Originally Posted by
iflysideways
When big brown announced the ANC base and I saw how junior it went, my wife and I made up our minds that night to take an upgrade five years sooner than we expected. The next day we did our research and were awestruck at what we found (crime, poverty, poor schooling, poor weather).
So, let me get this straight...when the ANC domicile was announced you and your wife decided
THAT NIGHT to
TAKE THE UPGRADE FIVE YEARS SOONER than expected. Then the
NEXT day you did some research. Sounds like the two of you were initially chasing the almighty $$$$.
I'd suggest you and your wife now sit down together at the kitchen table and list all of the advantages and disadvantages of the move to ANC. Now that you're over your initial buyers remorse, you can make a decision based upon facts and QOL, not just cash (with the current pay scales and COL in Anchorage, going from senior FE/FO to junior FO/Captain is not much of a raise).
A good friend of mine lives in SDF and is a senior MD FO. He and his wife decided NOT to go for the $$ with an ANC Captain upgrade for many reasons: he didn't see a huge raise in take home pay or QOL upgrade with the move. They didn't have an issue with ANC lifestyle, but decided to remain in SDF to enjoy the senior FO lines, etc. It took them several weeks, and actual house hunting visits to make the informed decision.
Everyone's issues are different.
You won't find you answer here. You and the frau need to sit down and make a decision based on knowledge, not the first night "oh my gosh, I could be a FO or Captain" emotion.
