Do you live by your family, if not, why?

[spencersmommy]

I was wondering: We live by family (love it), but don't love the area (pricey, schools not great, crime). We have been thinking of moving away so I can be a SAHM and have more yardage and a better quality of life, but we would be far from family. How many of you do it? Is it truly worth it? We are very close with family and my sons have cousins their age here. Just wondering what others think?
Thanks!

[spencersmommy]

I was wondering: We live by family (love it), but don't love the area (pricey, schools not great, crime). We have been thinking of moving away so I can be a SAHM and have more yardage and a better quality of life, but we would be far from family. How many of you do it? Is it truly worth it? We are very close with family and my sons have cousins their age here. Just wondering what others think?
Thanks!

[lilycat88]

We have a VERY small family...basically just 2 sets of grandparents and DHs cousin. The closest are my parents at 2 hours away and cousin is 4 hours and other grandparents are 7-8. It SUCKS! We would never consider moving to where either sets of grandparents are but it is really hard not having any family around to help with the occasional babysitting or whatnot. I have some cousins in Florida with young children but that' s it. DD won't grow up with any "young" family around.

Is there somewhere not "so far" away that would be a happy medium?

[lilycat88]

We have a VERY small family...basically just 2 sets of grandparents and DHs cousin. The closest are my parents at 2 hours away and cousin is 4 hours and other grandparents are 7-8. It SUCKS! We would never consider moving to where either sets of grandparents are but it is really hard not having any family around to help with the occasional babysitting or whatnot. I have some cousins in Florida with young children but that' s it. DD won't grow up with any "young" family around.

Is there somewhere not "so far" away that would be a happy medium?

[mudder17]

Nope, we live on opposite coasts from most of my family. It was post-doc school that brought us out here, then jobs that kept us out here. DH loves his job here (it is the perfect fit) and I don't think we could find anything comparable in CA, not to mention housing prices in CA totally outweighing what we have. Right now we're hoping that my older sis will move out here (or at least so we're on the same coast) for the housing, schools, etc. :)

I do wish we had family closer here, but we are very happy here and not likely to move away. We have a great church family and neighbors and jobs and schools. Kaya has quite a few adoptive grandparents out here. :)


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 30 months...

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http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[mudder17]

Nope, we live on opposite coasts from most of my family. It was post-doc school that brought us out here, then jobs that kept us out here. DH loves his job here (it is the perfect fit) and I don't think we could find anything comparable in CA, not to mention housing prices in CA totally outweighing what we have. Right now we're hoping that my older sis will move out here (or at least so we're on the same coast) for the housing, schools, etc. :)

I do wish we had family closer here, but we are very happy here and not likely to move away. We have a great church family and neighbors and jobs and schools. Kaya has quite a few adoptive grandparents out here. :)


Eileen

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33734.gif 30 months...

http://www.tickercentral.com/view/6wrn/1.png

http://tickers.baby-gaga.com/p/dev317pp___.png

http://www.windsorpeak.com/dc/user_files/33732.gif for Leah

[niccig]

My family is in Australia and the United Kingdom, DH's family is in Seattle, Colorado and Michigan. I'm here in CA because of DH and he's here because of his work. We are talking about moving. Maybe to family in Colorado, or somewhere else for my grad. school, but that's a few years away. We'll probably never move to Michigan - too cold for wimpy us. I don't see us moving to Australia, but we say we'll retire there.

We would like to see family more, but we can't. Cheap phone calls and web cam help a lot. I've also built up a network of mums with children the same age. None of us have family here, so we help each other out. Eg. I'm going to a night class and a friend has DS until DH can pick him up, and in return I have her son one afternoon a week.

I think it helps that I grew up living next door to my grandmother, a mean old lady, but only saw my other grandparents once a year, loved them. So I know it's quality not necessary quantity of time.

It would be easier in some ways if family were closer, babysitting yay!, but as they're not here, I don't have them interferring, and both sets of grandparents would do that. We deal as best as we can with the distance.

HTH
Nicci

Nicci

[niccig]

My family is in Australia and the United Kingdom, DH's family is in Seattle, Colorado and Michigan. I'm here in CA because of DH and he's here because of his work. We are talking about moving. Maybe to family in Colorado, or somewhere else for my grad. school, but that's a few years away. We'll probably never move to Michigan - too cold for wimpy us. I don't see us moving to Australia, but we say we'll retire there.

We would like to see family more, but we can't. Cheap phone calls and web cam help a lot. I've also built up a network of mums with children the same age. None of us have family here, so we help each other out. Eg. I'm going to a night class and a friend has DS until DH can pick him up, and in return I have her son one afternoon a week.

I think it helps that I grew up living next door to my grandmother, a mean old lady, but only saw my other grandparents once a year, loved them. So I know it's quality not necessary quantity of time.

It would be easier in some ways if family were closer, babysitting yay!, but as they're not here, I don't have them interferring, and both sets of grandparents would do that. We deal as best as we can with the distance.

HTH
Nicci

Nicci

[lizajane]

we live 3.5 hours from both sets of grandparents. (in different directions, though.) and my sister and BIL and my brother live in the same town as my parents. BIL and girlfriend live in chicago (we are in NC.)

for a long time, i liked living near enough but far enough, ykwim? but now that i have TWO kids... well, let's just say we are starting to actually RESENT our friends with families here. we NEVER get a break, free babysitting, a weekend away... my MIL just said that if she lived one hour away, she would just come every single wednesday so i could make appts, run errands, buy groceries, sew for my business...

a few years ago, i would have thought, "EVERY wednesday??" now i think, "WHOO HOOO EVVVVVVVVVERY WEDNESDAY!!!" well, that is what i WOULD think, as she does NOT live 1 hour away...

[lizajane]

we live 3.5 hours from both sets of grandparents. (in different directions, though.) and my sister and BIL and my brother live in the same town as my parents. BIL and girlfriend live in chicago (we are in NC.)

for a long time, i liked living near enough but far enough, ykwim? but now that i have TWO kids... well, let's just say we are starting to actually RESENT our friends with families here. we NEVER get a break, free babysitting, a weekend away... my MIL just said that if she lived one hour away, she would just come every single wednesday so i could make appts, run errands, buy groceries, sew for my business...

a few years ago, i would have thought, "EVERY wednesday??" now i think, "WHOO HOOO EVVVVVVVVVERY WEDNESDAY!!!" well, that is what i WOULD think, as she does NOT live 1 hour away...