Paperbackpixie's journey

After being unemployed for 1.5 years, I found myself in a situation I never imagined. Currently, I’m working as a 1099 contractor for a solid but still new-ish company. I manage all my own taxes, contribute to my 401(k), and even set aside money for unemployment in case things go sideways. Overall, I like the job; it’s hybrid, flexible, and I started part-time with a planned transition to full-time very soon. This gives me the option to either stay where I am or move closer into town. However, the downside is that once everything is paid out, my actual take-home isn't quite where I want it to be. Since I haven’t been there long, I'm unsure how much room there is for negotiation on my pay. Now, I'm considering two other job opportunities. Job Two is a demanding role at a major hospital where I would work directly with complex patient needs every day. The workload would be heavy, but the pay is outstanding, and I would need to relocate. Job Three is a part-time position at a hospital focused on psychosocial support. It has less bureaucracy, is meaningful work, and is located in a town I used to live in and dream of returning to. It’s quieter and breathtakingly beautiful, but while the pay is decent, I’d likely need to pick up another part-time job to make ends meet. So here I am, weighing flexibility versus pay, location, and quality of life. It's a tough decision!