Livre d'Or

Moving to anywhere that was not Manchester would have all the same disadvantages, only much worse: I might not find a job, I would (most likely) be further away from SE England, I'd have to drop my involvement with the community here. I suppose this is what you call having roots, isn't it? Weird sensation for me, when I've always assumed I'd spend my life flitting from country to country on short-term contracts.

Hmm, I would argue that you have and have always had a considerable root mass (at is were), because the long term human connections are more important to you than to the "rootless person" and you have not experienced not having these connections. Plus you are a practical planner meaning you are actually aware of the real difficulties of moving and so are not that keen to do it in practice.

If you had to prioritize one of the following over the other in the long term what would it be: professional success, or enjoyable daily living?