North or So Cal?

As many of you know, I've been interviewing in Southern and Northern California Kaisers for a full-time hospitalist position. (Click here if you don't know what a hospitalist is. You should, since I guarantee you will all see one many many times before you pack up and leave this earth.) I've already been offered a position at Kaiser Riverside, which I found to be a beautiful campus, has a low-stress work environment, and is only a 30 minute commute from Irvine and Tustin, 2 great cities to raise a family and are both close to home. Kaiser Orange County is another great potential place to work, especially with their new Irvine hospital opening next year.

Initially, I was very excited about moving back down to where I was raised most of my life. But when I was finally faced with the decision, I suddenly became reluctant. I realized I would be really sad to leave my current spiritual and social community, comprised mostly of people that go to my current church, Canaan Taiwanese Church. I think that what God is doing in our cell groups here is very special, and is going to be very difficult to find anywhere else. In addition, the idea of living within 20 minutes of my parents suddenly seemed like that was probably much too close. Lastly, checking the web, Esther's prospect of finding work in her (narrow) field is much much lower in So. Cal (outside of San Diego) than it would be in Silicon Valley.

So I decided to give Nor. Cal Kaisers another go, and look at places a little farther out. God responded, and though initially there seemed like no openings, both KP San Jose and KP Walnut Creek have expressed interest and have contacted me to set up interview dates.

At first, I thought God wanted me to go back to Southern California. But now with this happening, I'm not so sure. Well, we'll see if these places even offer me a position. But if they do, it'll still be a hard decision.