On (probably) NOT going for the safe job option...

So the job I'm doing temporarily until the end of December is now being advertised on a permanent basis, and I could apply for it, obviously having a reasonably good chance of getting it having done the exact job for two months now.

It's a pretty decent job, reasonably well paid, nice people and safe....

HOWEVER, the main argument against is that i will most likely be moving to London at some point next year and this job requires me to be local, which kind of screams 'you can't put your name forward for the permanent position'.

This kind of makes my decision easy, just for logistical reasons it isn't suitable.

But there is a larger question looming: even if it weren't for this imminent move, would I want this job anyway...?

A simple look at the pros and cons and the answer is 'probably not'...

Positives

1. Job security - if i did get this job I'd be in it for another five years, it's hard to get wrong!
2. Pay and pension - this is a big draw, after 5 years I'd have an additional £10-12K in the pension pot at least, for a part-time role that's pretty cool.
3. Three days a week, and lots of home working allowed. I only have to be in the office a couple of days a week, which is sweet. Easy to work from home.
4. Nice people who I get on with - big draw, again!
5. Leverage into another proper job - it's for an MP - The reference potential alone is sufficient to get me interviews.

Cons...

1. Opportunity cost - I seem to be spending all of my time doing this job! it's only three days a week but I've really mean neglecting my passive-ish income stream
2. It doesn't fill me with joy! It's quite tedious and anxiety inducing in fact, lots of people complaining and me having to sort out their problems.
3. Grammatical perfection required... Lots of emails and letters to be sent, rapido, and grammar and spelling need to be bang on, NOT my strength!
4. Not quite fitting in with the wider set - it's the Green Party, everyone else is a member and politically motivated, I am much more libetarian and NOT that into government TBH! That's a BIG CON!
5. I'm not actually that sure the MP I'm working for wants me to carry on, she hasn't asked me to apply for the full-time role directly, the office manager has, but not her, one gets a feeling about this sort of thing!
6. The system gets me down - so many protocols, so much communication, and 100% potential for surveillance!
7. It is working for someone, not myself, I am kind of used to the later!

Final thoughts

I'm leaning toward NO on the basis of the above.

At the end of the day I think I'd rather be doing something else, maybe something a bit more active and bit less systems oriented, a bit more me oriented!