https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 23 Apr 2026 19:35:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295942 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 17:38:45 +0000 MsMini 295942@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved away from our families 3 years ago for an awesome job opportunity for my husband. His job is a nerds dream come true :)</p> <p>Moving back would mean a higher overall cost of living, 2-3 times longer commutes, I would have to work full time (I work 1/2 time now). However, we would be near our families, so we would have people to babysit. </p> <p>We would also be back to "go to fixer uppers of everything" status, where both of us are constantly on call for all of our families issues. We don't miss that at all!</p> <p>Overall, the lower house prices, lower cost of living, shorter commutes, and less family obligations mean we have more available money, and more time as a family. Not to mention my job is much lower stress here, and DH has a dream job for an awesome company here.</p> <p>It would take a lot to convince us to move home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295873 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:24:28 +0000 aprk 295873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Actually, we just recently moved away from our families - my husband got a great job opportunity that has worked out fabulously. In those 4 months since we moved, we got married and found out I was pregnant. So, we'll have our first child with almost a year in a new city (8 hours away from my parents; 10 from his).</p> <p>Good choice - I think so.<br /> Tough choice - yes, especially since neither of us have typical office jobs with built in coworker/friends. And you better believe I'm pretty nervous to be home alone with a newborn and no family or fiends around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295872 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:24:24 +0000 Baby Boy Mom 295872@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we moved back to be close to family we would be way more poor! Sad but true! I'm actually not sure how we would make ends meet. We would have to get a better second car because we'd be driving a lot more. But, we would also have free babysitting and things would be "easy" in a lot of respects. Even though it's hard to be away, at this point I think it is an overall better choice for now. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295850 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 16:11:01 +0000 Honeybee 295850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: True fact. :) Good luck with the inspection tonight! I'm so, so excited for the entire Jacks family! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295831 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:59:35 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 295831@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: You can sit anywhere you want.</p> <p>I am really hoping for Mr. Honeybee that this comes to pass. You guys would be SOOOO happy here. But if it's meant to be, something great is going to come along! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295822 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:54:22 +0000 lioneyes 295822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we left NYC and moved to Philadelphia (which we are discussing doing in the next few years), our lives would change, but not drastically. We'd have a bigger apartment, in a more desirable location, probably with a washer/dryer and more than one bedroom. Since we own now and would rent, it wouldn't be as upgraded a place and we couldn't make all the personal changes we'd want (to the kitchen and bathrooms, for example). We also would have a car. </p> <p>I would still work part-time from home, but since I was closer to my parents (they live in the city) I'd get to see them more often. DH would have the big working change- he'd have to commute back to NYC a day or two a week, and work from home the rest of the time (which would be weird, and hard if we were both home). His hours would definitely be less. </p> <p>The cost of living is lower, and there are fewer things to do, and we don't have very many friends in Phila, so we would probably ending up staying in a lot more, and as a result, going on more vacations with the money saved. It would be a slower paced life, but we would be able to have/do a lot more. Maybe in a few years, but I'm enjoying being overstimulated and surrounded by friends in NYC for now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295798 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:40:13 +0000 Honeybee 295798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Sigh the stone fireplace? Can I sit on the window seat? :) Seriously, your house is so gorgeous. I can't wait to see it in person! </p> <p>If we find out good news next week, we'll likely make the move in December, since DH has the whole month off for paternity leave, anyway. Fingers crossed! I'm really nervous but super excited, and I'm starting to get anxious to just start this new chapter already! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295791 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:37:17 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 295791@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: That would be ok too! Or better yet, we'll sip it by the third floor fireplace with a little holiday music playing while the kids play in the playroom! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295773 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:26:45 +0000 Honeybee 295773@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: So exciting, I can't belive it's official! </p> <p>We'll find out next week what our status is... Potentially, we could be relocated in time to drink hot cocoa in your pool house while watching the snow fly! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295764 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:23:10 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 295764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Honeybee: I found out about an hour ago! October 18th we'll be in dream home (or The Manse as I'm now calling it... didn't you coin that phrase for me?)</p> <p>So get out here so we can lounge by the pool! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295759 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 15:21:01 +0000 Honeybee 295759@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Jacks: Our hope is that we have the same experience you guys did! Btw, you're FOR SURE moving in October? :) Yay! That's great news! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295719 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:59:20 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 295719@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We moved 2 years ago to pursue a new job for me and for Mr. Jacks to embark on a journey as a SAHD. This was an amazing leap of faith for us. We're now half way in between both of our families. We love our town. We've made tons of friends. We'll be moving into our dream house in October.</p> <p>We wish grandparents were closer, but we couldn't be in a better location for recreation, schools, child-rearing environment and future opportunities for the whole family.</p> <p>All in all it was a win despite a few people saying we were crazy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295693 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 14:49:36 +0000 Arden 295693@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For us, this is a way of life. We both grew up in aid worker families, and between the two of us we have almost 100 moves in our childhoods.<br /> the year and a half we've been married, we moved from the US to abroad, moved once abroad, then moved back to the US. </p> <p>We're currently in the process of moving again, will move once more next Summer, and then next Fall we'll be moving to a new location overseas. (By the way, my definition of "move" has become moving all your belongings along with you, since I've often "moved" to internships, school, etc while leaving most of my stuff at home. I don't count those as "moves.")</p> <p>It's an interesting life. I love that it keeps us from collecting "stuff" - all of our clothes and shoes fit into one suitcase, and everything else we own (mostly books) fits into a 4x4x8 crate. </p> <p>Our moves are very labor intensive, since they are frequently international and we never have movers. It involves packing EVERYTHING we own with sometimes very short notice and getting on a plane to a sometimes totally different language and culture. </p> <p>It's very hard to say if we'll be better or worse off after our next move, since we do it so often, but I'm leaning towards saying we'll be better. Why? Because each new move gives us a whole new world of opportunities, a new language to learn, a new culture to adapt to, a new home to make our own, new friends to make... it makes for a very full life, a very colorful one. </p> <p>Downsides? We have very few close friends, because they always end up being long distance and it's hard to keep the tight friendships from loosening into "facebook" style ones.<br /> It's also hard to put down roots, get involved in anything to deeply, because we know we won't be around for long. </p> <p>But I think it's all worth it in the end. We're a very close family, and we love living our crazy life together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295437 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:31:42 +0000 Freckles 295437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It's been two years since DH and i moved to another city, about a 4 hour plane ride from our hometown. We moved for his job (an academic position) and i was able to find a great job shortly afterward. We both love our jobs, where we live (short commutes), and have a fairly stress-free life. </p> <p>If we were to move back to our hometown, we wouldn't be able to afford a home in an ideal location since house prices are crazy over there! I may be able to work from home with the same company since they are big on worker mobility, but DH may see it as going a step down if he took a position at the university that would take him. I can also see us being stressed out all the time with long commutes, which would cut into family time and leave us exhausted every night. </p> <p>It will be great being closer to family and friends but i can foresee tension in having to deal with the in-laws all the time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295435 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:31:33 +0000 PrincessBaby 295435@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We ARE making a major move in the next 6-8 months. Our life will change A LOT. I am trying not to have a panic attack over the logistics, but there's A LOT that has to happen/work out/blend!</p> <p>We own our home in south FL. We would rent it out. So we'd have to find renters that we can trust to live in this house that we spent a lot of time and money remodeling!</p> <p>We are seriously considering building our dream home where we are moving to - Charleston, SC. It takes 6 months to build. Basically, you give 5% of the total price down to start the building price, which is A LOT of cash. Then you close once it's done, and finalize all of your mortgage stuff. I am probably going to just try to find another job once we move in and are up there, and also enjoy Harper for a few months. But I still have to have my job for the final mortgage stuff, and things have been rocky lately, so I'll be nervous the whole 6 months that I would lose my job, we wouldn't qualify for the huge mortgage once we get to the end of building, and we'd be out the 5% cash!</p> <p>It's just a lot of major things that have to work out! But if it all does, if we can make it happen and go ahead with things, we will be so much happier in SC than in FL. </p> <p>DH used to be stationed in Charleston when he was in the USCG, and he told me on our first date that Charleston is where he would raise his family. I had no idea at the time that I would be that family! I remember just staring at him and barely listening and thinking how hot he was:) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295381 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:09:41 +0000 sunny 295381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>While I'd love to be closer to my family, I really like the city we live in and I think our quality of life would go down because we'd probably have to take pay cuts and work more hours. I'd rather have my family move closer!</p> <p>On the other hand, we've considered moving down to Silicon valley for work. But again our QOL would probably go down since we'd have much higher cost of living, commute, etc. so I don't think it would happen. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295367 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:01:19 +0000 Rescuemom10 295367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Although I would love to be back home and closer to family...where we are now has become home and I almost cant imagine NOT being here. I do hate being so far away, but my family is here now too. We do not have full cuistody of my bonus daughter, and being that far away from her would kill my husband and I would be a wreck...I just could not do it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295352 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 11:51:40 +0000 Honeybee 295352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We're trying to relocate right now. We have a long timeline, though; our goal is to be settled into a new place before DD starts school in 3 years.</p> <p>In our ideal location, we'd be closer to DH's parents, and the same distance to mine that we are right now, so we might see the in-laws more often. Housing prices and cost of living are much, much cheaper, so we'd be able to afford a bigger, newer, nicer house and more luxuries. If DH gets the job we're waiting to hear back on, he'd have a heavy workload for the next two years, and then a ton more flexibility in his job than he has now. He'd have a flexible schedule and maybe even be avble to telecommute full-time. I'd have a lot more job opportunities, and there would be a lot more opportunities for the kids (educationally, religiously, activity-wise, etc...). It is a much more populated area than I have lived in, though, so it would be a big adjustment for me to live in "the city." We also wouldn't be within wlaking distance to the lake, the river, hiking, etc... like we are now, which I would miss a lot. But overall, it would be a very positive move for our family.</p> <p>If we move back to our college town (which both of us would love to do, but it's a lot less likely), we'd be 12 hours away form my family and my in-laws, so we wouldn't see them very often. That would be hard on the kids. However, we'd have great job opportunities, a bigger/nicer/newer house, better opportunities for the kids, and the same access to the outdoors that we have now. Plus, we have a lot of friends there, still, so it wouldn't be so much like starting over as it would be going back to the familiar. The only drawback (besides the distance to family) is that it gets really cold there, lol. And I don't like the cold! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-295221 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 10:46:31 +0000 Meridian 295221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH has talked about moving somewhere for years! He's lived in Chicago for his whole life and just wants a taste of living somewhere else for a few short years, maybe 2. On the other hand, I moved around a lot as a kid and have lived in many states, so I have no desire to leave Chicago.</p> <p>Plus, I have my own business and I CAN NOT imagine starting my business over again somewhere else! It took me 4 years to feel like I'm relatively secure, and the idea of starting over kills me. Not to mention, I don't think I can ever work for someone else again. </p> <p>So I told DH that if he wants to move, then he has to make enough money so I don't have to work, HAHA!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-294892 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:35:36 +0000 ladyfingers 294892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It would depend on where we were moving and the circumstances of our move, quite frankly. But I'll assume the same as @EIKO2010, that it's a self-imposed move to be closer to family. We currently live about an hour from my dad, but DH's family all lives up in New York.</p> <p>If we were to move to New York, our cost of living would go up dramatically. We live in Florida right now. Our house is very affordable (the same price as renting a smaller house, a little more expensive than an apartment) and we have no state tax. No sales tax on groceries or medicine. Low car registration, no inspection requirements, etc. </p> <p>It would be harder to find work. We both have journalism degrees and it's hard enough to find work where we are. If we had to move to a whole new city and both find writing jobs, I shudder to think what that would be like.</p> <p>It would be nice to be able to see DH's family more often, though. It would be easier on them. DH covers high school sports for a local newspaper, so we can't take the time to fly up for Thanksgiving or Christmas, because he often has games to cover the next day. Summers are really the only time we can travel, and we have to decide between vacations for ourselves, and vacations to see the family. It would be easier, and better, for my in-laws and LO to be able to see each other more -- specifically my MIL. FIL is retired travels down and stays here in a rental a few months out of the year. MIL still works, in retail, is on a fixed income, and has anxiety issues. So the only time she's able to come down is when she absolutely forces herself, like for our wedding, and like we're planning for right after the baby is born.</p> <p>The schools would be better for LO, depending on where we lived.</p> <p>But that being said, all of DH's family lives on Long Island, which we wouldn't be able to afford. We'd also likely have much less space for the same or more money -- we pay $1,000 a month for our 1,500-square-foot home with a back yard. </p> <p>And we'd be leaving all our friends we've made over the past 10 years of living here.</p> <p>All in all, I'd have to say a move like that would be better in some ways, worse in many others. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-294866 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:26:48 +0000 looch 294866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Crumbs: you've thought a lot about this topic, obviously. Any particular reason? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-294846 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:18:31 +0000 SugarplumsMom 294846@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If we moved back in San Diego, and things were ideal:</p> <p>DH would have a job at Qualcomm (his company's top competitor), we'd be living in a large family home with more "perks" than our current one. Our backyard will probably be smaller. We'd have to drive to a lake instead of walking. We wouldn't ever walk to buy groceries, in fact we'd probably never ever walk to actually get anywhere. We'd be stuck in traffic everyday.</p> <p>We would be able to visit the beach often. We can go out whenever we want without planning anything or looking up the weather forecast (and the forecast would actually be accurate). We'd exercise more for damn sure! </p> <p>I'll have more free time because my family is there, but I'll be more stressed because I'll try to pack more things to do. I won't see DH as often, he'll have to work longer. He won't get as much vacation days and will have to worry about work politics and feel bad about taking the day off if the LO has an appointment. Most likely, he won't take it off and I'll do it alone. He'll see LO less, although he'll be paid a whole lot more.</p> <p>I can actually wear cute shoes again because I won't really be using them (only to and from the car). LO can have play dates with my friend's babies (this one makes me sad)!</p> <p>I guess overall, we'd be busier. More stressed, we'd feel pressure to "keep up" and make appearances, we'd have more money but less time. I'd have reliable babysitters (family) but all the other responsibilities (and sometimes aggravation) that go along with it. I'll eat better. I'd probably get facials and actually have a night time routine again. I'd spend a lot more money on the way I look, healthcare, daycare, gas, insurance, entertainment. </p> <p>Is it better, no, it's just different from our lives now. But as soon as I'd thought of daycare expenses, I was about to delete the whole thing and just write that! It in itself, snapped me back to reality! Hahah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-294822 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:01:49 +0000 littlebug 294822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Since you addressed this question to those of us living away from family, I'm assuming you mean that we're moving back to be close to family? That's how I'm going to answer it, cuz that's the move that Hubs and I consider. A lot.</p> <p>In reality, I think our life would be a little easier. Where we grew up, in Central PA, the cost of living is much less than where we are now (just outside of Philly). If we kept the same salaries, we'd be much better off, financially. We do ok now, but there are definitely months that we struggle. We'd be more financially stable if we moved back home. </p> <p>As it stands now, we are 1.5 hours from our families. Which is not far, but it's far enough that it prevents them (especially Hubs's) from visiting regularly. And it's just far enough that it'll be tough to plan a last-minute date night or something like that. Moving back home would make babysitting and stuff like that much easier. However, I think it would create some stress in our marriage because Hubs's family has no boundaries and would be over all the time, unannounced, which is unacceptable to me. </p> <p>That being said, I am not ready to make the move quite yet. I like where we live. Most importantly, I like my job. I love my coworkers - they are some of my best friends. I would not find another group of people like this anywhere else. I also love taking the train to work. I know it sounds silly, but I dread the day when I have to give up my "me time" on the train and drive to and from a job. I would miss working in and living so close to the city. </p> <p>All in all, I think that, at this moment in time, moving home is not the right thing for us, for our careers, or for our marriage. Maybe in a few years, when we're ready to have baby #2, it's something to consider. But right now I just think it would create more tension than it would ease. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-294820 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 08:01:18 +0000 looch 294820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, I only have a minute right now, but I've left the country of my birth to live abroad and now we're actually in the process of moving back to the US by the end of the year.</p> <p>Now that I read the post properly, I can re-answer. My life wouldn't change a lot, but in many aspects things would be a lot easier for me. They'd be more difficult for my husband, but that's normal when you've got someone that's new to a country. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/if-you-moved-how-would-your-life-change#post-294806 Fri, 14 Sep 2012 07:53:13 +0000 SugarplumsMom 294806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>To those of you that live away from family, live abroad, perusing studies away from your hometown, or made a career move to the other end of the country. Or even dreaming of moving to another part of the world, city, state, or county:</p> <p>How would your life change if you moved? Set aside the actual selling of your old place, rent or lease, moving fees, etc. Pretend you've up and left, found your new place and have already unpacked and have gotten into the groove of things. How would you be living? Would it be better or worse? More stressful, more healthy? </p>