Why do so many return home after moving away?

[Pacolovestacos]

It seems like so many people I know move away (I live in Chicago which is freezing and people always complain about wanting somewhere warmer), but they inevitably come back after a period of time. What gives?

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Family. My sister & BIL loved it in CO, but they were driving "home" every long weekend or major holiday. They only lasted 3 years.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

As someone who is about to move back home after being away for a while... I don't know! I think we are creatures of habit and grow accustomed to the lives we lead, as green as the grass may look on the other side. I've struggled with this question for a while.

But, I really love my hometown. It took moving away for me to appreciate it again. It's where my friends and family are, and it's the best place to be for my career. Those are a few of my reasons.

 

[Neesy228]

We lived in Texas and Colorado for several years...then we had kids. We opted to move about 2.5 hours away from where we grew up so we were closer to family. I think thats why most people move home, or at least closer to home. I suspect if we hadn't had kids, then it wouldn't have mattered as much to us. We both really loved Texas and probably would have stayed.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

For many, home is where the is.

 

[Hikergirl]

Family and friends.

 

[msb578]

When it comes to weather, I'm going to guess that some people leave their "brutal winters" only to find that the sweltering heat (by their standards) that lasts from April through November in their new home isn't exactly what they had in mind. Some people will love it, but others miss the seasons.

This time of year, here in Syracuse, I only have to remind myself of what Orlando was like in August. Then I'm good.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Family and friends.

And warm weather.

MG​

 

[Hikergirl]

And warm weather.

MG​

I actually moved from warm weather back to cold. I do miss year round warm weather, but I missed my family and friends even more.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I actually moved from warm weather back to cold. I do miss year round warm weather, but I missed my family and friends even more.

Each to their own I suppose.
For me I love my skin not cracking in the winter, lips don't bleed, no scraping my windshield.... I could go on and on....

MG

 

[wenrob]

I've always wondered the opposite, why do people leave home? My grandfather was from Kentucky and went to Southern Utah for work. When he married my grandmother she made it clear she wouldn't be leaving Utah. They moved next door to Nevada for a time, raised their boys and went back to Utah. My Dad moved us from Nevada to California and my very first opportunity I moved back. My sister followed shortly after, then my parents and then my brother. Brother has moved back and forth between the two over the years but the rest of us have remained here. DH was an Air Force brat and landed here. When we decided to get married I made it clear I didn't plan on leaving. I guess I'm my grandma's girl.

TL;DR-Because it's home.

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I don't know. We moved from PA to AL 13 years ago. We have no plans to go back.

 

[powellrj]

We wanted our kids to have grandparents in their lives. Didn't work out as we planned because one set didn't want grandkids in their life. It was good for my kids because they learned about older people and death and also had the love of their one set and learned that you can't make people love you.

 

[Pacolovestacos]

But for those who say "family and friends" are the reason, why leave them to begin with if it's too hard to be away from them?

 

[NHdisneylover]

But for those who say "family and friends" are the reason, why leave them to begin with if it's too hard to be away from them?

People probably don't realize how hard it will be until they do it. They might even be frasutrated abotu family gatherings or whatnot and think it will be nice to get away.


Mostly, with poeple I see who move back after a rather short time---they just underestimate how much change is involved and how different things can be, and tend to not do enough of the work to put down roots in the new place so that it starts to feel like home.
Also, people who tend to focus on the problems they are leaving ("no more bad weather" "no bad commute") instead of on the specifics of why one area might be a better fit oveall for them than another, often find out that there are problems everywhere and they prefer known problems and in place support systems to unknown ones with little help.

So long as you manage it without major financial issues or too much upheavel for kids, I don't really see anythign wrong with giving something like that a try, or with going back if you realize it wasn't really what you wanted after all.

 

[kimblebee]

Each to their own I suppose.
For me I love my skin not cracking in the winter, lips don't bleed, no scraping my windshield.... I could go on and on....

MG

Sweating after a shower, and taking a step outside and feeling like you're walking in water isn't fun either.

 

[Poohforyou]

Each to their own I suppose.
For me I love my skin not cracking in the winter, lips don't bleed, no scraping my windshield.... I could go on and on....

MG

I've lived in the northeast my whole life. My skin doesn't crack or lips bleed in the winter. I also rarely have to scrape the windshield - park in the garage or a parking deck mostly.

I love living in a liberal seasons changing area. Florida would never be a place I'd want to live.

Like you said, to each their own.

 

[DawnM]

I would move back to SoCal in a hot minute if the rest of the family would agree.

But we are now in NC and everyone in the family thinks it is "home" except me.

Sigh. We are staying. However, my oldest two sons want to go into fields that may get them back to CA at some time in the future. I am hoping! Then Dh might be more inclined to move back.

 

[Tattylou]

I know a lot of ppl who moved away in their 20s and came back when they were ready to start a family. Having family close by to help with babies and kids is an enormous help. I can't imagine living far away from my parents right now. They are my primary babysitters and they go above and beyond for my kids. I'd have to pay someone an arm and a leg to do all they've done for me since my sons were born...and the kids get all this amazing time with grandparents.
Although I'd like to live somewhere warm year round, like So Cal (coastal, pretty liberal, no humidity, near Disneyland - what's not to love about that)....esp on a day like today with 6-9 inches of snow predicted. The kids are psyched to go sledding tomorrow though....

 

[jdb in AZ]

I have no desire to move back to cold country, even after 40+ years. Yes, I complain about the desert heat in the summer, but it's still better than trying to drive in the ice and snow. We never have to shovel sunshine.