Career & Abroad Lifestyle VS Relationship

[smuff10]

Hello all,

I am a 26 year old male who has been in a 5 year relationship with a wonderful woman whom I love and have had no real issues or problems in our relationship until now. My GF works in IR (International Relations) specifically global development and has recently been having problems with deciding if she wants to apply for a couple multi-year jobs abroad or not . The problem with this is for our 5 year relationship she has been abroad for over half of it, with me understanding her career is very important to her. It is also important to me that she continues in the career that she loves.

Currently, she feels guilty for putting me through any more long distance and does not want to lose me. Not to mention I am done with long term long distance (a month here and there is not a big deal, but half a year or more is a lot to take). Yet, she considers going abroad for many years knowing our relationship can not handle it at this point and it will not work out.

This all stems from her worrying that at 27 she only has a few more years to do the abroad thing followed by the family thing. She does not want me to drop my career, family and friends here. So she is left with two options...

1. A future with me.

2. Or a life abroad without me.

So my question is, how should I feel about this??? Should I be taking it hard that I am not the immediate obvious choice? A person that I love would always come before my career or a lifestyle, but she is not me and I understand that. Or should I feel okay with her thinking about applying for these jobs to see how she feels/ or if she can even apply for these jobs if she tries?

Thanks, looking for some advice and outside point of views.
-S

[pisces25]

Can't you go with her if she lands a job abroad?

[TommyC]

A career is more important, let her go brah!