Update - I've been over in Scottsdale since the last full week in October - three weeks a month basically. Work is fine, but living over here by myself, especially in a hotel, SUCKS! I don't think single living in an Apt. would be much better, frankly. I let them know yesterday that while I like the work, my life, family, etc. are all in SoCal and I just can't see living apart from that. They were understanding, but disappointed too. They came back this morning wanting to guarantee my employment here thru April of next year at least. Basically through the company fiscal year end March 31st and the audit.
They even offered to just have me over here for the first week of each month to close the books and work from either home or office in Costa Mesa the remainder of each month. Working from home would be nicer and would allow me time to job search and hopefully interview a little more freely than being in AZ!
I'm torn. I need to move on with my life and job, but the guarantee of another 4 months employment is enticing in this market. No retention bonus has been offered...yet. If I said yes, I'd feel obligated to meet my commitment which makes it hard to search for a position. I've held off a full on job search this year because of my commitment to projects (nice retention bonuses too!) that have kept me employed to this point. Recruiters are reluctant to do much in this type situation too from what I've experienced this past year!
Experian is a dying company in SoCal - finance anyway. They just did another round of layoffs last week and I hear there's another reorg already in the works. No future with them, even after 10 years. I just want to bail with the severance package that's still on the table and concentrate on a full time job search. I know its 'easier' to look and be employable while employed, but this is getting ridiculous.
Scottsdale itself is a beautiful area, plenty of golf courses to play - daily fee of course which just adds to the financial burden. Weather now is perfect - mid 70's every day. Certainly won't be in the summer - 110-120 days! Yikes! I'd begun looking into 1 bedroom apts and in the immediate area to work $850-950 plus $200-400 in utilities (electric, cable, etc.) depending on the time of year. Basically just to be here is a good $1400/mo over what we have in SoCal and there's no guarantee of a raise with a permanent job here. While I wouldn't want to purchase in the first year, I could buy a nicer 2 bed/bath condo for about the same or less than a 1 bed/bath apt.! They hadn't got to the job offer stage with me and I felt they were dragging their feet. Experian moves slow on a lot of things, but this was eating at me given that I was being told I was the person they wanted for the job. Was beginning to feel like I was being led on so to speak.
What sage advice does Mud have?
and home would remain here and I'd find a cheap place to live there and just come home occasionally. Golf mecca! We'll see how it works out!!!
you did besides post on MUD, mod your truck and make cool stuff for our trucks! 
Tell the 
to make partner quicker so you can retire permanently! 
