I'm visiting my family on the east coast for the holidays right now. It's been one week since I've arrived and I will be returning back to the west coast after the new year. I have an opportunity to transfer back to my old job at my company in a couple of months if I chose to do so. I save 1K more per more living in Washington state (no state taxes and no need for a car since I live in the middle of town) verses returning home to the east coast. If I stay on the west coast, then I save 1K more per month compared to moving back to the east coast. This economy is rough on most of us and I'm trying really hard to save as much money as I can in case I ever lose my job. However, I'm conflicted about choosing money over famliy.
My family (my parents in particular) would like me to transfer back to the east coast so they can see me more. They are giving me mixed messages...they say that it's my decision to turn or to stay on the west coast...as long as I'm happy, then they are happy. However, their non-verbal expressions state otherwise. They are both in good health although one parent did have a sucessful heart transplant last year. My brother and sister-in-law are in the area too...so I do have a little bit of peace-of-mind in case something 'bad' where to happen to them.
My father suffers from depression, anxiety, and is constantly negative. He has suffered from this ever since I was a child and I do not remember too many days where he was normal and happy to be alive. He has started hounding me about my life again now that I'm here in their house for holidays. He tells me that I should have 100K in liquid assets at this age (I'm 33). I'm not rich and there admit that I did not start saving money until just a couple of years ago. His anxiety, depression, and issues make me worried about my future and his negativity makes me feel emotionally unhealthy. He means well and I know he is just concerned about my future, but he does me more harm than good with his constant negativity.
This sounds horrible, but I FEEL better about myself and my life when I am away from him. As the only daughter, I feel some sort of strange guilt and obligation for taking care of my parents. Perhaps it's socialization that's made me think of myself as a 'bad daughter' for being so far away from him and my mom.
Anyway, my main question to you is do you think saving 1K more per month is worth living far away from your aging parents? God gave my parent a second chance at life...and I keep asking myself "Shouldn't I move back and live closer to them again? Time is limited." What would you do? FYI...my dad is 70 and my mom is 58.