As of right now, I make ~ $120k, and my wife at $45k. Just started the legal sep process after a 4 yr marriage. Should be amicable and painful but...not horrible. However, I am basically year to year in my job, and theres a chance my job might go away in 4 months. As such, I am relatively certain I can grab another ~$80k gig to remain in the area for our 50/50 custody.

However, I could easily continue my $120k+ career elsewhere, and get it to a point thats NOT year to year...potentially even overseas. But of course that would mean I have to be away from my two kids (1 and 3 yo) that I friggen LOVE.

I'm not asking a question, but looking for anyone that has had to make the choice of settling financially just to see their kids, or making the painful decision to be gone for a few years in order to set yourself (and the kids) up better more long term?

The kids are still young enough where they won't really remember being gone (even though I will remember), but I also wont get the bonding...and I dont want to fall into a trap of just being gone forever.