A few years back I had a good job with a big firm that was paying me a nice salary but I hated the job. Aside from the fact I was driving 6 hours every other week or so to work in our Bakersfield office I just wasn't getting the support from the upper management I was promised. Then my dad had a stroke. I was trying to help my mom while I'm getting calls and email all hours of the night and on weekends. Finally I took an interview with a small firm nearby. I told them upfront that I understood if they couldn't match my salary as they were a smaller company and I was moving from a regional manager position to a more technical job, but one that offered a better work/life balance. They actually matched my salary and I jumped at the chance. Been here 3 years now. Life is better, dad is better and the old place has gone thru 3 more people trying to find someone who will put up with the job.