Mid-Life Crisis Escape to the 702, TR 5/11 - 5/15
gonna preview this with an extended personal story.
Last time we talked, I reported it was time to s* or get off the pot. tired of working at my job paying peanuts, tired of our crappy little house we've outgrown that is falling apart, tired of living in the frozen tundra of Dakota.
the local manager position in Bismarck opened up and that was really my career and family goal. promotion would mean buying a new house around here. also applied for a regional job in Texas that I probably had no business trying. then as a backup, my wife and I qualified as finalists for Tulsa Remote which would pay us each $10K to move there, compounded because housing costs are cheaper there anyway.
wife and I had a great (free) trip recently to Tulsa. I really liked the city. saw some houses I would be happy with. I made no plans or commitments past mid-May because I figured we'd be doing something.
so then the day came where I got the dreaded email from the Dakota regional manager "thanks for trying, we picked someone else." literally crushing. I thought that job was mine. five seconds later I got an email from my supervisor "times are tough, your annual raise is basically nothing (again)." double whammy. then that evening I mention "well, we can prepare to move to Tulsa" and the wife replies flatly "I am not moving to Tulsa."
have been planning for this day of action for 6 months, a crossroads one way or another. suddenly all my options and backup plans have blown up in my face. I am on the brink of depression, don't know what I'm doing, feeling like a total life loser, and now in a full-blown midlife crisis.
some of the sticking points that play key factors: (1) my wife's work has grown to where she out-earns me now and is well established here. she could move but claims she would be starting from scratch. (2) our kids like it here (no kid ever wants to move). apparently I'm on the island of 'I hate it here and I want to leave', and since she makes more than me, combined with the kids' votes...
I have a few other move to destination ideas; probably doesn't make a difference for them. (3) we bought our crappy house when interest rates were low which is ancient history now and she thinks moving anywhere is financially unrealistic
so yeah. I'm resigned to the reality I may be stuck here in cold weather MAGAland for the foreseeable future. two interesting points though. anytime something comes up since then, when we talk about the summer wife keeps mentioning "but we might move" so it sounds like she hasn't closed that door completely, although I haven't been able to persuade her. other thing she says, and reason to stay, "hey, we are finally financially comfortable now which means you can keep going on your trips to Las Vegas."
that catches my attention. sounds like a deal or permission.
I spent a night perusing Allegiant flights, making a chart of every trip option from May to July. there's only two flights per week so it is a finite task, and I checked every cost for 4 days or 7 day trips during that stretch, including time of departures. I even checked out hotel costs for those days at multiple properties.
next day I call the kids together. "what do you want to do this summer, what family trips should we plan?" the kids don't want to go anywhere, don't like long trips or traveling in general. (well yeah no s* that's why I want to move to a place closer to actual stuff)
back to my charts. see a cheap flight option.
see a good hotel deal, called the players club marketing number, and was offered an even better deal for that same property. I'm not a high roller but apparently any amount of gambling is enough to get on the good side of Treasure Island. so yeah, booked my hotel and flight
how about this: round trip for $94, minus $18 for leftover airline loyalty points. TI for $272, no resort fee. so flight plus four nights on Strip = $348 total. about one buy-in of 1/3. let the games begin.
the ironic thing is that TI is the place to stay because of free parking. but when I get all four nights, there is no reason or need to even get a car. so no rental expenses either. probably only need two Uber rides.
a quick trip, 3.5 days. not enough time for hiking or visiting sister's family. as I won't be paying TI's optional resort fee, I will not have wifi access. that means this is a NO WORK trip. play only. who's gonna complain about that?
***
postscript: last year in age 40 was the happiest point of my life. I have learned to make the most of my time here even in this crummy place. I'm happily married with a good family I'm proud of. and yeah we are financially comfortable in our meager means. maybe all these hopes and efforts to move were just a dream and I'm not miserable in my current situation.
just feel it could be better or different, that's all... is that so wrong?
in the meantime, continuing Vegas on a regular basis. which is a nice thought this week as the Northern Plains are being hit with a big winter storm... you can understand why a warm weather getaway gets me excited a month ahead
Gratitude can be a great mindset. Enjoy the trip.
I understand the feeling of being at a crossroads.
It’s important to see and accentuate the positives in everything.
Have a great trip!
Sorry the jobs didn't work out. Let's hope it is a good thing, long run.
Always in for a Langdon TR, GL in May!
I'm in.
Sorry the jobs didn't work out and that your family wants to stay put (most likely). Glad you love them and are happy -- that's what matters.
Definitely in for this trip! Fantastic deal on flights/room -- already off to a good start! And you are saving money on a family vacation, too 😉
FWIW, my husband moved us out of my dream home. Very different situation, but I do get upset about it every once in a while and take it out on him. I'm going to try to be better about it -- I know he had good reasons at the time, and I am madly in love with him. That will never change.
yay Vegas!
sorry to read about your situation. your wife's decision is totally understandable career wise....albeit that doesn't make it any less of a shock if it came out of the blue.
Tough spot - a few more Vegas trips is a nice short term band aid but it does sound like you're gonna need a new plan. How old are your kids?
Sorry to hear about the bad job/move news. Hoping things eventually take a turn for the better.
Sorry to hear about the jobs. But as you have realized, you are running pure in life with a happy and healthy family!
Glad to hear that you’ll be getting out to Vegas again soon. I’m hoping to book a trip there during the early part of the WSOP, so your TR will get me hyped up!
Fontainebleau sent me this offer. should I split my stay at TI and pay 2x for FB?
I hate moving rooms, so it would have to be a much better experience and a great value for me to take the offer.
1) Tulsa is awful
2) have an affair
Fontainebleau is a place I've wanted to stay at, and since I'm getting such a good deal at Treasure Island and my flight is also so cheap, going 2+2 at $105 avg/night seems like a good opportunity. I booked FB for Tue-Wed nights. pool time is now on the itinerary
I’m in the ‘never change resorts mid way through a vacation’ camp unless it’s an offer way too good to refuse. But I’ll be interested in your report on Fontainebleau
Good for you-it’s a very nice casino. In the event you are looking for recommendations for any of the restaurants there, I tried Mother Wolf last year and it was pretty good.
For our trip in April, Fontainebleau is the conference hotel. We are staying in our timeshare, but will spend some time in that casino. Will be nice to hear your thoughts.
Fontainebleau is a place I've wanted to stay at, and since I'm getting such a good deal at Treasure Island and my flight is also so cheap, going 2+2 at $105 avg/night seems like a good opportunity. I booked FB for Tue-Wed nights. pool time is now on the itinerary
Nice. I have not yet made it out to Fontainebleu after it opened. Have you done any gambling there on previous trips to get that offer? (don't remember).
Nice. I have not yet made it out to Fontainebleu after it opened. Have you done any gambling there on previous trips to get that offer? (don't remember).
did tier match last year while getting a new players card. played zero gambling there. took the wife to a super nice dinner at Kyu.
whether it's a teaser offer or "we need humans in our resort, this guy has a players card, send him a deal", I'm up for it. I couldn't afford their regular price plus resort fee
did tier match last year while getting a new players card. played zero gambling there. took the wife to a super nice dinner at Kyu.
whether it's a teaser offer or "we need humans in our resort, this guy has a players card, send him a deal", I'm up for it. I couldn't afford their regular price plus resort fee
Vegas has been getting so greedy, take everything they offer and squeeze them where you can ;-)
have a good trip!
Better for the TR if you change hotels so good call
had my third and final poker tune-up tonight.
there are two home games I play at sporadically. Game A many of the regulars like doing Big O bomb pots, and they end up running several times per HE orbit. I'm not very good at Big O and I don't like the variance but I can't sit out half the hands all night. this time in Feb, started pretty hot, then ran ice cold for a couple hours, racking out at even for the night.
in March I played at Game B, which stays on holdem. started good again, hit quads on the river and got called by a flush. then once again I hit a cold spell. I opened with A6, flop 644, and I'm up against 64o. I have AQ, ace high flop and I lose to A5. I have AQ, ace high flop, I lose to AK. I have AJ, hit an ace, lose to 63. eventually with AJ and a small stack, I shove an open and they call with KK and I bust.
the funny thing about these two sessions, where I went +$0 and -$400: I played well. didn't make any bad calls and didn't make any bad folds either session. they just always seemed to have it.
still sucks though
last night, back to Game A. table of crushers that are kinda intimidating. or so I thought
- I open KKch in hj to $12 off around a $500 stack.
flop is 964cch. I bet $25, two calls.
turn is 8h. I bet $50. co raises to $190. this is a young aggressive reg who knows me, he probably assumes I am scared money. I have over $500 at this point and think I cover him. I tanked, and made the call. not sure if I have ever called a $190 non-all-in turn bet before.
river is As. I only have one pair, but if I check, I know he will 100% shove his entire range. this is one of those situations where being out of position is honestly an advantage for me. after about 60 seconds I bet $100, my hand shaking terribly as I count some stacks of red. he goes into the tank for about 90 seconds, mumbles he missed everything and folds.
I have to stand up and walk around my heart is racing so hard. it was one of my biggest pots won outside of a casino (I've lost many bigger ones).
that "villian" hit a royal flush a short time later (not vs me), so it all worked out anyway
- big O double board bomb pot, I'm first to act with AKQ99.
I led every street, can't remember the boards exactly but finished something like
AQJ82 and AQQT7 and the lady to my right seems to be a worse Big O player than I am.
It's now 10:45pm before a workday, I'm up +$800 and then Craig, the biggest whale and worst poker player I know, walks in the door. there's no way I'm leaving.
- first hand is Big O, it's Craig, another old reg (X) and I, I have AJT98 on a turn board of 87Q2. I make the nut straight with a K, J, T, 9, or 6.
river is J, no flush, no pairs on board, I have nut high. Player X bets $50 (bomb pot max), I raise $50 more (max), Craig calls. X has the nut low, Craig claims he has two straights and I was dead until the river, making fun of my math. whatever, I said, as we chop up his chips.
- couple hours later, I open KQ.
flop KQ4. lady on my left donks $50. I call. she bets $75 turn, we check river Ace, she has Q4 for a worse flopped two pair and I scoop a nice pot to end the night.
that's not a lot of hand histories but basically how it went. too many hands too fast to document. in for $300, out for $1440 after four hours of 1/2. most of that was chopping multiway $5 Big O bomb pots. maybe I don't hate Big O ($50 spread limit) anymore after all
poker is live and well in Dakota.
hey I have a legit bankroll for Vegas!
There is nothing worse than "they just always seemed to have it." I'm pretty sure that solver charts can't help you when up against that.
Great job!
I’m trying to tell everybody, bomb pots are awesome.
Yes they can be intimidating, and pots can get big. But I’m confident from everything that I’ve seen that my opponents are making MUCH bigger mistakes than I am in them.
Well done. Tonight I'll play one of my last sessions before heading to Vegas next Saturday -- I hope I do as well as you!
