We are on the tail end of this! Moving our family of three kids, cross country, away from family, in just a few weeks here. It was not an easy decision to make. But ultimately we see a future there, less so here. We see a good Catholic community there with lots of young families, something we haven't really found here. We see the kind of life we want possible there, not here. It's still scary and still a big change, but at the end of the day it feels right. I hope that's helpful and not too vague. Those were criteria on how we made the decision. It's somewhat like you said of making a rule of life, or laying out life goals, with those ends in mind, what path would help us to that end more directly or just easier/quicker. We will definitely miss having family close by, and I might be downplaying how hard it will actually be. But we have to follow our own family goals and dreams and plans too. Thank goodness for facetime. Good luck! I'll say a prayer for the best decision. The PNW is so lovely. ;-)
I feel this so much! We moved to MI 4 years ago, after getting married, having 3 kids, and living in CT for 8.5 years. And I'd just read "This is Where You Belong," (https://www.amazon.com/This-Where-You-Belong-Wherever-ebook/dp/B016JPTFF0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) which had me falling in love with the pre-Revolutionary War house around the corner from my duplex, and the family-owned garden center across the street, and very walkable small town...etc. I miss a lot, a lot about living in that kind of town, but for us, living near family has been worth it. CT was kind of like the PNW in your example -- a place to explore on our own and come into our own as a family, but it was so far from extended family. Letting my children have memories of mundane, everyday activities with their grandparents while they're still in their active years (early 60s) is something we just wouldn't have had if we stayed. (And it's not something I had growing up as a military brat). I always thought I'd continue my military family's sense of adventure and uprootedness -- it was almost a goal among friends to see whose family and connections were most far-flung -- but I've grown to value continuity, deep roots, and proximity to family so much more. (Also: I really, really love the family we live near now! Just in case that wasn't clear, ha). I will say a prayer for your discernment!
I actually really loved reading Anne of Green Gables for the first time as an adult, (spoiler, in case...you are like I was, and got through childhood without knowing the ending!) because she makes the decision to forego her dreams and stay with Marilla after graduation. I read it not long after the 2008 recession, and it really struck me -- after being told my whole education to dream! And be special! And the best at what I can be! -- what if we rethought the quiet dignity of going back home?
Finally: that song makes me bawl every time we get to that part of Frozen 2.
We are on the tail end of this! Moving our family of three kids, cross country, away from family, in just a few weeks here. It was not an easy decision to make. But ultimately we see a future there, less so here. We see a good Catholic community there with lots of young families, something we haven't really found here. We see the kind of life we want possible there, not here. It's still scary and still a big change, but at the end of the day it feels right. I hope that's helpful and not too vague. Those were criteria on how we made the decision. It's somewhat like you said of making a rule of life, or laying out life goals, with those ends in mind, what path would help us to that end more directly or just easier/quicker. We will definitely miss having family close by, and I might be downplaying how hard it will actually be. But we have to follow our own family goals and dreams and plans too. Thank goodness for facetime. Good luck! I'll say a prayer for the best decision. The PNW is so lovely. ;-)
I feel this so much! We moved to MI 4 years ago, after getting married, having 3 kids, and living in CT for 8.5 years. And I'd just read "This is Where You Belong," (https://www.amazon.com/This-Where-You-Belong-Wherever-ebook/dp/B016JPTFF0/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) which had me falling in love with the pre-Revolutionary War house around the corner from my duplex, and the family-owned garden center across the street, and very walkable small town...etc. I miss a lot, a lot about living in that kind of town, but for us, living near family has been worth it. CT was kind of like the PNW in your example -- a place to explore on our own and come into our own as a family, but it was so far from extended family. Letting my children have memories of mundane, everyday activities with their grandparents while they're still in their active years (early 60s) is something we just wouldn't have had if we stayed. (And it's not something I had growing up as a military brat). I always thought I'd continue my military family's sense of adventure and uprootedness -- it was almost a goal among friends to see whose family and connections were most far-flung -- but I've grown to value continuity, deep roots, and proximity to family so much more. (Also: I really, really love the family we live near now! Just in case that wasn't clear, ha). I will say a prayer for your discernment!
I actually really loved reading Anne of Green Gables for the first time as an adult, (spoiler, in case...you are like I was, and got through childhood without knowing the ending!) because she makes the decision to forego her dreams and stay with Marilla after graduation. I read it not long after the 2008 recession, and it really struck me -- after being told my whole education to dream! And be special! And the best at what I can be! -- what if we rethought the quiet dignity of going back home?
Finally: that song makes me bawl every time we get to that part of Frozen 2.