Have you ever left everything you know and moved to a new state? (boxes, hometown)

[CountryGal27]

Originally Posted by pirate girl

When I was 20 I decided to leave home in NJ for the sunshine and palm trees of Florida. I rented an apartment over the phone and loaded everything that would fit into my chevy beretta and drove to Orlando to start my new life. I got a job within a week and proceeded to establish myself there.

About a year later an old flame from NJ came to visit- we rekindled that flame and I moved back to be with him. We got married, and had a baby but I found myself feeling homesick for Florida. A couple years later the marriage went bad and I loaded up my baby and everything that would fit in my Subaru and headed south once again. No job and the offer of a friend's guest room until I got established. My family was furious and I was practically disowned. They all thought I was crazy to do this with a child in tow. By in my heart I knew this was where I wanted- and needed to be.

That was 13 years ago- and I have no regrets. I immediately got a job that opened the doors to a successful career that I love, I completed my bachelor's degree and started some graduate work....... my son is starting high school in August and loves his home town. My father moved here about 8 years ago and my mother also chose to retire here.

I know not all stories are as successful as mine- and I took a huge leap of faith coming here alone, jobless and virtually homeless with a baby. But I have no regrets. Sometimes the best opportunities require that leap...... remember, nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Best of luck to you!

So I have a question for you, if I may.
When you left with your daughter, how did things work out with your ex? Did you give him no choice or??

[Cattknap]

Next week my husband and I will leave California to retire to Kentucky. He retires on July 17 and we are leaving the next day. We were both born here....our friends are here and one of our children....the other two live out of state and we fly to visit them now. We sold our home that we have lived in for 25 years and escrow closes next week.

We consider this move a huge adventure and look forward to it with great anticipation. We are like a couple of kids - we can't wait for all the new experiences, new people, new house, new restaurants, new bike trails, four seasons, etc.

What I find interesting are some of the comments our friends make - some say "how fun for you two, what a great thing to do." But the vast majority make one of two comments: "You know it gets hot and humid in the summer and snows in the winter - I could never leave California." or "Do you have family there? Why would you move there" Mostly negative comments are what we hear. We have come to the conclusion that somehow our leaving is threatening on some level to our friends - jealousy, insecurity or perhaps just their lack of imagination - we aren't sure....all I do know is that when any of our friends have left California, we congratulate them and give them a hug - seems wonderful to us.

What is really telling is that when we hear a negative comment from one of our friends about our moving and we ask them if they have ever been to Kentucky, the answer is almost always "no."

Oh well, we really don't care what anyone thinks - we are just kicking up our heals and looking forward to a whole new world.

[Élan vital]

huge congrats and well wishes for you and hubby on this new adventure. I found, before, during and since our move that the folks who made/make the negative comments are pretty miserable people anyway. Therefore I considered the source. I love life!!!

Originally Posted by Cattknap

Next week my husband and I will leave California to retire to Kentucky. He retires on July 17 and we are leaving the next day. We were both born here....our friends are here and one of our children....the other two live out of state and we fly to visit them now. We sold our home that we have lived in for 25 years and escrow closes next week.

We consider this move a huge adventure and look forward to it with great anticipation. We are like a couple of kids - we can't wait for all the new experiences, new people, new house, new restaurants, new bike trails, four seasons, etc.

What I find interesting are some of the comments our friends make - some say "how fun for you two, what a great thing to do." But the vast majority make one of two comments: "You know it gets hot and humid in the summer and snows in the winter - I could never leave California." or "Do you have family there? Why would you move there" Mostly negative comments are what we hear. We have come to the conclusion that somehow our leaving is threatening on some level to our friends - jealousy, insecurity or perhaps just their lack of imagination - we aren't sure....all I do know is that when any of our friends have left California, we congratulate them and give them a hug - seems wonderful to us.

What is really telling is that when we hear a negative comment from one of our friends about our moving and we ask them if they have ever been to Kentucky, the answer is almost always "no."

Oh well, we really don't care what anyone thinks - we are just kicking up our heals and looking forward to a whole new world.

[anitajas]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

Next week my husband and I will leave California to retire to Kentucky. He retires on July 17 and we are leaving the next day. We were both born here....our friends are here and one of our children....the other two live out of state and we fly to visit them now. We sold our home that we have lived in for 25 years and escrow closes next week.

We consider this move a huge adventure and look forward to it with great anticipation. We are like a couple of kids - we can't wait for all the new experiences, new people, new house, new restaurants, new bike trails, four seasons, etc.

What I find interesting are some of the comments our friends make - some say "how fun for you two, what a great thing to do." But the vast majority make one of two comments: "You know it gets hot and humid in the summer and snows in the winter - I could never leave California." or "Do you have family there? Why would you move there" Mostly negative comments are what we hear. We have come to the conclusion that somehow our leaving is threatening on some level to our friends - jealousy, insecurity or perhaps just their lack of imagination - we aren't sure....all I do know is that when any of our friends have left California, we congratulate them and give them a hug - seems wonderful to us.

What is really telling is that when we hear a negative comment from one of our friends about our moving and we ask them if they have ever been to Kentucky, the answer is almost always "no."

Oh well, we really don't care what anyone thinks - we are just kicking up our heals and looking forward to a whole new world.

I can relate so well to your post! My husband will be retiring in October and we will be moving from Southern California to Western North Carolina. We too are looking forward to a wonderful adventure in beautiful North Carolina.

We have had so many people ask us "why would you want to move to NC" when they have never been there (or to the Southeast for that matter). We have been lectured about humitity, snow, the KKK, bugs and on and on and on... it is sad to me that people look at the negative instead of just being happy for us. I think you said it well in your post... that it is threatening on some level, etc...

Our family has finally come around to the idea, but we heard a lot of negativity from them as well at first. Our three grown children will continue to live in So. CA., along with my sister and an aunt.

One comment I have heard way too many times is "how can you leave your grandchild?". I do not think of it as leaving her, instead that we are moving toward a simpler way of life - and how wonderful it will be for her to visit us in a place so vastly different from dry and overcrowded So. California!

Thank you for your post Cattknap, it is always good to know that one is not alone.

Enjoy your adventure! We certainly are looking forward to ours!

[Cattknap]

Thank you DreamWeavin and Anita!

Anita - we love North Caroliina and Virginia and contemplated living there as well - you will love North Carolina - lovely people and it is just beautiful there...three cheers to those of us with adventure and daring in our blood :-)! Thanks again for your encouraging posts!

[tkhk3746]

About 8 years ago, I did this. Quit my very secure teaching job, sold my house, my jewelry, ALL my furniture...put my few possessions in storage and moved to Australia.

What a trip!

[Ready2LeaveLI]

Originally Posted by LiveLoveLaugh

Yup! In 1985 at 30 I moved from NY to Fl. My family and friends couldn't beleive I did it. I worked hard, bought a waterfront home...I absolutely adored the lifestyle. A few years ago alot of my clients started buying vacation homes in the mountains in NC, I decided that was my dream...to live in Fl and have a place to escape to during the hot summer months. For the last 2 years I have been travelling back and forth and I love both places!

Congrats. Good for you.

[staywarm2]

Originally Posted by Cattknap

Next week my husband and I will leave California to retire to Kentucky. He retires on July 17 and we are leaving the next day. We were both born here....our friends are here and one of our children....the other two live out of state and we fly to visit them now. We sold our home that we have lived in for 25 years and escrow closes next week.

We consider this move a huge adventure and look forward to it with great anticipation. We are like a couple of kids - we can't wait for all the new experiences, new people, new house, new restaurants, new bike trails, four seasons, etc.

What I find interesting are some of the comments our friends make - some say "how fun for you two, what a great thing to do." But the vast majority make one of two comments: "You know it gets hot and humid in the summer and snows in the winter - I could never leave California." or "Do you have family there? Why would you move there" Mostly negative comments are what we hear. We have come to the conclusion that somehow our leaving is threatening on some level to our friends - jealousy, insecurity or perhaps just their lack of imagination - we aren't sure....all I do know is that when any of our friends have left California, we congratulate them and give them a hug - seems wonderful to us.

What is really telling is that when we hear a negative comment from one of our friends about our moving and we ask them if they have ever been to Kentucky, the answer is almost always "no."

Oh well, we really don't care what anyone thinks - we are just kicking up our heals and looking forward to a whole new world.

It could be that they are just going to miss you!

[Élan vital]

possibly but then they should just say that. Negative comments about something from someone who has no clue what they are talking about gets on my last nerve.( not directed at you--but at the people in the post you quoted)

Originally Posted by staywarm2

It could be that they are just going to miss you!

[staywarm2]

Originally Posted by DreamWeavin

possibly but then they should just say that. Negative comments about something from someone who has no clue what they are talking about gets on my last nerve.( not directed at you--but at the people in the post you quoted)

Something I've noticed in my old friends lately, (age 60's) is that they say negative or slightly insutling things to me now that they never would have a few years ago. I wonder, as people age--even in their 60's, if they somehow lose that filter that tells them to keep those thoughts to themselves. I've been hurt a number of times by good friends who are houseguests in my home by the remarks that they make. I've finally decided to just say, "Well, that was a mean thing to say!" Or "What did you mean by that?" Or even, "In my own home, I don't accept those type of statements." One time we had dear friends come stay with us a week. They had just inherited some money and were quite heady about it. They were so insulting the whole time they stayed with us. Since they had been such good friends, we were mystified and not sure how to respond. I remember singing, "Thank God and Delta, they're gone" after we had dropped them off at the airport for their flight home!!! It's hard when old friends let you down.