As far as 'is it worth it?' Well, one thing you have to look at is you're getting your high salary in the States. So you're already used to having to donate a bunch for the war. Here, you'll run into the same thing, with the exception (and this is on advice from a professional tax firm) that you don't have to file a state return. You might have to if you have property back in the States, or storage costs, or something else which ties you to the States. This is something you might check on with a knowledgable CPA. Don't go to H&R Block, those people know *nothing* about international tax laws. I had a woman there tell me if I left Japan to go to another foreign country (not the States), I couldn't use that time for my exemption. Um, wrong!
I suppose it depends on what you want to do in life, and where you want to be. International life, as you already know, has many, many rewards which cannot be measured by salary. It's not always the money, you know. You especially have to think of the opportunity for your son. In today's age, especially with the number of stereotypes regarding the Middle East, your son has a good chance to understand how things really are, and how things are not. Particularly at his age--he's still pretty impressionable.
As for the high school years and having to be in the States, it's all meaningless materialistic pratter, I've learned. I did all the required high school things--bought annuals, bought a ring, bought a Senior Key, went on trip, all that. But I don't even look at my annuals, nor do I wear the jewelry, and I've misplaced the photos from trip. There's more to life than Homecoming.
My boss has two children, 13 and 7. It was interesting to walk into his daughter's room (13) and see her 'summer activities' list. For most American kids that age, the highlight of the summer would be talking on the phone. Her list, though, (written with glitter pen, of course) had things like 'London', 'South Africa', 'Utah', 'visiting Grandma', etc.
You'd have to be careful with taking your son from school, bringing him here, then shuttling him back to the States for high school. In a few years' time, it'd be amazing to see his perspective on the world. Then to stick him back with socialized Americans, who would have no clue what he was on about or who he was, or start bullying him for being 'different'... eek. If Doha isn't going to be the best place for him, perhaps he'd be interested in going to International school close by (Dubai, maybe?). You never know.
Sometimes you have to jump off the cliff to see what will happen.
You have a fairly good idea about life in the GCC, having lived in Dubai for so long. I'd go with gut instinct. Sell your car, sell whatever possessions you don't need, rent the house out, and go! Life's too short.
As far as 'is it worth it?' Well, one thing you have to look at is you're getting your high salary in the States. So you're already used to having to donate a bunch for the war. Here, you'll run into the same thing, with the exception (and this is on advice from a professional tax firm) that you don't have to file a state return. You might have to if you have property back in the States, or storage costs, or something else which ties you to the States. This is something you might check on with a knowledgable CPA. Don't go to H&R Block, those people know *nothing* about international tax laws. I had a woman there tell me if I left Japan to go to another foreign country (not the States), I couldn't use that time for my exemption. Um, wrong!
I suppose it depends on what you want to do in life, and where you want to be. International life, as you already know, has many, many rewards which cannot be measured by salary. It's not always the money, you know. You especially have to think of the opportunity for your son. In today's age, especially with the number of stereotypes regarding the Middle East, your son has a good chance to understand how things really are, and how things are not. Particularly at his age--he's still pretty impressionable.
As for the high school years and having to be in the States, it's all meaningless materialistic pratter, I've learned. I did all the required high school things--bought annuals, bought a ring, bought a Senior Key, went on trip, all that. But I don't even look at my annuals, nor do I wear the jewelry, and I've misplaced the photos from trip. There's more to life than Homecoming.
My boss has two children, 13 and 7. It was interesting to walk into his daughter's room (13) and see her 'summer activities' list. For most American kids that age, the highlight of the summer would be talking on the phone. Her list, though, (written with glitter pen, of course) had things like 'London', 'South Africa', 'Utah', 'visiting Grandma', etc.
You'd have to be careful with taking your son from school, bringing him here, then shuttling him back to the States for high school. In a few years' time, it'd be amazing to see his perspective on the world. Then to stick him back with socialized Americans, who would have no clue what he was on about or who he was, or start bullying him for being 'different'... eek. If Doha isn't going to be the best place for him, perhaps he'd be interested in going to International school close by (Dubai, maybe?). You never know.
Sometimes you have to jump off the cliff to see what will happen.
You have a fairly good idea about life in the GCC, having lived in Dubai for so long. I'd go with gut instinct. Sell your car, sell whatever possessions you don't need, rent the house out, and go! Life's too short.
It's not always about the money.