wisdom from freelancers

Subject: wisdom from freelancers
From: nerfherder320 -at- comcast -dot- net
To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
Date: Tue, 21 Oct 2008 23:49:43 +0000

I welcome any insights on a decision I have to make very soon.

My question: In this economy, facing a possible need to be
completely self-sufficient, would you choose career-boosting,
temporary Job A now? Or would you wait and hope to get
an offer from boring, steady secure Job B?

Details here:

Job A: 1 year contract gig, expecting an offer this week,
maybe tomorrow. I would start ASAP. It's an arm of a very large,
successful company starting an operation locally. Lots of
Project Management type responsibilities and exposure to new
tools in the course of working on the IT docs, potential for long
hours on occasion. The commute is 20 minutes
longer than I'd like, all highway driving to a rather isolated spot.
Due to the distance, they're willing to let me work from home
after the initial ramp-up at least 2 days a week and I won't be
expected to drive in terrible weather. The hourly rate will result
in a good raise in pay compared to my salary prior to being laid off.

Job B: Interviewing Thursday for a permanent job with an arm of
the federal government. I'm pretty confident I'll get an offer,
but it's early yet. It's typical SW TW with some user
support thrown in. The commute is only 30 minutes, but I suspect
I won't get any work-at-home arrangement for bad weather.
The starting salary is pretty close to what I had made before and it
tops out at what I'd make immediately in Job A. I've heard federal
employees get lots of holidays.

There is a personal factor that imposes stresses.
Going through a REALLY rough patch in marriage, plan to go
to counseling, could end up splitting ARGH! I basically have no
emotional support at home and have all responsibilities for
taking care of the household (whine whine, poor me)
All healthcare and other benefits come from spouse's employer.

O wise and experienced whirlers, is there anything else I need to
consider to help me make a good decision? What questions do
I need to ask of the universe?

thank you!
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