Well the poll is now up to 80% in favor of my move (or not totally against. Depends on the spouse I guess).
It is my contention that I made the right move. It is also my contention that anyone who voted #3 or#4 and would not have gone does not have the suitable disposition to be a trader.
I think one must be able and willing to take on risk. Even if the risk cannot be correctly calculated. Now, even having said this, could the risk I took be calculated in any way? I say yes. My risk seemed at the time to solely be in leaving my job, which I hated anyway.
The company in Chicago did give me moving expense money, and they paid the rent for me in Chicago. I did get paid my base salary, which was slightly less than I was making on average as a broker.
I did get the first quarterly bonus. It wasn't huge, but it was more than I ever had gotten paid in one lump sum up until that time.
Now did I come out ahead? No. I spent more than I made. I spent on going back and forth from Chicago to my home, I spent on my wife and baby coming to me. The apartment they paid for was ok, but it was also doubling as an office. When my family arrived I took an expensive apartment. I didn't have a car in Chicago, so I had a lot of cab fares. Sometimes limos. I had to shuttle back and forth between the Board of Trade and the Merc. And virtually every meal was at a restaurant. And my mortgage at my house didn't get put on hold. Etc., etc.
I got screwed out of my job, and out of my money in the end. But I would love to hear one person explain to me the reason they would not have taken the same chance.
And especially if that person trades for a living.
Any explanations? Where is the smart money on this? Will Fasterpussycat come through with a reason? Which "Basher" is going to step up to the plate?
Peace and Good Trading to All!
M (an alias...but not Publias, I just like the peace and good trading thing)