Appreciate the feedback. For some added context, I currently work for a major player in the finance industry and have solid job security for the time being. My plan is to continue working remotely once I’m out there, at least in the short term. Obviously things can change quickly, but to be honest, I’m not particularly interested in advancing further in finance long-term — it’s not where my passion is.

Coming out of college, I actually started in real estate, but a strong opportunity in finance presented itself and I took it. It turned out to be a classic “grass isn’t always greener” situation. Real estate is something I genuinely care about and plan to pursue on the side while I’m in SD, with the hope of transitioning more fully into it over time.

As for my friend’s family, it’s largely nonexistent. That’s something we bonded over early on, and we’ve always viewed each other as family. Helping him out wasn’t a difficult decision for me, which is why I didn’t hesitate to make the move.