Ok, gonna steal the thread.
I'm starting to think that my time has come to return home.
38 and have been here for 15 years.
Pretty fluent in the language (reading still needs work) and have a firm grasp on the culture, society and markets.
I have worked my way up the ladder from being some guy off the jet with no teaching skills to being "good" at what I do. I even started my own company and have made it sustainable even in a society that has 1.2 kids per year and a recession that has been going on since the 90's.
Currently, make about $2300 a month. Salary is split between my company and my other jobs, I started working at high schools and what not so that I could distance myself from the "teaching side" of the operations. However, I do have perks from the company like a car, gas, and few "ahem" office expenditures
So, it's nice to do sort of well (relative to this city) and pay lower taxes
The company does pretty well and could take a higher salary but I limit my salary to make sure I have a secure operation. Considering, that the company is in small city (by japanese standards) it is rather stable concerning income and expenses. The days of making ***** loads of money are gone. Maintaining the customer base isn't really that difficult due to our reputation, however, with the poplutation decreasing the market has gotten more competitive.
Sapporo has about 1.9 million people but in reality is very backwater and major corporations are located on the other island in Tokyo. Being non-Japanese means you normally teach English, train horses, or if you're 3rd world -- tend to the dirty jobs.
Living costs are rather palatable and I have about $2-300 left over a month. Rent is about 1/3 of my salary and the city is an awesome place to live but rather lacking on any upper class.
Lifestyle is awesome, 30 minutes to the ski slopes or ice rinks. Less than 3 hours to major world class snow and powder! Nature is normally just a 20 minute drive away including beaches. Streets are basically safe for women to walk alone at night (even with short skirts and high heels -- pros and be found in government registered locations, so no street ladies).
Ladies are awesome to look at but a bit boring to talk to, stay away from world issues and stick to TV shows and you'll be set but ... miss arguments about religion, politics, abortion, terrorism and all that fun stuff.
Basically, a place to live and learn to live with no real "work" advancements in life outside of owning your own company. Tokyo is different. But it's on another island.
Now, my Dad keeps complaining that it's time to come home.
My debate is to pack up and head back to SoCal or do I just stay here and live life in my "comfort zone" and accept the status quo. 6 years on the job that has no pay increases but yet has country wide pay cuts -- high school teaching.
I got divorced and haven't seen my kid in almost a year now. (different story ... I'm learning to live with it
) so, issue of moving family is gone.
I have a BA that's pretty BS so ... no real tech skill to speak of.
If I do go back to the States, I could walk into a job starting part-time at $13 or so, with more than likely chances of doing 40k within the year. For a few months in order to settle house, I can room a bit. Not sure if I want to call in a favor, though...
One problem is that I've been an independent worker (basically self-employed) for the past 10 years. I have lots of vacation time thanks to being in the education business. I will have to more than likely learn to adapt to the US corporate climate and being at a desk instead of in the action.
Of course, I'm thinking headhunter and possibly a career consultant. I don't mind paying for professional help. ( :P not that kind
)
I am really torn because I realize that without taking a radical step to change what I'm doing now I'll be doing the same thing 10-20 years down the road at probably the same salary.
I have thought out the possiblities of risking everything and move into a $200 flat and go all out for the company. Build up another location and what not. However, at the moment I am not sure risking 6-12 months of rent, utilities, and time is worth or not. The economy up here s*cks bad, we haven't seen a positive growth in years.
Investing in property = trying down and rebuilding structures every 30 years. Including various other problems like Yakuza.
I have also thought about branching out into another line of work. Like importing from the states ... but ... thoughts stop when I think about focusing on what I have now.
If I do make a change in my current situation, I do realize that a 2-4 years will have to be followed up on. Jumping around isn't really part of me. Make the commitment and follow through until I have given it a fair chance.
Anybody have any thoughts?
How about complaints
