Poll- living in the same place vs. moving in the future

[ChloeTheGreat]

I am planning to stay in this area for now. We rent now, but hope to buy a home in a few years. It's pretty cheap to live in my area.
However, I may be open to moving if my husband or I got an amazing job offer elsewhere.

 

[Octavia]

I wish there was an "undecided" option. At this point, I'd say we probably won't stay in this area forever, but I don't know exactly how long the interim period will be. We moved for my DH's work, and while he likes his new job, he is torn about whether he should return to the one he left behind (which is an option for him). However, I left a good job to follow him here, then ended up with a great one which I'm not about to give up. But it is only guaranteed for two years. I definitely won't leave before my current contract is up, so we could end up long-distance for a year or so if he really wants to go back, after which I would have to reevaluate my career again. Neither of us love our new city, though we're starting to warm to it, but I never really loved our former city either. It was just more familiar and easier to get around, and much closer to family. So...in the end, it's still a big ball of uncertainty. We could be here until we retire, we could leave in a few months or a few years, who knows? I do plan to retire somewhere warm, though, so neither our old or new cities would work for that!

 

[zoebartlett]

We won't stay in our place long, maybe another year. We're renting and although our rent went up when we renewed the lease last summer, we're expecting it to go up again this summer. I love where we are now, and I don't want to leave, but financially, it doesn't make sense to stay long-term. As much as I'd HATE to do this, we're considering moving back to the condo we own when our tenant's lease is up next winter. It's really small but we'd save so much money living there. I hate moving though. We moved 4 times within a one year period a few years ago, and I'm not looking forward to doing it again in the near future. We are planning on staying in our general area though.

 

[rubybeth]

We will probably stay in our state forever, because a vast majority of our families are here and that's important to us. We're in a small one bedroom apartment for now, would love to have a house and a dog, but we're paying off all of our debt (student loans) before saving for a house. Part of me really, really wants to pay cash for a house, even if it means staying in our apartment for another 5 years.

 

[lyra]

We've been forced into moving twice by bad circumstances, so I'd never want that again, hopefully. We've been at our house for 11 years and that's at least 7 years longer than I'd hoped. We used to move every 4 years. I like moving by choice, it's fun and I like new surroundings. I hope we get to move again by choice, but lately there are "circumstances" looming. Maybe it's better for us to just plan on staying put with our comfortable finances and known issues.

 

[Imdanny]

I could go either way but I voted move. We have a great place in a great neighborhood but the changes in character of the hood have been discouraging. Used to be all artists and now it is all Goldman Sachs. Where I used to have a crazy old pothead hippie neighbor, I have a derivatives trader, his wife and two screaming toddlers. The Maine coast or the Central Coast west will hopefully be my refuge.

Vapidlapid, that sounds like Brooklyn.

Skippy, Enerchi, DF, LOL! You caught me. I don't want to leave Hawaii. Skippy, living in a remote place takes some getting used to but I'm sure you'll love it.

 

[tuffyluvr]

We definitely won't stay in our current place more than a couple years, bit it's hard to say if we will stay in southern California forever. Yes, the weather is amazing (sorry to rub it in winter haters!) and most of our friends/ family are here, but it's sooooo expensive!!! You get very little for your money and I don't know if, realistically, we will even be able to afford to retire here!!! FI's job is here, so we will be here for at least another 25 years. But a lot can happen in 25 years, so we'll see!

 

[Jennifer W]

I think I'll probably spend the rest of my life here, unless something untoward happens. I love the house, I love the grounds it's in, I love the village we live in and it's pretty central for getting to most places in Scotland. I can't imagine moving through choice. I also can't imagine wanting to have a mortgage again - the house is modest and sure we could afford a bigger one now, but I never saw the point of that. It suits us well enough that we'll likely stay here whatever our income level. It's a cute Victorian cottage, full of quirks and (if you believe in 'em) ghosts.
My plan in the long term (and if she wants it of course) is to divide it into two houses so our kid can have half.

Sounds idyllic *sigh*

Do tell about the ghosts

Well, I never saw any, but DH swears he does... A few other people have, and the occasional visitor has been uncomfortable. I like it fine though, possibly because I'm totally insensitive to such things.

 

[Rhea]

I'll have to move at some point in the future. I currently rent a very very space and am not happy here. In the short-term I'd like to stay in the same area. I live in SE London and it's easy to commute to work by cycle and I've learned the local area which has a nice mix of stuff to do unlike my previous city. I do not plan to always be in this area, it's great for my current job, but I won't always be at that job (I hope!). I'm hoping to buy a flat within the next 5-10 years, just not sure where - I quite fancy Bristol. I don't see myself moving countries - it was very hard the first time and I don't wish to do it again - but I could see myself wanting to be closer to my family as my parents get older or my sister has children.

 

[Circe]

I see myself staying in Manhattan for the rest of my life, I think (possibly with sojourns in London or Stockholm - the one because I just love it, the other because, well, husband's homeland, excellent schooling for bebes, etc.). Our current apartment? Probably not: I adore it, but it's too noisy for my husband, and if we have another child or two as we hope, it'll be too small. But, dadgummit, I am determined to stay here for at least another 5 years: I loathe moving.

It does all make me wonder if the American dream of home ownership has reached an expiration date, though: I just can't imagine being able to afford a place big enough for the family I want right out of the gate ... or wanting to keep a place that big once they leave the nest. A conundrum of sorts in the age of the decline of the extended family ....

 

[aviastar]

My FI and I are staying; we own a small 200 year old house we have restored, are restoring, will never quite be finished with, on a few acres just 5 mins from the business we own. The big dreams include an addition, adding the properties (18 acres of flood plane and 30 acres of cornfield/cow pasture) on either side to keep them undeveloped, an orchard, a large garden, etc. We've started the orchard and have started saving for the addition so we are well on our way.

But even without all the big dreams, I wouldn't trade my no-neighbor, mountain sunset views every evening, creeks and stone walls, exposed log walls, crazy electric wiring, 20 mins from a grocery store, cabin for anything in the world.

My evening view

 

[Octavia]

I'll have to move at some point in the future. I currently rent a very very space and am not happy here. In the short-term I'd like to stay in the same area. I live in SE London and it's easy to commute to work by cycle and I've learned the local area which has a nice mix of stuff to do unlike my previous city. I do not plan to always be in this area, it's great for my current job, but I won't always be at that job (I hope!). I'm hoping to buy a flat within the next 5-10 years, just not sure where - I quite fancy Bristol. I don't see myself moving countries - it was very hard the first time and I don't wish to do it again - but I could see myself wanting to be closer to my family as my parents get older or my sister has children.

I LOVE Bristol! I spent some time studying there when I was in college and it is such a great city. Even though it was almost ten years ago, I still get "homesick" for it...I'd go back in a second if I could!

 

[Rhea]

I'll have to move at some point in the future. I currently rent a very very small space and am not happy here. In the short-term I'd like to stay in the same area. I live in SE London and it's easy to commute to work by cycle and I've learned the local area which has a nice mix of stuff to do unlike my previous city. I do not plan to always be in this area, it's great for my current job, but I won't always be at that job (I hope!). I'm hoping to buy a flat within the next 5-10 years, just not sure where - I quite fancy Bristol. I don't see myself moving countries - it was very hard the first time and I don't wish to do it again - but I could see myself wanting to be closer to my family as my parents get older or my sister has children.

I LOVE Bristol! I spent some time studying there when I was in college and it is such a great city. Even though it was almost ten years ago, I still get "homesick" for it...I'd go back in a second if I could!

It's beautiful, isn't it? Right now my job is based in London and as DH's very small family and friends are in Essex we're not looking to move. DH likes Essex and thinks London is too expensive so there's already a bit of contention with our location, but I got sick of a 1.5 hour commute each way for over 4.5 years. I wanted to do my masters at Bristol, but am scared of moving again. I've already done the moving and starting over with no family around and no friends in the area, I'm not planning to do it again right away!

 

[luv2sparkle]

I am not sure. I would have never said we would move to the town we live in. We owe about 60K more on our house right now than it is worth. Not too bad considering most people we know are way more upside down. I love our house and the area is beautiful right up against the mountains but I just don't know. I would love to live closer to the beach in a area a little less congested. We will probably stay in CA though as I think all of our kids will. But if one of them has kids, and moves to another state, and we like the whole grandparent business, all bets are off.

 

[tuffyluvr]

My FI and I are staying; we own a small 200 year old house we have restored, are restoring, will never quite be finished with, on a few acres just 5 mins from the business we own. The big dreams include an addition, adding the properties (18 acres of flood plane and 30 acres of cornfield/cow pasture) on either side to keep them undeveloped, an orchard, a large garden, etc. We've started the orchard and have started saving for the addition so we are well on our way.

But even without all the big dreams, I wouldn't trade my no-neighbor, mountain sunset views every evening, creeks and stone walls, exposed log walls, crazy electric wiring, 20 mins from a grocery store, cabin for anything in the world.
.

INSANELY JEALOUS!!! how amazing!

 

[aviastar]

Thank you! We're quite in love ourseleves!

 

[50shadesofblack]

I will be moving 5216 miles or 8393 kilometers.

 

[rosetta]

We move in a few months into a friend's flat to house sit. Rent free for 6 months woo hoo! More money for that pesky house deposit.

 

[Amber St. Clare]

If I have my way we will move.

We live in NJ and the winters can be very cold {altho this winter has been bearable} and that bothers my arthritis. My husband's mom is still alive and that could present a problem. I want to move as soon as the mortgage is paid off. I want to go south where it is warmer. I think my husband is sincere when he tells me we'll go, but he has spent his whole life in this city and his mom lives in the same neighborhood we do, so I'm afraid I'll be here longer that I want.

eta to add: Avistar I totally envy your sunset!!! Gorgeous.

 

[manderz]

We;re here for a while, sadly. We each have family tying us here for the time being, and we've bought a house. The market around here is stable, but pretty awful. It takes forever to sell property. Our hose was on the market around 5 years before we bought it. I'd like to move somewhere warmer, and with lower taxes.

 

[perry]

I have a split answer to the question: In another 5-10 years I should have my current house paid off - and it is in a reasonable location to my job.

However, should my current job last of a long time I could see myself moving to a house (or condo) in the area that would be more suitable for access and mobility in my older years (wide halls, no stairs, etc). I do like this area - especially in the winter when there is no pollen.

But; I also, should finances permit (or require due to the job ending), would like to move to an area where I would have much fewer summer pollen allergy problems (western South/North Dakota, Eastern Montana or Wyoming).

One of my dreams in life is to have multiple homes (or condos) in multiple locations and move arround based on the season and events.


Life can be a lot of fun if you make it so,

Perry