So the question for tonight is: at what point do you cut your losses and jack it all in?

Don't worry, I'm not talking the sharp knives-and-icky here. Even I'm not dramatic enough to consider ending it all in that sense. (Not any more, at any rate.) What I rather more mean is: at what point do I stop mimsying about around here and go somewhere more exciting?

Thing is, I've gotten to realise just how bored I am around here. I have friends in Thornbury (my home town, where I'm currently - and with any luck temporarily - residing, slow kids). They're just not around in term time, leaving me on my li'l ownsome once "work", whatever form it takes, it done for the day. Thornbury's not a town exactly known for its thriving and youthful populous, either: there's a sharp drop in numbers once you reach school-leaving age, and I swear the other half is made up of zombies. I have the possibility of travelling around by train to visit various friends at weekends, of course, but it's expensive, and not exactly ideal.

So the question is, rather than hedging my bets and risking the local pubs for the odd person I vaguely knew that one time in Year Ten, do I just blow my savings on going travelling for the next six months? I only have enough to get me there (wherever "there" might be, natch), so I'd have to work; but still, that's not a problem. Or do I risk living with complete weirdos - and the continual spectre of unemployment - and move to The Big City? I don't know. I really don't know.

My gut instinct is to stick it here, focus on getting something published, build a portfolio, and then move out when it leads to a job. I just can't risk the insanity - and the holes in my C.V. an extended spell of apparent "unemployment" will result in - of staying here too long.

Any wise and sage thoughts out there?