Has anyone moved to FL away from family and regretted it?

[Disneyplanners]

We currently live in western PA, and DH and I have talked about moving somewhere warmer for a while now. A job opportunity arose in DH's field in Jacksonville, and we are considering having him submit his resume for it, but he wants us to be pretty sure this is what we want before he goes for it. We have DS10 and DS8, our 8 year old is completely open and excited to the prospect of us moving, DS10 is willing but reluctant.

DH's family lives 3 hours from us, we see them a few times a year but there wouldn't be a drastic change in us seeing them if we moved to FL. My mom however lives 30 minutes from us and the boys are pretty close with her. We probably have a visit with her once every two weeks or so, and just she and I will meet once in awhile, but she is pretty busy with her own life. I mentioned the thought of us moving to FL and she doesn't like it, but would of course come visit us there.

So, my question is, has anyone been in a similar situation and gone through with the move? Are you happy you went through with it? We would look at the St Johns County area south of Jacksonville where it looks like the schools are very good. I also understand the climate would be drastically different from what we are used to, but I'd be very much looking forward to being able to do a lot of outdoor actvities. Here in PA, it feels like we haven't been able to enjoy being outside for a few months now. Thank you for any thoughts on this!

 

[Shanna-like-Banana]

My perspective is from a childs view point.

My family moved from Ohio to FL when I was 8. And I LOVED it !

My parents decided to totally change their lives and go somewhere new and fresh. We got to go to the beach ALL the time, we would always have something to do outside. And at that point in my life is when my family starting getting into out-door leisure activities.

We could always find somewhere to go weekend camping, or canoeing, or out to state parks just for the day/afternoon, etc.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Not FL, but my sister only made it 3 years in CO before coming home to be close to family. They loved it there, but missed everyone too much. My cousin in San Diego is doing the same, although with him it's more a case of being sick of CA.

 

[kmb584]

I moved to Orlando in 2002 to attend UCF. I thought everything was going to be picture perfect and it was... until my family went back home. I was so heartsick. I did graduate from UCF but moved back to PA that same month. We may not always get along but I like being close to family.

 

[Darcy03231]

Our oldest son couldn't wait to leave NH. He always said he hated it here. He went to college in Fort Lauderdale and lasted six months and then he was home (this was 10 years ago). He now still lives in NH.

I had an aunt and uncle that lived on Cape Cod and when they retired they spent 6 months on the Cape and 6 months in Florida. After a short period of time they relocated to Florida permanently (Clearwater) and never regretted it. They both loved the nice weather year round and no snow. They were both very active until they died (when both were up in their 90's).

I also have a former co-worker who moved to Tampa. She loves it and has no plans to return to NH. She's been there for about 12 years now.

I'd say give it a try. If you don't like it after a few years nothing says you can't move back.

 

[Jonell]

We moved from Louisiana to OK a few years ago and hated it. It wasn't being away from friends and family so much as we just did not like OK. Luckily the move was only for one year and we moved back to our home. We are considering moving to South FL or the Keys in the next few years. I found a great golf course neighborhood in Key West. My son plays competitive golf and we need to be in an area that has more opportunities for him to have a golf career. My hubby works overseas so his work doesn't affect where we live. I say go for it!! If it doesn't work out you can always move back home.

 

[RDawn]

I have a friend who moved from PA to FL for less than a year. The constant heat & huge bugs bothered her, but being away from family was the biggest issue. She still enjoys a vacation at WDW, but appreciates PA more since she moved back.

 

[Chin Chin]

I'd say give it a try. If you don't like it after a few years nothing says you can't move back.

Exactly! Try it, OP. You only get one life. If you hate it, you guys can move back.

A few suggestions:

Give it 2 years. The first year is always the hardest. The second year, new places feel like home.

Facetime, Facebook, Skype, etc. Your friends and family never seem too far away.

Summers will seem cruel and brutal. That is what central air is for I am sure you run from car to house to work when it is 3 degrees outside. That is how it will be when it is 103 degrees outside.

Choose the absolute best school district. Do your homework with that more than anything. Get your children involved with activities immediately!!

Get your FL AP's and hit the parks on the weekend. That will help ease any homesickness.

Know you will get lots (and lots) of visitors! WDW is only 2 hours away. You could be a constant "Night before we check in" visit. Get ready to say "no" to those that you really don't want to entertain.

We lived in Florida for 4 years (originally from Maine). Loved it Really did. My DH got a great job offer in NC and we could not turn it down. So, that is why we moved here.

 

[mrodgers]

Florida is a bit extreme for me, I'd never move there. Visiting once with record breaking temperatures was enough for me, and I'm use to heat from work. My wife and kids I thought were going to die!

I want to move to North Carolina. I think my in-laws would follow us which would be a good thing. I wish my mother would move to Florida, or Australia, or best, the moon. The further away the better so I wouldn't fret moving away from my family since I don't see any of them living half an hour to an hour away.

 

[Disneyplanners]

Thank you everyone for your replies! It seems like the experiences are mixed. It worries me that DH's job might not be available should we want to come back. Also I have that perfect image of what it will be like in my mind, going to the beach, pool, etc. and I'm worried that it won't be what I'm picturing. I also worry a bit about DS's 8 and 10 fitting in in school.

As far as the heat, I've read that while the Jacksonville area is still hot, its a little more mild since it is close to the ocean. Thank you again to everyone who responded.

 

[Elleshoodat]

We currently live in western PA, and DH and I have talked about moving somewhere warmer for a while now. A job opportunity arose in DH's field in Jacksonville, and we are considering having him submit his resume for it, but he wants us to be pretty sure this is what we want before he goes for it. We have DS10 and DS8, our 8 year old is completely open and excited to the prospect of us moving, DS10 is willing but reluctant.

DH's family lives 3 hours from us, we see them a few times a year but there wouldn't be a drastic change in us seeing them if we moved to FL. My mom however lives 30 minutes from us and the boys are pretty close with her. We probably have a visit with her once every two weeks or so, and just she and I will meet once in awhile, but she is pretty busy with her own life. I mentioned the thought of us moving to FL and she doesn't like it, but would of course come visit us there.

So, my question is, has anyone been in a similar situation and gone through with the move? Are you happy you went through with it? We would look at the St Johns County area south of Jacksonville where it looks like the schools are very good. I also understand the climate would be drastically different from what we are used to, but I'd be very much looking forward to being able to do a lot of outdoor activities. Here in PA, it feels like we haven't been able to enjoy being outside for a few months now. Thank you for any thoughts on this!

I don't regret it per se, but it is hard, especially now that we have kids.

I moved to Florida for a job opportunity after graduating from college and intended to move back "home" to Louisiana after a couple of years ... but then I met DH, who had moved here from Tennessee to take a job. I don't want to live in TN and he doesn't want to live in LA, but we both really enjoy living in FL, so this is where we're staying -- at least for the foreseeable future.

We have a 3-year-old and another child due in three weeks, and the hardest part is not having family around to help with the boys. We both grew up with lots of relatives around, but here we only have friends -- and as wonderful as our friends are, it's not the same as having our families nearby. Our parents visit every few months (or we visit them), but it's not the same as having a built-in support system.

I agree with other posters that you should give it a try for a couple of years. You can always move back if it doesn't work out, but you don't want to be left wondering "what if..."

 

[lauradis]

Just do it. The worst thing that could happen is feeling the way you do now.

Set up trips where grandma can come visit or kids can stay with her sometimes.

It's getting harder to be more homesick with the technology out there.

I love and miss being around my sister, but I get to talk to her almost everyday. I get to face time with her kids when I want and love it.

 

[smitch425]

Do it! DH had the chance to lateral to a position in FL a few months ago, and he turned it down. We are still kicking ourselves over it.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

My son is down there for college. (Tampa) He loves it. I don't expect him to move back home after he gets his degree. He even looked for his internships down in Florida.

I can see him getting restless for Florida when he is home.

 

[dyna]

DH an I have never looked back we left our kids my aging parents DH's siblings all our friends up in Barely IN an moved to FL 45 mins from Disney an really have not looked back. It's been a few yrs now.

My daddy passed away early this year went home for a few days but could not wait to get back to FL, I check in with mom every day or 2 I know she has good neighbors looking after her who live much closer than I ever could.

 

[7165red]

OP, give it a try, I know how you feel about PA and the weather. I live in Syracuse NY and the winters are so long. I would like to move to FL but don't feel up to the move. I suggest you rent before buying a house if possible. Good Luck!

 

[Southernmiss]

Thank you everyone for your replies! It seems like the experiences are mixed. It worries me that DH's job might not be available should we want to come back. Also I have that perfect image of what it will be like in my mind, going to the beach, pool, etc. and I'm worried that it won't be what I'm picturing. I also worry a bit about DS's 8 and 10 fitting in in school.

As far as the heat, I've read that while the Jacksonville area is still hot, its a little more mild since it is close to the ocean. Thank you again to everyone who responded.

Living on the Miss Gulf Coast and have a sister an hour north of Jacksonville. The climate in both places is very similar. Don't kid yourself about the heat and humidity that comes with it. Living close to the water brings fog and lots of humidity. The humidity often makes the actual temperature feel higher than it is.

I think you'd have to make a good visit to Jacksonville to see if it feels right for you. I think the lifestyle in the south east is very easy going and comfortable. And most of the time the weather is mild. This year's winter has been cold---even in the south. People from South Dakota have told me that the cold feels colder here to them because of the humidity and it just chills you to the bone.

At the ages of your kids, this would be the time to move. When they hit junior high and high school it becomes much harder. We had the opportunity to move in state about 8 years ago and just didn't make the move because our kids were already in junior high and almost high school and doing well where they were and we didn't want to uproot them.

 

[CaraBoo]

I'd say that it's all what you make of it.

My best friend and her husband moved to Orlando 3 years ago for his job. They bought their "dream home" they both had wonderful jobs but they have been miserable (privately) for some time and are currently moving back to Kentucky. It has almost destroyed their marriage because neither of them wanted to admit that they had made a mistake. Neither of their families came to stay in the big house they bought (just so they'd have room) neither did any of our friends…everyone is busy with small children and their families are getting up there in age. We spent weeks with them multiple times and we saw what it was doing to them. It was a complete failure.

Their biggest problem? They didn't try. They didn't make friends. They didn't travel. The hated WDW…which was their very biggest problem They didn't put anything in so they didn't get anything out. I'd say if you go in with a positive attitude and just try, you'll be fine.

 

[DWGal210]

I'd say that it's all what you make of it.

My best friend and her husband moved to Orlando 3 years ago for his job. They bought their "dream home" they both had wonderful jobs but they have been miserable (privately) for some time and are currently moving back to Kentucky. It has almost destroyed their marriage because neither of them wanted to admit that they had made a mistake. Neither of their families came to stay in the big house they bought (just so they'd have room) neither did any of our friends…everyone is busy with small children and their families are getting up there in age. We spent weeks with them multiple times and we saw what it was doing to them. It was a complete failure.

Their biggest problem? They didn't try. They didn't make friends. They didn't travel. The hated WDW…which was their very biggest problem They didn't put anything in so they didn't get anything out. I'd say if you go in with a positive attitude and just try, you'll be fine.

OP, life is too short for regrets. If it's what your family really wants to do, and job-wise you're set, I say go for it. You can always move back.

I highlighted what the PP said above because this is so true. When you move, don't have expectations that you will see friends and family often. People have their own lives and just because you (general you) are moving, doesn't mean people will spend their vacation money and time to see you, now that you've moved away. You may think that you will see your mom or in-laws a fair amount but you might not, and it saves hurt feelings later if you embrace that idea now, before you move.

(As an aside - it always kills me when you watch House Hunters where someone has relocated, or HH International, and they're saying "We need a 4 bedroom house for visitors." The 2 weeks a year when people come and see you, they can sleep on an air mattress or get a hotel. Don't spend thousands more on a house for the visitors you MIGHT have a few days a year.)

 

[disneybound2010]

We are in the same boat! DH was given a job offer in St. Augustine yesterday and we REALLY dislike the area that we live in now. We've been talking for months about moving south. Now that the opportunity is here, I'm actually a little scared about jumping on it. The only reason being my dad. He is older, has some health problems, and my sisters aren't much help. He and my DS(7) are very close and I have always wanted to keep that relationship strong. On the upside, DS is all for moving. We homeschool so school isn't really a concern, plus there is so much to do experience down there. Here, there isn't much of anything unless you want to travel a couple hours in any direction.