29-year-old debates whether to take a job in Antarctica for 6 months, making $145k, because he'll be away from his girlfriend: 'My girlfriend is obviously not thrilled about me being gone that long.'

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Emmy Pratt • Senior Editor
Dec 12, 2025 8:00 PM EST

He would be foolish not to take such a profitable opportunity.

I'm sure many of us would love the chance to leave our lives for six months to embark on a life-changing adventure in an exotic place and earn a guaranteed lump sum. Few, if any, opportunities come up in one's life. A temporary six-month contract job might pay good money, but not enough to live on for the next six months when you're searching for a full-time gig. Getting cast on a reality competition TV show sounds awesome, but there's no guarantee that you're going to win the $100,000 prize that the host dangles in front of you like a carrot. Every great short-term opportunity has some catch, and you have to be smart enough to sniff the catch out before you get there and figure out whether the pros outweigh the cons. 

If you're a young, unmarried person and you were given the opportunity to make $145K in six months working in your field, you would probably take it, yes? What if it were in the most remote place on the planet, far away from your partner of three years and everyone you knew and loved? Also, what if it were cold? 

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  • These are the questions this 29-year-old, who has the chance to work in Antarctica, has to ponder, and for him, the answer isn't easy.

  • Two person standing on snow field
    via Cassie Matias

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Got offered a 6 month contract in Antarctica, and I don't know if I should take it

    I work in environmental research and my company just asked if I want to go to Antarctica for a 6 month research stint at McMurdo Station. The pay is actually insane because of the location, like $145k for 6 months plus they cover literally everything (food, housing, flights, gear, the works).
    via u/Importantterry
  • A group of people standing on a boat in the water
    via Freysteinn G. Jonsson

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • The thing is I'd basically have zero expenses while I'm there. No rent, no going out, can't exactly order doordash at the south pole lol. My girlfriend is supportive but obviously not thrilled about me being gone that long. We've been together 3 years and she gets it but yeah, it's a lot.
    via u/Importantterry
  • I'm 29, currently at about $180k net worth and was planning to hit my Fl number around 45. This would basically let me bank the entire salary since I've got some money saved for rent and stuff already. But 6 months is a long time to be that isolated, even though the science would be incredible for my career.
    via u/Importantterry

    FI stands for "Financial Independence," meaning you can support yourself on your own money and investments without having to work.

  • White multi story building under starry night and northern lights
    via NOAA

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • Has anyone done something like this? Took a short term opportunity that was great financially but hard personally? I keep going back and forth every few hours. Part of me thinks this is exactly the kind of thing that could accelerate my FIRE timeline significantly but the other part is like... is it worth potentially straining my relationship or just missing half a year of normal life?
    via u/Importantterry

    FIRE stands for Financial Independence & Retiring Early

  • Angel ❤ @aingeth If not now, when? Sounds like a no-brainer to me
    via @aingeth
  • leopastel.eth ::) @pastelETH how isolated? like would he have contact with other humans?
    via @pastelETH
  • chris @cpt_w_beard No. Locked in a padded room with a microscope for 6 months.
    via @cpt_w_beard
  • Liam Copich @LiamCopich I have a buddy that went for 6 months 3 times. It's a whole village down there. Barbers, chefs, mechanics... Everything a town would need. Thirty people at minimum would be stationed there. Not isolated, just small. Another thing to consider is that internet access is poor.
    via @LiamCopich
  • Dee Sage → @TheDeeGroup It's clear she doesn't even want to go with him, and to me, that's already a red flag.
    via @TheDeeGroup
  • Sandy Brophy @LawGeekSandy People don't get plus ones for Antarctica gigs.
    via @LawGeekSandy
  • LUKEY++ @VERYKOOLLUKEY Because it destroys your body completely
    via @VERYKOOLLUKEY
  • Bob (Alpha Bagel) @Bob_The_Bagel He's going to antarctica not space
    via @Bob_The_Bagel
  • Klinika Nekros @klinikanekros Making a year's salary in six months and getting to pocket the whole thing while doing actual research (I assume he loved it since it's his field) and living with all expenses paid and food covered is like a dream, he'll even advance his own career. Six months will fly by, do it
    via @klinikanekros
  • Pat Stedman | Dating & Relati... @Pat_Stedman I wonder how many guys have refused the call to adventure because they were worried they might lose a girl who wasn't even that into them
    via @Pat_Stedman
  • خيرة @k7airah I think a lot of people overestimate their ability to cope with extreme weather conditions, and it will put stress on his relationship for sure
    via @k7airah
  • Dr. Larold Bolognese @idk_poor You do this and immediately propose when you get home and never do it again
    via @idk_poor
  • Artemis ★5 @wickedpixii He thinks six months is a long period of time. At 29, six months seems like an eternity, but give it a decade or two and six months will be a blink of an eye in time. He should absolutely take this opportunity to boost his career and his financial portfolio.
    via @wickedpixii
  • Circe @vocalcry It hurts to see others being offered to live your dream and then not even being excited about it
    via @vocalcry

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Tags

relationship advice antarctica job career advice temporary isolated girlfriend pay science research
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