UPDATE'S, Where are you in life, and your move to Maine (Bangor: live in, post office)

[ExAirForce]

I sympathize with those that have had to put their plans of moving to Maine on hold due to the current economic situation. We were lucky enough to secure our construction loan just before the banks tightened their practices and have the roof trusses going on this week. Our plan is still on track where the house will be tight before snow flies so they can finish up over the winter and we will be moving back as soon as our daughter is out of school in June. We are lucky that we liquidated everything but savings for the construction loan down payment and don't have anything in the market other than our 401K which we won't need for quite a few years and our mortgage and monthly housing costs will be covered by our pensions so we figure even minimum wage jobs would allow us to "live" if need be so will be taking the plunge and be job hunting in a few months. People think we are crazy for moving back in these economic times with no confirmed jobs but we have done the math over and over and feel we are in very good shape. For those that still have the dream....don't give up.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by ExAirForce

I sympathize with those that have had to put their plans of moving to Maine on hold due to the current economic situation. We were lucky enough to secure our construction loan just before the banks tightened their practices and have the roof trusses going on this week. Our plan is still on track where the house will be tight before snow flies so they can finish up over the winter and we will be moving back as soon as our daughter is out of school in June. We are lucky that we liquidated everything but savings for the construction loan down payment and don't have anything in the market other than our 401K which we won't need for quite a few years and our mortgage and monthly housing costs will be covered by our pensions so we figure even minimum wage jobs would allow us to "live" if need be so will be taking the plunge and be job hunting in a few months. People think we are crazy for moving back in these economic times with no confirmed jobs but we have done the math over and over and feel we are in very good shape. For those that still have the dream....don't give up.

Hang in there you will be fine.

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by ExAirForce

I sympathize with those that have had to put their plans of moving to Maine on hold due to the current economic situation. We were lucky enough to secure our construction loan just before the banks tightened their practices and have the roof trusses going on this week. Our plan is still on track where the house will be tight before snow flies so they can finish up over the winter and we will be moving back as soon as our daughter is out of school in June. We are lucky that we liquidated everything but savings for the construction loan down payment and don't have anything in the market other than our 401K which we won't need for quite a few years and our mortgage and monthly housing costs will be covered by our pensions so we figure even minimum wage jobs would allow us to "live" if need be so will be taking the plunge and be job hunting in a few months. People think we are crazy for moving back in these economic times with no confirmed jobs but we have done the math over and over and feel we are in very good shape. For those that still have the dream....don't give up.

Good for you! I'm happy that things are going good for you guys. We're the same - our meager assets are all liquid, except our 401K. We've also had the "you're insane to quit your job in these times" comments from all sides. Brad's career field is still in good shape nationwide. I'm SO thankful he bit the bullet 3 years ago and walked away from management/computers to follow his dream. It keeps us in the driver's seat when others are being thrown from their cars left and right!

[tankratt]

Originally Posted by Elcarim

UPDATE!! I just reserved the moving trailer to be delivered for loading on 2/26. They'll pick it up on 3/3 since they only service our area on Tues/Thurs, and it will arrive in Eastport by the 10th!

Good thing we have beds and a bit of borrowed furniture waiting for us!

I am very happy for you guys, and envious of you as well, your move is as long or longer than mine will be, so I am counting on some advice from you get there, you now stuff like sell it all or take little to none or take this but not this and this, stuff like that.

[Shuffler]

Originally Posted by ExAirForce

I sympathize with those that have had to put their plans of moving to Maine on hold due to the current economic situation. We were lucky enough to secure our construction loan just before the banks tightened their practices and have the roof trusses going on this week. Our plan is still on track where the house will be tight before snow flies so they can finish up over the winter and we will be moving back as soon as our daughter is out of school in June. We are lucky that we liquidated everything but savings for the construction loan down payment and don't have anything in the market other than our 401K which we won't need for quite a few years and our mortgage and monthly housing costs will be covered by our pensions so we figure even minimum wage jobs would allow us to "live" if need be so will be taking the plunge and be job hunting in a few months. People think we are crazy for moving back in these economic times with no confirmed jobs but we have done the math over and over and feel we are in very good shape. For those that still have the dream....don't give up.

I'm 38 and have no pension, and will get no pension from my company, which chose to end the program in favor of a 'revived' 401(k) program.

I now have a 401(k) that has taken a ~40% dive, a stock & mutual fund portfolio that is even worse, and a job that could be on the line in the not-too-distant future.

But I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last week...

[happyfamily1912d]

Wow, so many of the sentiments I'm reading here I can relate to because we experienced the same sort of stuff.

Like Elcarim, our family took it hard when we planned our move. My wife's parents and our friends and neighbors had a whole range of things to say when we first mentioned it up to them, questioning what we're "trading" friends and family for.

It was tough and we could understand their feelings, but for us just starting a family we felt there were things we wanted to provide for them and ourselves that we just couldn't get where we were at. And it doesn't need to be a permanent thing, but there's no way to know without actually going on that journey and finding out. For us it has been 6 years now, and although things aren't as pefect as we envisioned, and we do miss things about where we came from, overall we are glad to have done it. I don't think you can really regret doing something you felt needed to be done.

OK, that's my sermon! I hope everyone planning the move makes it across ok!

Walt

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by happyfamily1912d

Wow, so many of the sentiments I'm reading here I can relate to because we experienced the same sort of stuff.

Like Elcarim, our family took it hard when we planned our move. My wife's parents and our friends and neighbors had a whole range of things to say when we first mentioned it up to them, questioning what we're "trading" friends and family for.

It was tough and we could understand their feelings, but for us just starting a family we felt there were things we wanted to provide for them and ourselves that we just couldn't get where we were at. And it doesn't need to be a permanent thing, but there's no way to know without actually going on that journey and finding out. For us it has been 6 years now, and although things aren't as pefect as we envisioned, and we do miss things about where we came from, overall we are glad to have done it. I don't think you can really regret doing something you felt needed to be done.

OK, that's my sermon! I hope everyone planning the move makes it across ok!

Walt

Thank you! My point exactly!! You must have been a fly on my bedroom wall last night. I was stewing to Brad over the things his mother said to him about us "taking the kids away from their family" and that she "doesn't think we NEED to move across the country." I understand that we'll be missed. And I also understand that all the reasons I'm hearing from our family are selfish on their part.

My response to him was that a person who truly loves and cares about us and our kids wouldn't begrudge us the opportunity to provide a better quality of life for our family! On most statistical data I've read during the last 7 years of research, Texas consistently rates in the bottom 10-15 places in the country to raise a family. Maine is consistently in the top 5 or 6. Data and statistics speak for themselves when comparing school records, test scores, teen pregnancy rates, child/teen drug use, child poverty levels, crime rates, etc.

I've never been the kind of person to do something because someone else thinks I should. These people of ours who feel the need to inflict their misguided opinions on us have surely forgotten who I am!

I've promised my husband NOT to engage in any "moving" discussions if it's brought up at Christmas dinner when the whole family is together. They are all very near - nope - very much over the line and have really ticked me off lately. I haven't come up with my exit line yet, but I'm working on it! You guys know how tactful I am!

[BoundtofindME]

Elcarim, only because I've been there, do I offer this suggestion...

Suggested exit line: "We know you're upset about us leaving, and we hope someday you will understand how important this move is to us. We love you and we're going to miss you, and we hope you come to see us off on {insert date here} as we begin our long awaited journey to Maine!"

God Bless El -- it will all work out!

[Maineah]

Originally Posted by BoundtofindME

Elcarim, only because I've been there, do I offer this suggestion...

Suggested exit line: "We know you're upset about us leaving, and we hope someday you will understand how important this move is to us. We love you and we're going to miss you, and we hope you come to see us off on {insert date here} as we begin our long awaited journey to Maine!"

God Bless El -- it will all work out!

Or "See Ya" will work!

[Elcarim]

Originally Posted by Maineah

Or "See Ya" will work!

I think I've been pegged! You know me so well!