Anyone ever moved across country?

[mudnuri]

Anyone ever moved across country? Leaving your parents/aunts uncles siblings behind?

what would you do differently, what would you do the same?

What do you wish you had known?

How long start to finish did it take?

How many times did you visit the area before purchasing a house (all in part of buying a house)

Do you have family where you moved to?

I had a super long post typed out and that STUPID server too busy page came up, and sure enough I lost it all! Whats up with that thing anyway?

Thanks
Brandy

 

[one_cat]

We moved from Seattle to Minneapolis 9 years ago. I got a job offer on a Friday and had to be available to start two weeks from the following Monday so it was a very quick move. It was just dw and I at the time so we put everything in storage, drove to MN, found an apartment the first weekend and started our new life. Looking back it was quite the adventure but I don't think we could do it now with our kids, specially with a house to sell and everything. It would take a lot longer.

 

[JetMom]

I moved from NY to CO when my oldest DS was one month old. It was very hard.

I had absolutely no support system in CO aside from DH.

I made some very good friends there and really enjoyed a lot of things about living in the west. It was very hard not having family around on a regular basis.

After 4 years we moved back to NY. I do miss CO sometimes, but on the whole I am very glad to be back.

 

[we3luvdisney]

Yep, moved from the east coast to Arizona -- accepted a job.

I would do nothing different, except know the area before I purchased a house (I bought a home within 3 months).

I flew, so it only took me one day.

I didn't have any family in Arizona when I moved. However, I did meet my future wife, married and had a little girl. To top it off, we moved back to the east coast, 5 years after moving to Arizona.

I must add that this move did not bother me. My father was career Navy and we moved every 2-3 years.

 

[kylara]

Well not cross country but I did move from MA to FL. I wouldn't do anything differently. I rent since I have moved all around FL. Part of what I am doing is checking out different areas of FL before I decide whether to settle her for good or not.

I didn't have any family in FL and still don't. I did have some friends in FL but not where I originally moved.

When I originally moved it was for Grad School in Tallahassee. I went down for a week too check out the area (only took two days to do so went to disney for the rest of the time). When I moved to Orlando, did the same thing, spent a number of weekends there first so I got to check out different areas.

The last move wasn't as smooth since I didn't have time to check out the area...but I ended up with a nice apartment.

My biggest suggestion would be, rent for the first year so you can check out different neighborhoods where ever you move too.

 

[mudnuri]

This move, if it happens wont be for at least 2 years.

What we are thinking is, Kalispell, Montana. We spent 3 weeks there in 98, and have been dying to get back since. We have also said since then "were going to move to Montana one day"

I do have 2 uncles/aunts in Kalispell, well, 1 is in Whitefish, but his ranch is about on the line.

I'm more worried about my mom and DMIL/DFIL than anything else.

I do know that if we moved, we'd fly back at least 2x a year...and hope they'd come out as well.

We've got to do something before August of 2006, as DD starts middle school and its either move, or pay for private school...I LOVE their elementary school, but my options for middle and high are not what I'm looking for for my DD's.

Our other option is to move 1/2 hour away- across to NH to a larger city with great schools...but we wonder if we sell our house move there, will we always think "geez, we should have gone to Montana"......DH is looking for land, I'm looking for my dream house...where I do not want to move from again.

I know where in Kalispell I want to be, and I'm familiar with the schools, having cousins in them. I've also been in contact with the school districts gathering information on the specific teaching programs they use etc.

well one things for sure...we're moving..just no clue where!

Brandy

 

[tiggerlover]

Let's see where to start? I have moved 10 times in 18 years (DH is miltary) so each and every move was moving away from family and friends moving somewhere unknown. If you are looking for advice my suggestion would be research and planning, that makes all the difference. And I have to say in the age of the Internet use it to your advantage as it makes a HUGE difference since you have so much information at your fingertips...especially the DIS (because there is a good chance someone on the DIS lives or is familiar with where ever you are going).

I have moved from and to the following:

NY - VA
VA - GA
GA - NY
NY - GA
GA - CA
CA - Italy
Italy - Italy
Italy - CT
CT - Italy
Italy - VA

So I have been down the east coast, across the US and to and from Europe a few times. The move across the US took a couple of weeks, the moves to and from Europe took roughly two months each time, the east coast moves didn't take long at all.

Planning and research, I can't stress to you how important that is. If you have any specific questions that I may be able to answer, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[RadioNate]

I moved from IL to FL without knowing anyone after college. I met the man who would become DH there. He was from OR and returned to his family there, I joined him after grad school. Together we moved from OR to SC knowing no one, SC to TN and finally TN to TX. The last 3 moves have all been DH job related (and all within the last 5 years). His parents live 2200 miles away, mine 1200. This last move from TN to TX was the closest we've have to moving where we've known someone. I have a HS friend that lives about 80 miles away.

I'd do it all over again. I suggest renting before buying. You can't really decide on where to buy in just a few trips. It usually takes about 3 months to know the 'right' places to look.

It's been harder not having family around now that we have ds. Unless we hire a sitter we do nothing alone. There is never a break when ds is a grandma's for the afternoon while I get a haircut. Before ds the lack of family wasn't a huge issue.

DH is in an industry where most people are transplants so there has always been a group that welcomes you in since they were once the new people.

 

[BeachCutie]

I have never moved across country but my brother moved almost 2 years ago from NJ to CA. He says it was the best thing he ever did. He always said he shouldn't be tied down to where his parents chose to live. I like his philosophy so in two I am moving to CA to go to school there. Why not try it while I'm not tied down right? CA is the place for me!

 

[Feralpeg]

DD and I moved from Missouri to Orlando. My sister moved down at the same time. We have no family here.

We spent one day with a travel agent looking at neighborhoods that I had researched over the net. We built our homes long distance. My sister and I flew down for two days to pick out all of the interior items. We didn't see the houses until we moved in.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

 

[ZachnElli]

We just did it in June. First we moved from Omaha to Dallas, then to Minneapolis, back to Omaha and then in June to Idaho. We have no family and knew no one. It's very hard to do and a little lonely for me (we moved for dh's job). All our family is in the Omaha area. Differently, I wish I would have picked a different moving company, but there was no way to know that! We have 2 kids and it was hard and still is for our oldest who just started 4th grade. We have been blessed that our homes have sold quickly and we bought quickly. I didn't see our house in person before dh made an offer. I LOVE our house! I found the house on the internet and it had the virtual tour and dh had our digital camera and sent me more pics. I could never rent, we have 3 dogs, who would rent to us! LOL!

 

[Poohnatic]

I've done some big moves...

In '88 I moved to MD from Long Island. We knew no one in the place we were going. Fortunately, we had a friend who had gone to college 20 miles from where we moved, so we were somewhat familiar with the area. We had one trip down to find a place to live. I don't suggest that, and I would never do that again.

Over the next 16 years, I moved all over Maryland.

Two years ago, we considered moving to Florida...did a lot of research (and I came down 9 times in 15 months!) and we made the move recently.

Hard parts of the move:
Finding doctors (DS has a form of autism). Fortunately, the schools had great websites, so we didn't have to worry about that part too much.
Getting accurate quotes from movers! Glad DH was nitpicky-we have an upright piano, and that required hiring movers!
Living out of boxes for a while (see below).

I also suggest the renting part. I did that with the move to Maryland (rented for 3 years before buying). The plan was to rent for a year here, but we found a builder we loved and we were prepared to wait for their next community to go up-then the saleslady called me with a lot. We're renting until the house is done.

We're glad we did this move. I wouldn't change a thing, even with two hurricanes coming through here. It's funny, I loved having family be so far away when I moved to Maryland, but I moved here because Mom is nearby and in laws will get down here sometime next year. Funny how things change when you have kids.

The first big move taught me what NOT to do, like not really investigating what you're doing. It's a heck of a lot different at 22 with no strings. It took us so long to actually make this move because it's neccessary to plan things out, especially with the kids. I'm trying to impart that hard learned lesson on the inlaws, but they're not listening-they plan on buying a house in a 4 day trip (moving to an area because it 'sounds nice'). For their sake, I'm glad we got down here first.

Good luck with your move. I think it was so much better to do this move-the internet makes it easier to plan long distance. There are some great websites to help you find a place to live, figure out the amount you need to make in your new location to equal what you made at your old one, and so much more.

Another thing I suggest to anyone planning on moving. When you visit your prospective home, talk to EVERYONE-the clerk at the supermarket, your server in the restaurant, the clerk at the post office. I can't tell you how much useful information I got. (plus, now that I'm here, I'm still asking everyone what they love about this area).

Suzanne

 

[yourtravelpro]

I moved from NY to Seattle 18 years ago. Left all my family behind, it was just myself and my husband at the time. We didn't have jobs, but had been to Seattle and fell in love with the city. It took us 3 days to get here. We settled in soon after we arrived both finding jobs. Lived in an apartment for 6 months before purchasing our first house. I still love NY, but know that I belonged here in Seattle. I am not a very religious person, but, I know that God in his wisdom guided me here.

Now all my family is here except for my 1 brother!

 

[yourtravelpro]

Originally posted by tiggerlover


Let's see where to start? I have moved 10 times in 18 years (DH is miltary) so each and every move was moving away from family and friends moving somewhere unknown. If you are looking for advice my suggestion would be research and planning, that makes all the difference. And I have to say in the age of the Internet use it to your advantage as it makes a HUGE difference since you have so much information at your fingertips...especially the DIS (because there is a good chance someone on the DIS lives or is familiar with where ever you are going).

I have moved from and to the following:

NY - VA
VA - GA
GA - NY
NY - GA
GA - CA
CA - Italy
Italy - Italy
Italy - CT
CT - Italy
Italy - VA

So I have been down the east coast, across the US and to and from Europe a few times. The move across the US took a couple of weeks, the moves to and from Europe took roughly two months each time, the east coast moves didn't take long at all.

Planning and research, I can't stress to you how important that is. If you have any specific questions that I may be able to answer, don't hesitate to ask.

Yikes, I am exhausted just reading that!

 

[carole88]

I just moved from Long Island to Las Vegas two weeks ago. We are currently living in a 3 bedroom apartment until the house we are moving into will be built. We came out here last March to look for houses. We wanted a new home and only got the call for the lot 4 weeks ago. Luckily my DH was already in Las Vegas as he had to start work in July and he was able to take care of all of the paperwork. My DB and his wife and kids have lived here for 3 years and my DM has moved wilth us so for me leaving my family was not an immediate issue. We did leave behing DH's 3 sisters. I miss them already. DH's parents moved to Florida at the beginning of the year.

The move has been pretty stressful. One piece of advice I could pass along is to make sure that the moving truck can fit into the area that you are moving to, especially if you are moving to an apartment complex. We asked the apartment managers three times if a 72 foot truck could fit. They said they get them all of the time. Well, to make a long story short, the truck came on a Saturday and didn't fit. The driver tried real hard but there was no way that he could have turned into the area where our apartment was located. So we had to wait until Monday when he could get a shuttle truck to deliver our stuff. This cost us an additional $979.00. When we went back to the apartment managers all they said was, "Oh yeah, you live in the first building on the right where big trucks can't fit. Sorry about that." Oh well, live and learn.

Good luck with your move!

 

[tiggerlover]

Originally posted by yourtravelpro
Yikes, I am exhausted just reading that!

It is exhausting, but once you are settled you always feel so good. One more move for us, hopefully next year and then we can settle in one place for longer than 2 or 3 years!

 

[minniepumpernickel]

I moved to Utah for six months. My mom cried, and thought that she was never going to see me again. I would have stayed longer but the job was only contracted for six months. I also missed the forest and proximity to the coast.

You never know, you may really like it at your new place.