Arkansas is pretty damn cheap. Then again so is Indiana. The salary does make a difference but isn't the sole factor. I have been making it on poverty level income for a long time now so it will be nice either way.

It's funny you should mention the 'pest', hankster. He actually said he realizes that he is NOT Ph.D. material and isn't ready for the commitment so he is out of my hair no matter what after spring semester.

I have met the advisor I would be working with at our national meeting I went to a couple weeks ago and he seemed really nice and friendly. I was told he is a totally different person than he was a few years ago. I guess he has since gotten tenure and had a child - all of which mellowed him out big time.

I mean, I up and left Dayton to move to Carbondale, IL and then even further to Arkansas (with a little stint in upstate NY) so the whole risk thing is not an issue.

I realize that my bf's ability to find a job isn't technically 'my' problem but it still is a factor. Also, my current advisor is all about sending his students places. Since I have been in his lab I have gone to about 6 states, Peurto Rico, Austria and London. If I stay here, in July I would be going to Costa Rica. I have met probably over half the major people in my field and know them personally now. He is extremely well known and essentially created a job for the last guy that graduated.

I just talked to him on the phone and he said he has known for a while that I got it. He said he spent a long time on the phone with who would be my advisor there and has also gone to the dept head (at AR) and talked about giving me a better offer. He wants to have the 3 of us (me, my advisor and dept head) sit down next week and talk about what I need from them to keep me here!

He says "feels good to have universities fighting over you doesn't it?" I said yes except now my decision is about 1,000 xs harder.