As the year turns

For most of the world the year turns either Jan 1st, or on their birthday -- but for some it turns when they hand out bonuses. Its a breaking point in the yearly grind, it makes you think about life and what your goal is, and whats valuable.

My old manager told me once that we don't really have a choice in life.. at least not after you start along a path. For him, he was married, started working, had kids, etc and was entrenched in his role and he has to go with the job to support his family and life. He felt choice was an illusion.

I guess for me I do have choices because much of my life is still to be decided. I've taken a long route to taking the next step.

Anyways when our bonuses come around, I wonder if I'll have the courage to do something truly different with life. I don't know if its courage thats needed but I wonder what I will do. Its not that our bonuses are big, its just a closure point if you do want to make a change. I ponder my options:

1. Stay in TK with the same job, continue trying move up the ladder. Its a place I know and its safe. Money is still good, env isn't great, but its okay. I can make a few internal changes and it'll be fun.
2. Stay in TK with a new job, stay here for a while and settle in. New job is risky, but maybe give me a new perspective on life. Also make for my return plan
3. Move to HK for a year and travel then move back to the US
4. Move back to the US -- but then the question is where to go? SoCal? NoCal? Somewhere new?

I'm getting older, so I feel the need to settle down somewhere and plant my roots. I feel it'd be hard and a bit lonely at 40 to root down in a new town and make friends and build relationships up. Thus it brings me back to places I know, very likely SoCal where at least I have some family.

I suppose Japan is a natural 2nd place since I have family here too.

I have a few months to decide. I am leaning the HK way for now.