Anyone addicted to moving? (San Diego, Sacramento: rentals, low crime, hotels)

[Curmudgeon]

Just in CA I've lived in La Jolla (born in San Diego), Newport Beach, Fort Ord, Santa Monica, Whittier (2 abodes), Costa Mesa, Rialto, San Bernardino, Riverside, Bakersfield (2 abodes), and Sacramento (4 abodes). Add to that Tsingtao, China, Alabama, North Carolina (twice and 3 abodes), Korea (2 abodes) Virginia (twice and 3 abodes), Japan (3 cities and as many abodes), Minnesota for school, Texas (2 places, 3 abodes), Georgia (2 abodes), Kentucky, and now finally settled down in our retirement home in Missouri.

That comes out to 37 (I might have missed a couple) moves in my first 62 years of life. You do the math! Wanderlust? Yes! Anymore moves planned? Not until if and when they place me in "the home!"

It's not all a result of itchy feet. I was raised in the military and spent 12 years in it myself. That accounted for many of the moves. The rest were primarily "following the money" in my civilian careers, ending with the final move last year in retirement. But it's been fun living in the West, South-East, Mid-West and East. I've seen a lot of Asia and bunches of America. Now I'm ready to veg where we are, my wife too. She was also a military brat.

As many have remarked, for this last move, which was from Sacramento to SW MO, we divested ourselve of almost everything but antiques, kitchen and dining items, some art and our clothing. Over the last eleven months we've totally furnished, appointed and provided for the house new; happy to have saved the costs of moving bunches of stuff that wouldn't have been right for it anyway. It's been a bit expensive but a joy.

Life's an adventure, if you permit it to be!

[Reivax]

as an adult, I've moved probably 12 times, twice out of the country. Not sure about addiction, but definitely I don't mind picking everything up, putting it in a truck or boat and moving to a place I've never been and know little about.

I also find that older I get, the more I strip away what I consider "important" to keep with me. I'm down from rooms, shelves and walls full of things to a couple of boxes of things that I consider "indispensible". Lately I am getting itchy again, as a matter of fact, lol.

[MtnSurfer]

Ok Curmudgeon, here is a question for you then. What is the longest time you have lived in any single residence? Just curious after 37 moves in 62 years. For some who never left their hometown that must be mind boggling.

Any reason you never tried the PNW or Northeast?

Derek

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Ok Curmudgeon, here is a question for you then. What is the longest time you have lived in any single residence? Just curious after 37 moves in 62 years. For some who never left their hometown that must be mind boggling.

Any reason you never tried the PNW or Northeast?

Derek

Fair question! Almost 11 years in the last one one and about 6 years in another.

Never tried the PNW for two reasons. The first was the overcast, rainy weather. It makes it beautiful but with a wife subject to SAD, not a great mix. The second (sorry you asked) was too many Californians moving North and driving up the housing prices.

As for the Northeast. I dearly love it's sense of history and tradition, the landscape, beautiful Autumns, etc. My parents were both from New York and relatives lived there, Massachusetts and Connecticut so I spent a lot of time there and loved it; especially having been from Maine down to Alabama. After my years of school in Minnesota, which I also loved, the thought of lots of snow was a bit off-putting, as were the costs. Years ago we'd considered North Carolina and suddenly, that was discovered by Californians also with a resultant, significant increase in housing and cost of living in places we were considering.

Yeah! I suppose it can be a bit mind-boggling and possibly overwhelming but I usually enjoyed it. Major moves could be a pain (little one's too) and the Korean DMV during heightened hostilities with North Korea left something to be desired but the rest of it was interesting. I always enjoyed the adventures and challenges but after, now, almost 64 years, I'm quite content to be "home" and take many little trips to explore more of this great country and its people. My wife enjoys it as well.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

Fair question! Almost 11 years in the last one one and about 6 years in another.

Never tried the PNW for two reasons. The first was the overcast, rainy weather. It makes it beautiful but with a wife subject to SAD, not a great mix. The second (sorry you asked) was too many Californians moving North and driving up the housing prices.

As for the Northeast. I dearly love it's sense of history and tradition, the landscape, beautiful Autumns, etc. My parents were both from New York and relatives lived there, Massachusetts and Connecticut so I spent a lot of time there and loved it; especially having been from Maine down to Alabama. After my years of school in Minnesota, which I also loved, the thought of lots of snow was a bit off-putting, as were the costs. Years ago we'd considered North Carolina and suddent, that was discovered by Californians also with a resultant, significant increase in housing and cost of living in places we were considering.

Yeah! I suppose it can be a bit mind-boggling and possibly overwhelming but I usually enjoyed it. Major moves could be a pain (little one's too) and the Korean DMV during heightened hostilities with North Korea left something to be desired but the rest of it was interesting. I always enjoyed the adventures and challenges but after, now, almost 64 years, I'm quite content to be "home" and take many little trips to explore more of this great country and its people. My wife enjoys it as well.

Cool, I find it interesting that you spent 11 years in the last one. I guess you were beginning to settle down a bit more there. Man, I bet you have some great memories and interesting stories of all those places you've lived in and visited. If you have kids/grandkids I'm sure you could tell a story or two they would enjoy hearing as well.

Derek

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by MtnSurfer

Cool, I find it interesting that you spent 11 years in the last one. I guess you were beginning to settle down a bit more there. Man, I bet you have some great memories and interesting stories of all those places you've lived in and visited. If you have kids/grandkids I'm sure you could tell a story or two they would enjoy hearing as well.

Derek

LOL! My children and grands are likely glad I don't indulge in a lot of story-telling. You know how repetitious us old geezers can be! Four of my five children were born in CA and one in VA. The older three made many of the moves with us, to include KY, VA, TX, southern, central and northern CA. One was in the Navy for eight years and made several moves plus getting a good taste of combat. He and his wife are now in OH but have also lived in CT and NJ. He's also been stationed in HI and was one of the first in and last out in Desert Storm (Navy diver and explosive ordnance disposal specialist). Another son lived in CO until a year ago and has just now moved to ME. The rest have just lived around CA, except for the daughter who was born in VA and also lived in TX. She was too young to remember either.

My oldest granddaughter (17) wants me to write down all that family history. My wife is also after me to do the same. I really suppose I should one day.

[MtnSurfer]

Originally Posted by Curmudgeon

LOL! My children and grands are likely glad I don't indulge in a lot of story-telling. You know how repetitious us old geezers can be! Four of my five children were born in CA and one in VA. The older three made many of the moves with us, to include KY, VA, TX, southern, central and northern CA. One was in the Navy for eight years and made several moves plus getting a good taste of combat. He and his wife are now in OH but have also lived in CT and NJ. He's also been stationed in HI and was one of the first in and last out in Desert Storm (Navy diver and explosive ordnance disposal specialist). Another son lived in CO until a year ago and has just now moved to ME. The rest have just lived around CA, except for the daughter who was born in VA and also lived in TX. She was too young to remember either.

My oldest granddaughter (17) wants me to write down all that family history. My wife is also after me to do the same. I really suppose I should one day.

Yeah, you really should. It would make for some great reading for future generations in your family especially. Having five children must be great. That's quite an accomplishment, especially while living in CA with the higher cost of living. While living in CO with my family seeing larger families where much more common than they are out here.

Derek

[SOON2BNSURPRISE]

I am amazed at the amount of moves people take. One poster I think listed 12 cities in 12 years. Wonder if that is with the same employer or do some people change jobs as much as they change homes? Someone else mentioned that they have moved when they broke up with someone. That I can't understand at all. Give up your job and friends because of some bad relationship? I think that if I was moving every year or two I wouldn't be buying many heavy objects. Also what about kids if you have them? We like the fact that our kids all go to the same schools. All of our kids so far have been in the same grade school, our oldest went to an older Junior High, they built a new Middle school three years ago and two of our kids are there and the remainder will attend that school. We like that. About the only move we will make will be to our home that we are planning on buying this year or next. We plan on being in that home for the remainder of our life if possible. I for one love to travel but hate to move.

[steel7]

Up until 11 yrs ago i moved often. When i was a kid my family & i also moved often. I hate moving but if its for a better way of life then ill move in a heartbeat.

[allenk893]

There is NOTHING good or enjoyable about moving unless your moving to a bigger and better place. I lived in 9 different cities. Born in Orlando, FL moved to West Palm Beach to Port St. Lucie to Montreal Canada to Chicago to Tallahassee to San Antonio to Boynton Beach to Lehigh Acres and I'm getting ready to move back to San Antonio. I feel like my whole life has been a joke or something. I'm waiting for us to stop moving. Ever since I started HS, I have been to 4 different schools. And in total for my life I have been to 11!! That is insane. And no - we aren't military. The only time I've ever felt joy moving was when we were moving out the ghetto (South Chicago) or when we got a house. I've lived in 5 different houses. Houses that were so beautiful but we could never keep because of financial issues. I'm tired of it and I cannot wait until college which is very soon. I will finally have some stability. My advice to anyone out there, is that when you have grown kids, please take into consideration their feelings.