Just to keep this thread going...
Background: I work in a field services organization with two corporate offices in two states. I started working as a data bitch for the CEO at corporate office A before office B was opened near his home, where I was relocated there. I hated the weather and increasingly disliked working for the CEO. He is a smart guy, but prone to outbursts, easily agitated, makes vague requests and is unhappy despite multiple genuine attempts to fulfill them and multiple revisions... and I was treated better than most people there. He also had a severely dysfunctional relationship with the CFO, and we have a new ownership group and new board of directors.
So I politic myself into getting a role leading a department where I knew the current director was about to be fired. The guy they had slated to take over didn't want the job, so it wasn't too hard to get it and a nice raise along with it. Most of the staff was at office A, but I would stay at office B. I have frequently gossiped with the CFOs minion about what a nutcase the CEO is, and it must have gotten back to the CFO. We wind up having drinks.
CFO: Won't you do a better job in office A?
Me: Yes, but CEO, I'm a wussy pants, waah waah
CFO: If you want to move to office A, I will make it happen.
Me: How?
CFO: I'll tell CEO, Monte is moving to office A. That's it.
Me: What if CEO flips out and wants to fire me?
CFO: I won't let that happen.
I did want to move. Better weather (gulf summers suck, omg, give me northern winter any day over gulf summer), friends, no pyscho bosses. But I was worried. I thought the CFO was using me to weaken the CEO, I figured I would now be considered politically aligned with CFO and an enemy of the state. But I also had a big stash of FU money, even though I didn't think of it that way.
I think it over a few weeks and tell CFO I want to move. The CEOs right hand man calls me in for a chat, which was awkward but polite. A few months later I am relocated back to office A. Life continues, no drama or fallout.
I got a little worried when the board shot the CFO, figuring that may spell the end for me. But then I remembered - I have an EVEN BIGGER FU stash than I had before.
So far no fallout. I've seen the CEO a couple times since then. He's kind of forgot about me. If you're not in his presence on a daily basis, you basically don't exist. Which is pretty f'ing awesome right now. I'm flying under the radar, making tons of $$$ and stashing it. I'm working my ass off, but my overworked boss back in office B barely has time to oversee anything I do. I basically run autonomously and can get shit done the right way for a company that has been good to me, but also am secure that I can walk out or get shot anytime and still be okay.