Okay:Question...What about family? (house, tornadoes, earthquakes) - General U.S. - City-Data Forum

heathersmom · 08-09-2006, 03:58 PM

Okay- QUESTION: Everyone that has moved:

[LEFT]Are you moving closer to family? [/LEFT]
[LEFT]Are you moving because it is needed and you will deal with the family/distance thing later? [/LEFT]
Or are you moving away from family?

Thanks

connie · 08-09-2006, 04:25 PM

We are moving because it is needed and we will deal with family issues as they arise. Family staying back in Calif, though my parents might move to NC after we get there. I haven't really concerned myself about it because my family has always encouraged travel and exploring new areas. We also talk on the phone and are willing to travel. But this week I am on vacation with my parents, and it is hitting me that we won't see them very much after we move to North Carolina. And that my kids won't have their grandparents ...

MidniteBreeze · 08-09-2006, 04:34 PM

My husband and I recently moved closer to our families (about 80 miles away) after living out of state (1200 miles away) for 5 years. Family/friends were definitely a big part of the equation, though we had other reasons too.

One bonus to living closer to family is you don't feel obligated to spend your vaction time going "home."

I do think it's possible to live TOO close to family though...I think we're now the perfect distance away

christina0001 · 08-09-2006, 04:56 PM

We plan on moving next year and we'll be much father from family, unfortunately. We're moving based on earning potential and cost of living; most of our family is in NJ and it's too expensive here for us. We will either end up in NC about 2 hours from my dad, 11 hours from my in-laws, mom and siblings; or in MO which is 24 hours from everybody (except for an aunt who will be 2 hours away). It's a hard decision and our families are sad but we feel we have to do what is best for our future.

Mike from back east · 08-09-2006, 06:15 PM

We are from the Baltimore-DC area, our families are still back there.

We retired and moved 1600 miles west to Colorado Springs because we wanted to, mainly because we get twice the house for the money.

There are many other good reasons we came here...a state income tax break of $20k per retiree...very low humidity...no hurricanes...no earthquakes...no tornadoes to speak of...no bugs to speak of...relatively mild winters with little snow here on the Front Range...a few hours from being in the high country with all its snow and winter sports...lots of things to do here...people are friendlier here...traffic is just a fraction of what it is back in the DC area so that you can get to all the things you want to see or do...you can drive to a huge variety of national parks in a day or so...cost of living is lower than in most coastal areas...and on and on it goes....

We weren't running away from family. We were running to a much nicer place to live. I can visit my family via email and that will work fine. We can fly back once or twice a year and that will suffice. They can come see me if they wish. We lived 1-2 hours from most of them and they never came to see us in 30 years of living in western Fairfax County. Those "bonds" aren't enough to keep me back there in that helllish environment or prices and gridlock of Fairfax County, VA.

s/Mike

Racelady88 · 08-09-2006, 08:19 PM

Moved for financial reasons. Could no longer afford Florida. Left 91 year old grandmother and in-laws behind. Husband has not forgiven me, but is starting to figure it out.

cleosmom · 08-09-2006, 09:18 PM

We moved for our own enrichment. It did mean moving away from family, but we're still within a day and half's drive. We moved my mom out here to the same town and she's fairing much better here than she was in CA.

pinkpalace · 08-09-2006, 09:41 PM

We moved 2900 miles away, originally because we were tired of where we were living and wanted something different.

Before we moved away, most of our family (on both sides) was within 15 miles of us. The rest were within 250 miles.

Living far away from any relatives has its good points and bad points, but.. all things considered, we are much happier. We have a lot more control over WHEN we see family, WHO we visit, and HOW LONG we visit.

Overall, there are a few family members that we miss, but there are quite a few that we don't miss...

chiroptera · 08-10-2006, 04:24 AM

My family is spread out over several continents. None of them this one so I guess I'm in the "moving away" camp! The only close relative here is an aunt in Northern California and I visit her once a year.
Siblings and parents are in Scotland, Spain, Greece, Berlin and England. (I'm the only US citizen in my immediate family because I was born here.) My sister's in England now but spent 19 years living in Israel...this has made it more affordable to travel a lot since I've got free accomodation in several countries.

My mother & stepfather (Scotland) are in their 70s. Healthier and more active than most 30 year olds I know, but I do worry about what might happen if either or both need care at some point. That's when distance would become a problem.

teleblazer · 08-10-2006, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by heathersmom

Okay- QUESTION: Everyone that has moved:

[LEFT]Are you moving closer to family? [/LEFT]
[LEFT]Are you moving because it is needed and you will deal with the family/distance thing later? [/LEFT]
Or are you moving away from family?

Thanks

I'm already far from family and I am moving within the same state which remains far from family (with the exception of those coming for the ride with me of course).

The main thing I miss about family not being close by is I don't have someone at the ready to take the kids for the wife and I to go out and be civillized human beings more often. Other than that...I'm glad they can't just walk in at unexpected moments (remember the Everybody Loves Raymond show?). =)