What do you do when you are locked in the "golden" handcuffs i.e. high paying job

[bjcheung77]

SO I work in a fairly well paying job for my area and make decent money. The company has a poor organizational structure, the business decisions made often are head scratchers which over the years has resulted in resentment, bitterness, anger.

I get great benefits and I'm 2 years away from 5 weeks of vacation time, I get 4 weeks a year right now, which I consider above the norm.

Does anyone have any experience leaving a job with the golden handcuffs and successfully transitioning with a new company in a new position that you have passion for?

I have a job offer out of state for a completely different career field that I've always been interested in but it has its cons:

1. High Stress
2. Lower Pay about a 20k a year paycut
3. Mandatory OT and crazy hours like 4 days of 12-16 hr days.
4. High Degree of Burnout within the Field

Pros:
Challenging, Non Routine, Each day will bring a different challenge.
Going from Midwest to Southwest would be completely awesome since I could partake in hiking activities around the mountains.

I'm really struggling having to decide on which direction to go in. I do have to make up my mind soon as the academy starts in August.

My question is would you take a risk at an older age vs. the younger you, even if you have no earthly idea if it will even work out when in your current position you are in a gravy job that is super easy and low stress.

That's exactly how many people on the board feel... My suggestion is to reevaluate everything again about the pro/cons, I would usually recommend staying at a position instead of leaving... I am in the same shoes... Kinda