Relocating with no family or friends in CO....

[TexaCo Mom]

My husband and I did the same thing 8 years ago. We left Texas (and all our family and friends) and moved to the Denver area for his job. Initially I was thrilled to make the move, but then the reality of it all set in during our first big holidays here, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Not having all the grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins around was definitely a hard adjustment to make. Becoming active in your kids school or a local church is a good start. I've met lots of people over the last several years, but like someone posted earlier I too have yet to make any "close" friendships.

[mczabe]

I'm heading out on Monday or Tuesday to check out Denver before making the final decision. I'm so hoping I fall in love with the area...

[denverian]

If you've always lived in the same general area close to family and long-time friends, it will be tough at first. I left home at 18 and moved to Europe, then to Texas 3 years later, then California 2 years later, then to Denver for a couple years, back to CA for 9 years, now back to Denver. So having done many long distance moves and to new cities, I can say it got easier for me with each move. But I noticed it generally took me 6 months before I began feeling at home in the new location. Even when we moved back to Denver in 2005, I would wake up and start planning my day with trips to stores/gym/etc. and I would be thinking of stores in California! It takes a while to shift gears, learn where everything is, and get into your routine.

As for leaving family, that was a blessing for me

[Katiana]

Yes, the first move is the hardest. You will miss things about the old place that will surprise you. The first month or so you will think, "that's not how it was done in Michigan", as you open new bank accounts, get a driver's licesnse, etc. Things will cost more, or they will cost less. You will curse, at least to yourself, as you get lost,. . . yet again! Eventually you will feel like it's home to you.

[hotmama]

I'm doing the SAME thing at the end of the month and I've got a 3 month old!!!

[mczabe]

Originally Posted by mczabe

I'm heading out on Monday or Tuesday to check out Denver before making the final decision. I'm so hoping I fall in love with the area...

Well, I did fall in love with the area and we're making the move. We should be in Denver just after July 4th!

[jkcoop]

Originally Posted by Katiana

You will curse, at least to yourself, as you get lost,. . . yet again! Eventually you will feel like it's home to you.

Been here 10 years and still get mixed up and lost when I'm downtown Boulder . In my defense, I'm not over there much by myself, usually with my husband and I tend not to pay attention when he's driving, I'm in ignorant passenger bliss.

When we moved here we had no one either. It's all about what you are willing to put out there. People won't just gravitate to you, you've got to get involved in things. For me, being heavily involved in my son's school did the trick. Although I realized after a while that all we had in common, for the most part, was our kids went to the same school. But it at least got me started.

Our best group of friends now are families from the activities our son was/is involved in. Because we all same a common interest.

It does take time. I am not an outgoing person at all and I managed!