And.........

no move.

I went on that job interview Monday.  It's a 35 minute drive or so.  And the salary range they had listed was 20% less than what I was making.  But I went, because really I do need a job.  And moving is not the preferable option, just because we ARE upside down on the house.  If I honestly believed we could easily sell the house and not have to come up with $15K to take the closing, I'd be all over moving. 

Well, I wasn't thrilled with the job - only because of the salary.  I really liked the people I met.  The plant was beautiful.  Excellent benefits (DENTAL!  I haven't had dental in 13 years!), a 401K match!  Holy crap.  Well, I actually even liked the job description.  It's not what I normally do, but they DO know my ultimate goal.  (Engineering manager...the position is essentially a Quality Supervisor/Customer Liasion)  They know I don't want to stay in that position forever and actually seemed pretty excited that I have a 'career plan'.  (It's not...I just know engineering managers can hit 6 figures and it's still not ultimate responsibility.)  I will be VERY good at the job.  But they came back and offered it to me yesterday...with a salary that isn't much less than what I was making previously.  It's the benefits though that I can't turn down.  Although they don't have to - they pay straight time OT over 45 hours.  (Right now they're working 50 every week.)  Medical that's SO much better than DH's.  (Seriously.  We have a $10K family deductible and pay $225 a month for that privelege - and then it only pays 80%.  This is $700 family deductible for $150 a month...and it covers 100% after the deductible!)  Plus the dental AND vision!!!!!  Tuition reimbursement.  And the 401K match.  It's not much...$.25, but I've never had one at all.

It kind of blows my mind how bad I've had it honestly.  I'm a freaking engineer.  I've worked for some fairly major companies.  And have not had jack to show for it. 

The best benefits I've had up til now?  Working at FedEx Kinkos...making copies.