Why do you live where you do?

[FIREseeker]

I'm pretty young. I have no house or major geographic commitments. I'm open to moving further than where I grew up.

Why do you live where you do? Family? Job? Climate? Cost of Living? I'm thinking of even moving south of the border to save $ and enjoy a new adventure..

[ua_guy]

The Pacific Northwest - I grew up here, my family is from here, my spouse's family is nearby, I like the area, and I left the area after college but quickly returned--that's kind of how I know it's for me. I gave it up and tried living somewhere else, and it didn't feel right. It's just a good place to be.

[disneysteve]

I grew up in Philadelphia. Went to college about an hour away. Went to medical school back in Philadelphia. First job was in New Jersey about 25 minutes away. My wife was already working in New Jersey at that time. Once I was settled in the job, we moved across the river to New Jersey and have been here ever since (1994). I changed jobs in 2000 but only looked for work in the immediate area as we didn't have any desire to move. We would have if necessary but I found a good job actually closer to home than the old job.

We both have family in the area, which is a bit of a draw but that wouldn't stop us from moving if a great opportunity presented itself.

Ultimately, we'd like to relocate to Florida. I just don't feel like starting from scratch again with work so that will likely not happen until retirement.

[riverwed070707]

Born and raised in Iowa. I love traveling and would jump at the opportunity to relocate if the opportunity presented itself (either internationally or coastal); however, I make a good living here and the COL is SOOOO cheap that its hard to leave. If we stay, we'd be mortgage free by the time our DD graduates and bringing in enough passive income from our rental properties that neither one of us would have to work. If we relocate, retirement in 10 years (I'll be 39) is probably off the table. Not sure if that's a trade I'm willing to make.

[bjl584]

Pittsburgh PA general area.

I was born and raised here. Most of my friends and family are here. I know the area well. The weather isn't too terrible except for a couple months in the winter. The cost of living and taxes are relatively low.

[Like2Plan]

We moved to Northern VA for DH's job. Almost 30 years later, we haven't found a reason to move.

[FLA]

I'm in upstate NY. Went to college, came home not sure where I would eventually land, so I did my 2yrs of hospital experience at one of our hospitals. Decided I would give Burlington, VT a good look around once I did my two years. Friends there, it just seems like a place where communities solve problems together, they've done some progressive stuff and have a wonderful hospital. Met ex-husband at work at 22, married by 24, house then kids. Well, by then we were pretty entrenched, great school district. And then there was my mom. Once we had kids, the only way we'd be able to move, well, she'd have be dead. She adores my kids so much and they her, even though the ex was up for a move, I no longer wanted it. My parents have added so much to my kids' lives and they are so much the better for it and the opposite, as well.

My dad was sick for a few years, my mom needed help and we just stepped up, I give my ex credit for that. He got better. We were heading towards divorce and when it happened, I did not want to change the kids lives too much. I found a townhouse in their school district.

Life went on, now my mom has a terminal illness, we joined forces and bought this handicapped accessible house 2 yrs ago. Then a year ago, I got sick, then sicker. So we all help each other. It's like there was some master plan at work, because we had no intentions of living together, my dad and talked about how it would be easier to help if I lived closer. the next day, we decided to just drive around and look at houses. We found this house, looked at a few others and bought this the day after that. It was a whirlwind, I didn't even have time to think, "do I really want to do this?" But I am a hospice nurse, my plan was to be my mom's hospice nurse. Now that's not quite what happened but it will work out. Jumping into this was a blessing, I lived in a 3 story townhouse and I suddenly could no longer do stairs. I could not have sold that house as sick as I am.

and finally, today, my mom said she is ready for hospice and she will have my hospice, my wonderful co-workers. Had she not moved to my end of town, she'd have a different team, equally good, but I want mine.

so being "stuck" where I grew up, was the best choice I could ever have made. Most of my friends struck out for new, big cities, some on the other coast. And that sounded great. I wouldn't trade what I've had for any of that

[snafu]

DH and I have lived in several of the larger cities in Canada. We moved here [Rockies] when DH was offered the position of Director of a new Community College. Except for the ghastly winter weather, we finally found 'home' where the people we met as colleagues, neighbours and via the service organization we support made us feel part of their families.

We've since been seconded [loaned] to other organizations and had opportunities to work in Thailand, China, Vietnam and USA, passed on offer to Mexico. We eventually elected to be self employed and happily returned to this same base because of friends and lifestyle that suits us.

If you like adventure, I support the idea of working and getting into the culture of other places My one caveat is to learn the language, it was the missing element in our adventures.

[myrdale]

I moved to this state for a job. After a year I purchased a house about 10 minutes drive from work. Granted it is a subdivision, but it is on the more country side of the county, well out of town. Housing was reasonable. Neighborhood is quite.

[wjcalderon]

I was born and raised here in central Mississippi. My family and friends are here, the cost of living is low, the town I live in is small and quiet, but close enough to Jackson to have all the shopping and entertainment I want.

Unfortunately, the weather in July and August makes me want to move to Antarctica!
The temps combined with the humidity makes the "real feel" temperature somewhere between 100 and 120!

And just for the record, we aren't all redneck racists, although I know a few!

[phantom]

I live where I was born and raised. I like living near my family. I also like living in a place that's cold enough for snow in the winter and swimming in the summer. The main natural disaster I have to worry about is flooding, and that's mostly avoidable. I also like the colors of the local sports teams.

[Fishindude77]

Born here, raised here, much of family is here, business is here, friends are here, home is home. At the present, I don't feel like we are leaving and going anywhere.

I like the farm life, being close to the land and all of the projects and activity that go along with it to keep me busy. We can spend time at the lake house and make trips to scratch the travel itch.

[AngelineRose]

I was raised in Montana and moved to California to learn sign language and hang out with the deaf community. My world opened up, fell in love with the area where there is always events or something going on. I didn't move for the weather but there is no going back to Montana after living in the warm climate. I also could never move back to a small town either now that I have been exposed to diversity in a big way.

There is a chance that I have no choice but to leave due to the astronomical record breaking cost of living lately. If that day comes, there will be tears.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I work in the technology industry and this is a big technology area.

[wonderwoman]

There's no place like home. I live 3 miles from where I was born.