On Patoka
For the few of you who aren't on facebook, this is just an update on my current situation. For those that are, I'll be copying this as a note on FB.
There is a full-time carrier job open in Patoka, Indiana. When I started at the post office, I started as a part-timer, and I was under the impression that it would take roughly four to five years for me to have a full-time carrier job. I've now been there over four years with no end in sight, and I just don't know what to do. If I had to put it to my best guess, it will be another four years until I make regular if I stay in Louisville.
The alternative is to bid on this job in Patoka. It's a tiny town(less than 800 people) in the southwest of Indiana, about 4 miles from the Illinois border. I'd be a regular mail carrier right away, which would not only get me a lot more money, but I'd get all the other stuff that comes along with being a regular(benefits, insurance, vacation, etc.). In addition, and this is probably the biggest reason, if I become a regular 4 years earlier, that means I can retire 4 years earlier. I can't believe I'm actually looking that far ahead.
And that's pretty much it for the good stuff. There are plenty of reasons why it would be bad if I took the job, and the biggest would be leaving Louisville. Patoka is about two and a half hours away, which is way too far of a drive to make every day, so I'd have to move there. In addition, once you are a regular carrier, you are stuck within the region you have bid to. This means that I would never move back to Louisville. My only future move choices would be within the region, which I don't know offhand, but I would guess probably include Evansville and Terre Haute. I've been to Terre Haute before, and I liked it. I'd probably pick there. For...the entirety of my career at the post office.
Obviously, I don't need to list all the reasons that I'd like to stay in Louisville, but aside from family and friends, I don't have any really strong ties to this city. I'd say I love Louisville as much as a person can love a city, but I can see me making this move to Bumblefuck if it's something I really had to do.
If it happens, it will happen fast. I've got one more week to decide if I want to bid or not. The following Saturday, the winner of the bid will be posted, and if it's me, I'd start two days later. Which would be...the Monday after Christmas. shit. I really don't know what to do.
There is a full-time carrier job open in Patoka, Indiana. When I started at the post office, I started as a part-timer, and I was under the impression that it would take roughly four to five years for me to have a full-time carrier job. I've now been there over four years with no end in sight, and I just don't know what to do. If I had to put it to my best guess, it will be another four years until I make regular if I stay in Louisville.
The alternative is to bid on this job in Patoka. It's a tiny town(less than 800 people) in the southwest of Indiana, about 4 miles from the Illinois border. I'd be a regular mail carrier right away, which would not only get me a lot more money, but I'd get all the other stuff that comes along with being a regular(benefits, insurance, vacation, etc.). In addition, and this is probably the biggest reason, if I become a regular 4 years earlier, that means I can retire 4 years earlier. I can't believe I'm actually looking that far ahead.
And that's pretty much it for the good stuff. There are plenty of reasons why it would be bad if I took the job, and the biggest would be leaving Louisville. Patoka is about two and a half hours away, which is way too far of a drive to make every day, so I'd have to move there. In addition, once you are a regular carrier, you are stuck within the region you have bid to. This means that I would never move back to Louisville. My only future move choices would be within the region, which I don't know offhand, but I would guess probably include Evansville and Terre Haute. I've been to Terre Haute before, and I liked it. I'd probably pick there. For...the entirety of my career at the post office.
Obviously, I don't need to list all the reasons that I'd like to stay in Louisville, but aside from family and friends, I don't have any really strong ties to this city. I'd say I love Louisville as much as a person can love a city, but I can see me making this move to Bumblefuck if it's something I really had to do.
If it happens, it will happen fast. I've got one more week to decide if I want to bid or not. The following Saturday, the winner of the bid will be posted, and if it's me, I'd start two days later. Which would be...the Monday after Christmas. shit. I really don't know what to do.