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relocation sensation.
yoi want to relocate. i'm sick of los angeles and all its dwellers. i feel like my head is going to cave in with all these people, crowds, crime, snobbery and empty headedness (yes, that's a word). i just want less concrete, more space, more quiet, clean air and if it's not too much to ask, a sense of real community. not the kind filled with investment bankers, financial gurus and new money gentry who like to tear down old homes to make way for mcmansions, but the kind where people are genuinely concerned for one another, not about what you can get from one another.
anyhoo, i've begun with a list of the things for which i'm looking, some cities i think might fit and that's about it so far.
my better half isn't completely on board yet. he feels i'm suffering from that old "grass is always greener" problem. so, those of you who have just recently relo'd, please give me advice and help me convince him that the grass just might indeed be greener.
how did you decide to relocate?
what was the process like?
what resources do you recommend?
what was the most challenging part of relocating?
the most rewarding?
anything else?
June 7, 2005 in asking. | Permalink
Comments
I have moved more times in my life than I will ever admit to. Recently, I ditched a life in Houston for one in New York and then Dennis and I moved to Chicago without knowing a soul here. Drop me a line with ideas....I can help you work around the arguments :)
Posted by: amanda | Jun 7, 2005 1:39:44 PM
Hi-
Any comments you receive can you post or forward - pretty please. I have been having the same thoughts. I live outside of Washington DC and really just want to start a new life (been here since 1995).
HELP :)
Posted by: Melanei | Jun 8, 2005 8:37:17 AM
mipmup!
i've been feeling the same way, and i have a plan. i am lucky that my partner is in complete agreement. we've even settled on a new city, but i can't talk about it on the interweb in case someone from work finds it...
anyway, if you want to hear all about the year-long process of travel and research that went into our decision, email me!
Posted by: hejira | Jun 8, 2005 2:43:09 PM
Dude, there are so many wonderful, charming, old homes (true beauties) and even more wonderful warm people down here in Columbia. Come be my neighbor. Casey would so be Haley's best friend.
For real.
To answer your q's:
how did you decide to relocate?
-Took us a long time to get to the final decision, but basically, Monkey got a big promotion, which made moving to company hq the logical next step.
what was the process like?
-Once I put in my notice at work, it all blew out at an incredible rate of speed. We were down here the following week and got an apt. We still have the house to sell (my sis is doing a courtesy rental of it right now, which rocks). I think your housing market is red hot, so you should be able to sell your space quickly and have lots of $$ to buy the ideal charmer down here.
what resources do you recommend?
-hmm, I winged it. I have no help here, I'm afraid.
what was the most challenging part of relocating?
-Still having loose ends that need tying. Also, missing my family and friends. But I'm working on recruting everyone to move down this way... ;)
the most rewarding?
-Quality of living has gone up tenfold for Monkey and me.
anything else?
-Yeah. Come on down. If you want to just visit before you decide,we have a spare room. =)
Posted by: Giao | Jun 8, 2005 7:46:08 PM
Oh, mipmup, I so hear you on this one.
I have a love-hate relationship with L.A. I hate it for just those reasons that you mentioned (esp. the overcrowding) -- but then again, I've lived here my entire life, and it would take so much for me to move.
My husband and I ocassionally check out more distant locales, but it's hard b/c both sets of parents live out here.....A couple of years ago my brother escaped to Colorado -- and he's loving every bit of it. Boulder and Denver are both really fun cities.
Good luck with your decision -- and I'm going to tag along and watch this post (and its comments) as I find it so interesting! :)
Posted by: Leslie | Jun 9, 2005 10:59:57 AM
the grass has indeed been greener for me. really. i have not been more happy about where i am now. but here are the answers to your questions:
how did you decide to relocate?
we decided to move because any of the states we lived in before were not conscious choices. mike was military so we moved where that took us. so when he got out last year, we decided that we wanted to live somewhere we pick, and that we would enjoy.
what was the process like?
it was a little tricky - i had to find a job before we could move. so searching for the job long distance was a little tough but a little bit of persistence and a whole lot of luck helped. we read about seattle, talked to folks about it - we never got to visit it - but we knew. mike had been all over the place before we had met except for the northwest.
what resources do you recommend?
look at the best cities list - think about what you want from moving to some of those cities, narrow them down - then when you have your mind set on a couple of them, do some research - go to the city web sites, or find relocating books.
what was the most challenging part of relocating?
packing, unpacking and finally trying to feel like you are "at home" in the community and finding friends.
the most rewarding?
a new place with so many new adventures - new memories to make.
Posted by: stef | Jun 9, 2005 4:10:01 PM
I just moved to Orange County, although not by choice. I absolutely hear you on the vapiness of people around here. It is hard to find REAL people. We moved down here from Seattle because of hubby's job promotion, so of course, money is always a factor to look at. And do visit where you're thinking of moving to, both on the weekend and during the week. See what traffic is like, etc.
I highly recommend Ballard, Washington, on the North side of Seattle. It has community, but is also within proximity of the great downtown Seattle. Good luck!
Posted by: Kathy | Jun 12, 2005 3:52:28 PM
