EconDiva, I totally hear ya: we're in the process of looking for a place to relocate to, and one of the biggest fears is that, if we don't like the new place, we'll get priced out of the old place. (Our apartment will shoot up in price, for example, as soon as we leave.) It's a bummer that you're not liking Chicago, and I completely understand the need to vent. And to that I say, Vent away!
But once you're ready to move on from the feeling to the doing stage (and again, I'm all for allowing oneself appropriate time to hang out in the irritated feeling stage), sounds like it's time to get creative and think beyond the binary options of A. Atlanta and B. Chicago. Yes, you're not feeling like you've progressed, but I'm sure your bank account shows elsewise -- and that bank account is what will give you some flexibility to get creative. Don't underestimate that power -- and don't kick yourself for trying something new. You said yourself that Atlanta doesn't have a lot of pharma options -- so had you not left Atlanta, who knows where you might be right now. Had you gotten laid off at $44k, that'd be a
whole lot more difficult than getting laid off at $90k but living on less.
So the question becomes: Where can you go that has the pharma options you need but doesn't have the things you don't like about Chicago (such as the cold) or Atlanta (such as higher COL)? Using Richmond just as an example (no idea if it has pharma), that perhaps might be a place where you can retain the higher income/lower COL, while also having less cold/winter. Just because you don't want to stay in Chicago long-term doesn't make your move a failure or anything. And it doesn't make it final either. Feel the feels as needed, but don't let yourself get resigned to feeling stuck. There are myriad ways that people get stuck beyond their control. But in this situation, stuck is a choice.
Alternatively, find that $90k job in Atlanta, take it, and see what happens. Live on less like you said, and maybe you
won't get laid off. I understand the fear (we've been through it multiple times ourselves), but there's always the possibility that it won't happen. And if it does, THEN head to another town like (again, just an example) Richmond for a while. Call it Plan D.
You're absolutely right that chasing financial goals does not guarantee happiness. Not at all whatsoever. What it does is give you more control over your options. You're in control here. Do not forget that. Once you're ready to get proactive, dust yourself off, get to researching, and come up with some scenarios on how to improve your happiness while continuing to reach your goals. Maybe not over-the-moon happy: there will always be trade-offs and discomforts. But happier-than-in-Chicago happy is out there. You just have to find it.
ETA: okits post came in while I was typing, and I just want to add a resounding Amen to it:
At the very least you can say that you tried something bold to try to improve your life and find happiness. Nothing worse than finding yourself sitting someplace you knew years ago wasn't the right thing, but fear and inertia kept you rooted in a dead-end way of life. Taking action and making an effort is a big thing, at least you are trying something that could be better than what you already know you don't want.
