Deciding Where to Live

Leila: So, have you made up your mind about the job in Brightwater?

Leila: So, have you made up your mind about the job in Brightwater?

Tom: Not really. Every time I think I’ve decided, I change my mind within the hour. On paper it’s perfect: better salary, more responsibility, and a flat with a view of the sea.

Tom: Not really. Every time I think I’ve decided, I change my mind within the hour. On paper it’s perfect: better salary, more responsibility, and a flat with a view of the sea.

Leila: That sounds like an easy decision to me. What’s holding you back?

Leila: That sounds like an easy decision to me. What’s holding you back?

Tom: Honestly? Everything else. My whole life is here. You, my climbing group, the little Thai restaurant on the corner where they know my order. I’d be starting from scratch.

Tom: Honestly? Everything else. My whole life is here. You, my climbing group, the little Thai restaurant on the corner where they know my order. I’d be starting from scratch.

Leila: Fair enough, but starting from scratch isn’t always a bad thing. You complained about the traffic just last week, and you said the city was making you tired.

Leila: Fair enough, but starting from scratch isn’t always a bad thing. You complained about the traffic just last week, and you said the city was making you tired.

Tom: True. I spend almost two hours a day on the train, and I rarely have the energy to do anything when I get home. But what if I move and discover that I’m lonely? Small towns can be pretty closed to outsiders.

Tom: True. I spend almost two hours a day on the train, and I rarely have the energy to do anything when I get home. But what if I move and discover that I’m lonely? Small towns can be pretty closed to outsiders.

Leila: Some are. But you’re sociable, Tom. Within a month you’d be on first-name terms with half the town. Besides, you could join a sailing club or a walking group. That’s how my cousin settled in when she moved north.

Leila: Some are. But you’re sociable, Tom. Within a month you’d be on first-name terms with half the town. Besides, you could join a sailing club or a walking group. That’s how my cousin settled in when she moved north.

Tom: Maybe. And there’s another thing that bothers me. The company is quite small. If it doesn’t work out, I’m not sure I’d find a similar position nearby.

Tom: Maybe. And there’s another thing that bothers me. The company is quite small. If it doesn’t work out, I’m not sure I’d find a similar position nearby.

Leila: That’s a reasonable worry, so let’s look at it practically. Could you sign a short contract first, say for six months? Or negotiate a few days of remote work each month so you could keep in touch with this place?

Leila: That’s a reasonable worry, so let’s look at it practically. Could you sign a short contract first, say for six months? Or negotiate a few days of remote work each month so you could keep in touch with this place?

Tom: I hadn’t thought of asking. They did say they were flexible, though I assumed that referred to working hours.

Tom: I hadn’t thought of asking. They did say they were flexible, though I assumed that referred to working hours.

Leila: Then ask. The worst they can say is no. And if they agree, you’d have a safety net. You could see how the town feels in winter, when the tourists have gone and the wind is blowing.

Leila: Then ask. The worst they can say is no. And if they agree, you’d have a safety net. You could see how the town feels in winter, when the tourists have gone and the wind is blowing.

Tom: You’re making this sound surprisingly manageable. I thought you’d try to persuade me to stay.

Tom: You’re making this sound surprisingly manageable. I thought you’d try to persuade me to stay.

Leila: Part of me wants to, believe me. Who else will I go to the cinema with? But I’d rather see you excited than comfortable. When you talked about the sea earlier, your whole face changed.

Leila: Part of me wants to, believe me. Who else will I go to the cinema with? But I’d rather see you excited than comfortable. When you talked about the sea earlier, your whole face changed.

Tom: Did it? I hadn’t noticed.

Tom: Did it? I hadn’t noticed.

Leila: Trust me, it did. Here’s my suggestion: write down what you’d miss and what you’d gain. Then look at the list tomorrow morning, before you’ve had time to doubt yourself.

Leila: Trust me, it did. Here’s my suggestion: write down what you’d miss and what you’d gain. Then look at the list tomorrow morning, before you’ve had time to doubt yourself.

Tom: All right, I’ll try. And I’ll email the manager tonight about the six-month idea.

Tom: All right, I’ll try. And I’ll email the manager tonight about the six-month idea.

Leila: Perfect. And whatever you decide, I’ll help you pack. Although I refuse to carry the climbing equipment.

Leila: Perfect. And whatever you decide, I’ll help you pack. Although I refuse to carry the climbing equipment.

Tom: Deal. Thanks, Leila. I really needed to talk this through with someone sensible.

Tom: Deal. Thanks, Leila. I really needed to talk this through with someone sensible.

Leila: Anytime. Now, are we ordering dinner here, or do you want to go to that Thai place while you still can?

Leila: Anytime. Now, are we ordering dinner here, or do you want to go to that Thai place while you still can?

Tom: Thai. Definitely Thai.

Tom: Thai. Definitely Thai.