better deal than the OK thing. In the 20 years, you almost double the money you'd make in OK and you don't spend a dime on rent. Best of all, you won't have spent the last 20 years in a town whose greatest attraction is a Chili's. Dude. Money ain't nothing if you waste the best years of your life in a town you don't want to be in. Let me ask you again since you didn't answer before: How does your wife feel about the move? If you're on the fence, that's the most important question. And if she's sketchy about it, is an extra 15K worth more than her happiness and comfort? Money's great, but there are other things that are far more important. Sounds like you have them all in Houston and you'd be leaving them for a relatively meager salary upgrade. Maybe there's something you're leaving out, but to me it sounds like a bad deal.
She's not really that into the idea, but she would be willing to go. In the past few days there have been some new developments related to this situation....I'll post more about it later.
I didn't say go one way or the other, I just pointed out that money can really add up if saved properly when you get a raise. Also, they might move there and LOVE it. You have no idea. Its not a guarantee that they will be unhappy there. Like someone else said, its not that bad, and in fact some people like it there. Heck...they could move there for a year or two, try it out and then move back if they don't like it.
Take the job. You can always move back later. 3 years ago I took a job in Omaha, Ne so I know about small city living and to be honest it isnt bad at all. I am back in Houston now after being transfered and everything worked out great....Good Luck, I know its a tough call
Money talks.... Thats a huge bump in salary my friend. Move to OK for a few years, save up some dough, gain some more experience, then move back here when you can find another job. Easy decision, especially given your age. I had the same dilema with Austin/Houston a few years ago that I think everyone remembers.
If they're offering to replace your contract job with a full time gig in Tulsa, looks to me like your choice is the Tulsa job or a different Houston job. Likely your current contract job won't be an option for too long! So...if you can't find anything else in Houston -- might consider looking elsewhere (Austin, Dallas, etc) or taking the Tulsa job. Time to try that out is now before moving becomes too difficult with kiddies and the such...
