How do you make the decision to move far from home?

[palmtreegirl]

We researched, went down 2 times just to look at towns and places to live, DH had a job offer but then we changed our minds, the main reason being we didn't want to leave my family.

We're a very close family and after my grandmother died last year I realized that I didn't want to leave the rest of them. My kids and are soo close to their grandparents(they're lucky enough to have 4!) and both DH and I are very close to my parents as well. I couldn't see seperating my kids(and us) from our extended family just for palm trees and warm weather.

It was a HARD decision but in the end it just didn't *feel* right to leave. We ended up moving next door to PA, my parents are retiring up here and my sister is also moving here soon. We're also only 1 1/2 from DH's parents so we see them often.

Do I regret the decsion-no way. My dream is to one day own a vacation home down there so I could spend Jan/Feb/March down there and the rest of the year up here, that way I'll have the best of both worlds.

 

[Yzma and Kronk]

We moved from Canada almost three years ago - and are preparing to move back this summer. DH accepted a transfer back and in all honesty the number one reason was the fact we were away from family.

We really like it here, housing, climate, taxes (!) are much better. I could be really happy staying here, but it's been really hard being away from family. DH has a really close, large family. Mine isn't, but my Mom has never been comfortable with us being so far away (actually not so much DH and myself, but the grandkids!)
DD and DS were always so happy when we went back for holidays, etc. and when someone would come and visit us.

Denine - this is what stood out the most to me in your thread:

"I didn't have any grandparents growing up and DD has 2 sets. Do I really want to take her away from something I didn't have?"

This is so important to our kids, as they also have two sets, and they find it really hard when they visit or we visit to say goodbye.

My suggestion would be to wait a few more years, and perhaps plan to retire south someday. That's what DH and I are planning.

As they say, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence"

Good luck with your decision.

 

[Sleepy]

Originally posted by Denine
However, we really want to move to Florida for a number of reasons. How do you make that decision to leave your family and friends and job to move 1,000 miles away?

You have a number of reasons.....that is how you make the decision....lol
Coming from a military family (and now married to military), I have no place I call home. Moving away from family is normal to us. When our current location no longer serves our needs, we move on. We have lived here for 13 years. My parents moved to my area 3 years ago......not so much because we live here, but because this location is closer to military and offers them more than the small town they lived before. We are moving to Italy. It was our choice based on our wants and needs at this time. Could have stayed here, but did not want to. Will move back here when we are done with Italy.....that is if by then, this place will meet our wants and needs. I was always taught this.......Your life is yours. Don't put it on hold because someone else may want you to stay. One day that person will no longer be living. Once that happens, what they wanted will no longer matter. Is it worth losing an opportunity to be happy because of someone else?