Should we move just for adventure? (hotel, better, Idaho, Boise)

[ILI.EB]

Thanks everybody for your replies

As for the one incredibly sarcastic reply - my post never said I didn't have a job secured, we were simply asking for advice besides the job. I apologize that my post wasn't clear enough. I also didn't say I was moving to an expensive city, it's just a higher cost of living than Boise. (I'm not too sure any major city has a cost of living as low as Boise's)

I think quite a few of you have made a point or two that have helped us decide.

Thanks again!

[WyoEagle]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

Absolutely you should move to a more expensive area, without a job or a plan or a home, and just plunge in. I mean life is a party, right? It's all about the fun.

So what if you end up living in a ratty apartment or even your car? It's all about the adventure! Think of how pleasant your golden years will be, reminding each other of how you gave up a self-described 'beautiful' home, to go and party in a new, more exciting, more expensive place with no job, no home, and few prospects, and had to fight and struggle twice as hard just to get money to go out to dinner. You'll be able to remind each other about that weird guy at the soup kitchen who followed you around asking for money, or that night when you had no money and had to stay in the shelter where you got bedbugs. These are great memories! Of course, you might not be sharing them with each other, because stress and a lack of money causes many relationships to fail, but - the memories will be worth it! Think of all of those restaurants that you won't be able to afford, all of those great performances and events that you'll miss, because you have to work two jobs apiece to pay the bills in your new, more expensive area.

Yup! Sounds like a great (lack of) plan!Whooooo hoooo!

Granny, once again, you've told it like it was.

[summerwriter]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

Absolutely you should move to a more expensive area, without a job or a plan or a home, and just plunge in. I mean life is a party, right? It's all about the fun.

So what if you end up living in a ratty apartment or even your car? It's all about the adventure! Think of how pleasant your golden years will be, reminding each other of how you gave up a self-described 'beautiful' home, to go and party in a new, more exciting, more expensive place with no job, no home, and few prospects, and had to fight and struggle twice as hard just to get money to go out to dinner. You'll be able to remind each other about that weird guy at the soup kitchen who followed you around asking for money, or that night when you had no money and had to stay in the shelter where you got bedbugs. These are great memories! Of course, you might not be sharing them with each other, because stress and a lack of money causes many relationships to fail, but - the memories will be worth it! Think of all of those restaurants that you won't be able to afford, all of those great performances and events that you'll miss, because you have to work two jobs apiece to pay the bills in your new, more expensive area.

Yup! Sounds like a great (lack of) plan!Whooooo hoooo!

Wow, live a boring, bitter life much? To the OP - don't get stuck in a place like Nebraska (or Boise, for that matter) and go for the adventure and a chance at a new, exciting life.

[Minervah]

One piece of advice. Do not move to a place to which you have not stayed for at least a couple of weeks and then return to at least another time. People often make the mistake in moving to some place they have only heard about thinking it's the one for them only to discover it is totally wrong for them.

While you are checking out these places, don't be a tourist. Check out the job situation, housing costs, entertainment and anything else you would want in a new city.

SC granny sounds harsh, but she does make good sense. I have seen exactly what she has described many times in the city where I live simply because people did not do their due diligence in determining whether a new place would be a good fit for them.

Move if you feel you will be happier somewhere else by all means. But take a good look at what you will be leaving and where you will be going to so there will be no regrets.

Oh and remember, you get what you pay for. For example a city like Portland which has been suggested that has lots and lots of restaurants and other great features is going to be way more expensive than what you are used to with high COL, low pay and intense competition for all jobs but those in very specialized fields. These are the things you should determine as to whether or not they will be managable for you.

[Louise222]

Originally Posted by SCGranny

Absolutely you should move to a more expensive area, without a job or a plan or a home, and just plunge in. I mean life is a party, right? It's all about the fun.

So what if you end up living in a ratty apartment or even your car? It's all about the adventure! Think of how pleasant your golden years will be, reminding each other of how you gave up a self-described 'beautiful' home, to go and party in a new, more exciting, more expensive place with no job, no home, and few prospects, and had to fight and struggle twice as hard just to get money to go out to dinner. You'll be able to remind each other about that weird guy at the soup kitchen who followed you around asking for money, or that night when you had no money and had to stay in the shelter where you got bedbugs. These are great memories! Of course, you might not be sharing them with each other, because stress and a lack of money causes many relationships to fail, but - the memories will be worth it! Think of all of those restaurants that you won't be able to afford, all of those great performances and events that you'll miss, because you have to work two jobs apiece to pay the bills in your new, more expensive area.

Yup! Sounds like a great (lack of) plan!Whooooo hoooo!

Somebody's bitter.

[Louise222]

Originally Posted by summerwriter

Wow, live a boring, bitter life much? To the OP - don't get stuck in a place like Nebraska (or Boise, for that matter) and go for the adventure and a chance at a new, exciting life.

haha, beat me to it! Life is meant to be lived. Don't just settle for what's comfortable, or you will always wonder. You just have to be smart about your choices!

[Sunnysee]

Originally Posted by ILI.EB

Hello,

We currently live in Boise, ID and we a are a young non-religious couple with no children (not the most common in Boise!) We moved here because of the vibrant downtown area and outdoor activities and being able to live in a quieter suburb only minutes away from all that. After gettting here, we were bored instantly. The downtown is great, but small. Nicer restaurants are few and far between, leaving only the big chains. Shopping is terrible unless you don't mind everything being low end or average at best. The outdoors are great, but day to day life seriously lacking.

We have a beautiful home in a great neighborhood, the jobs are paying the bills and while we can't live in excess, we are quite comfortable.

We are now thinking about moving to a larger city after lots and lots of research, but the costs involved are high and the COL in the new city is quite a bit higher as well. We think this city will have everything we expect and will be what we are most familiar with as we are both from larger cities originally.

My problem is that we won't be able to afford as nice of a home as we have now and selling ours will result in a small loss. We can't decide what is more important - the comfort and love of our home or the excitement and entertainment offered in a larger city?

Aside from the typical issue of finding a comparable job in the new city, can those who is or has been in our situation comment on this? Any general advice and wisdom would be appreciated as well. Thanks

Please consider moving into the suburbs or a bit further out if you can, from a major, bustling city. Sure, for adventure moving can be a cool choice, but....may I please share a tad of wisdom about this economy? Well, guess so since you made the invitation.

What goes up must come down and our dollar is in very serious trouble. Just for security's sake please consider what a big city will be like if there is oh, a few days of bank holidays, ATMs not working etc...while our currency is devalued for us by the banks. No...not a movie plot but the future of our nation. I just can't name the exact time. We're 15?? TRILLION in debt.

I think it wonderful that you are adventurous but a, even if temporary crime wave is not the type of adventure you desire.

It is really cool that you are free to move and seriously considering it, so Please consider the future of our currency at a time when we ARE going to suffer as much as Greece is, for example. Consider where you can live that will support your adventurous nature but not be smack-dab in any major city. Not the season for it, moving TO what many are seeing the wisdom to move away from.

I sincerely wish you well. *(Maybe the burbs of Seattle? Near Portland, Oregon?? Oh, the city is there, but don't live right in it, but WOW for adventures of the outdoor type that are offered in both states. Just a thought.)

[MaggieZ]

life is an adventure, even with all the best planning, things can go either way...so do it, you only live once! I don't regret any moves, even the failed ones taught me things, I've met some great people in those crazy places. And the not so great people taught me valuable lessons.

[Mid-Level Internetting]

I am 27. I'm not as experienced as some here, so take my story FWIW.

I moved to Atlanta when I was 20, armed with an associates degree and big dreams. I did it grannies way; a plethora of research on the area, lived in a hotel for two weeks feeling out the city, saved enough to make it comfortable financially, got a job lined up and *thought* I had considered every little aspect of the move.

Turns out, two months in, I don't like Atlanta. Why? Couldn't tell you. I can't quantify it. I just don't.

I semi lost my mind in a state of boredom-induced self-hate, sub-leased my place, said goodbye to my mediocre sales career and drove West.

I ended up canning fish in Alaska, meeting people I'm not embarrassed to call "brothers," and lived there for five years.

You know you die at the end of this thing, right? There is no prize for living in safe mediocrity. You just die with that much less to tell the nurses.

Go for it.

[daydreamin71]

Originally Posted by Mid-Level Internetting

I am 27. I'm not as experienced as some here, so take my story FWIW.

I moved to Atlanta when I was 20, armed with an associates degree and big dreams. I did it grannies way; a plethora of research on the area, lived in a hotel for two weeks feeling out the city, saved enough to make it comfortable financially, got a job lined up and *thought* I had considered every little aspect of the move.

Turns out, two months in, I don't like Atlanta. Why? Couldn't tell you. I can't quantify it. I just don't.

I semi lost my mind in a state of boredom-induced self-hate, sub-leased my place, said goodbye to my mediocre sales career and drove West.

I ended up canning fish in Alaska, meeting people I'm not embarrassed to call "brothers," and lived there for five years.

You know you die at the end of this thing, right? There is no prize for living in safe mediocrity. You just die with that much less to tell the nurses.

Go for it.

I'm jealous

I'm old enough to understand the desire to play it safe, but young enough to understand that you only get one shot at living your life. It's all about finding the balance between safety and adventure that works for us individually.