Hello fodorites,

I have a general question? I would like to know has anyone here relocated to another state? If yes, how did everything turn out? Were you happy with your decision? Where did you relocate too? We are considering relocating to another state. I'm just curious to hear from other people who relocated.
Thanks!!

Pam,

Can you please let us fodorites know more about your plans. OK.

Fodorites, in general, can smell a non-travel topic, research question or troll.

Personally, I will help if I believe the post is sincerely travel related. But the generality of the question begs more information, to authenticate your request.

If you are a researcher, journalist or otherwise, please let us know up front.

Gracias

Pam, I know a number of us have been through it and are very willing to help you, but your questions are so broad that it's a little hard to know what your major concerns are.

I've relocated 4 times, from Mass. to western NY to Virginia/DC to Chicago area to NC, and I have to say that transitions are always hard, esp. if you are a family following someone's career around.

Things that make it easier: having a good reason for going there for yourself (not just your partner) like a good job or to be close to family or friends or because you like the new state particularly; supportive family and helpful people in the new state, esp. future employers (be wary of helpful realtors); having someone pay for packers and movers and house-hunting expenses; long enough lead time to scope out the place; moving to a similar sort of community from your old one -- i.e., if you are city person, moving to a new city, or suburb to suburb, or college town to college town.

Things that make it harder: unsupportive family or partner -- who either think you shouldn't move or expect you to be just as excited as he/she is about the new situation; having to pay for the move yourself; and particularly changing types of community as well as geography. One of the very hardest moves for me was moving from an urban area to a suburb much removed from its city. Not only did I have to get used to new regionalisms, etc., but a new way of life, from pedestrian to car and from very diverse and cosmopolitan to much more family- and school-oriented and homogeneous.

There are loads of other things to say about this. But give us some more information -- why would you relocate? Are you changing regions of the country? Do you have some particular worries?

MA Berkshires->Long Beach->Virginia Beach->Baton Rouge->New Orleans->Boston->New Orleans->Boston (no, no typo)->Dallas->Savannah->Tampa. Along the route DH turned down Chicago, Nassau (okay with me), and Bermuda (will never forgive him) Now, what would you like to know? gt;> As you can see, we've pretty much gone where we've been sent.

You become adjusted to most any place you live if you work at it. Well, we may have failed at Baton Rouge. Heck, people move to Buffalo and love it! I've shed tears at most every relocation, and have been skeptical of practically every new city initially, but they all have worked out...except BR. gt;

Now if you are talking relocation at retirement.....that's an entirely different game. What are your circumstances?

Sorry everyone. No I do not have kids, and we don't plan on it. We are in our early 30's and me and hubby are considering moving to a warmer climate. We currently live in Michigan and we are just ready for a change. We are not "attached" to family so that's not an issue, they can come and visit us wherever we move, and it's not a job change. We are just ready for a different environment. I would love to move to Florida or Vegas (not near the strip). I've also considered Hawaii though I hear lots of negatives about Hawaii. We are not sure just considering it. I just wanted to hear from other fodorites if they've relocated to another state and if you were happy with your decision or regretted it later?
Thanks!!

Pam,

Odd how you are from Michigan. I lived there 23 years, before moving to the East coast (NJ).

Everything turned out great. Happy with the decision.

While I was in Michigan, I thought life was good. But once I moved near a metropolitian area, I realized how much Michigan lacked. Nothing bad about the Water Winter Wonderland (remember that?), but I would have a very hard time moving back to Michigan or the like after living in the East.

The people are different and the same. You have your jerks and your very nice ones too. There are many, many more job opportunities out here than in MI. This gives comfort during tough times.

You don't have kids, which I think is the biggest reason NOT to ever move.

The hottest and coldest I've even experienced has not been in MI, but in NJ (-15 and 109F).

On the other hand, I know someone who moved from MI to NH (Dartmouth area). Their experience was much, much different. They hated it as that area was not accepting to anyone. They didn't have the same amount of good stores; the winters were harder; They are away from many things. They had kids, which was a factor too.

Pam, the big real estate companies have relocation coordinators--kind of like the personal shoppers in department stores, if I can compare it. They can provide you with state/city/neighborhood reports as well as advice on what to see in the area and cost of living. coldwellbanker.com even has a home price comparison index that shows you what your home could be worth in another state and vice versa!

My husband and I also are in our early 30s. A few years ago, we decided we needed a change. We almost moved to NYC (from DC), but ended up moving overseas for a few years. Had a great time, and are considering moving back again, but you also find that leaving an area really can make you see its good points.

The big thing is, check out what the job opportunities are like in your field, unless you are independently wealthy. For example, if you're an accountant or teacher or lawyer, you can get a job anywhere. But if you're a grant writer or nuclear engineer, geography may limit you a bit. We've had friends move away from DC to get away from traffic, high-priced housing, etc., only to find it difficult to find a job. You get spoiled in DC, as even now it's pretty easy to find a good job.

Pam:
My husband and I used to live in South Florida and grew to hate the heat, crime, and bugs. We travelled around the US and finally found the place where we wanted to live...Monterey California. It is warm during the summer days, but cools down in the evenings. Winters are, for the most part, mild, although we saw some nasty effects from El Nino several years ago.

How did we make the move? In Florida, we both had good jobs (no kids), families nearby, and a home we loved. But everything else really sucked big time. So, we each decided to take a six month leave of absence from our jobs and go to Monterey during the winter time. It turned out to be one of the wettest winters in 50 years. Major land slides, roads flooded, bridges collapsing, and on and on. What made us move? The community of residents banded together and helped each other. Neighbors helped neighbors. The local city and county governments even helped its citizens. Local restaurants donated food. Churches and schools opened their halls for the homeless. This was something I'd never seen in South Florida, even after having lived through four hurricanes.

The bottom line is, we now live in Monterey and we love it. Whereever you want to go, if you give it a try during the worst time of the year (for Florida, it would be the summer), and if you see some redeeming features, go there.

Good luck.

Pam,

I've never relocated, but my husband and I would like to leave the Chicago suburbs in a couple years. (Mostly because of the weather and for a change of pace).
I just wanted to thank you for your posting. It's exactly the kind of stuff I am interested in reading about. I wish I could find a website dedicated to relocations that people could share their experiences on without some people getting so uptight that relocation talk shouldn't be included here.
This is the best place to find the information you are looking for! I'm looking forward to reading more postings!

Pam,

I relocated from a Chicago suburb to San Antonio for my husband's job. We were back in 6 months. I really missed my family and I felt isolated. It sounds like you won't have to worry about that, though.

Yeah Sally I agree with you. I wish we could find a website dedicated to people relocating and there experiences.
This is such a HUGE decision.

I'm planning on relocating ... this is interesting. I second the call for more postings on the issue of relocating ... that's travel per se. Who could quibble? I'd be very interested in learning about how you decided on a place to move ... and did you first run a test run ... or did you just up and go? What were your issues in deciding? EWhat suggeste dthe need for moving? And what was your fallback in case the new place didn't work out? Thanks, and ciao

Pam-

What sort of job are you and your husband invloved in? That could make a lot of difference in where you are able to set up shop.

Pam,

I've looked through a couple books that I found very interesting. "Places Rated Almanac" and "50 Fabulous Places to Raise A Family." There's also a website www.findyourspot.com. They don't necessarily tell you what it's like to relocate, but they have lots of info on climate, education, jobs, etc. about several places.

Thanks again for all the insight!
I'm in the insurance industry and hubby is in the banking industry.

Try

Does anyone regret there decision to move? We are thinking about relocating. It's a very big gamble.

I've moved twice- Alaska & Phoenix. Never regretted it. Now Virginia is my home outside D.C.
Worked out great!

I'm just putting this topic back up here to get more responses.

I'm trying to decide if my husband and 3 year old should relocate from the Joliet area (an hour outside of Chicago). We have family here, but no one closer than an hour away.
We both want to move, not only for milder winters, but for a change of pace. I'm not much of a city person, although I need lots of stores near me. I actually prefer small towns, as long as it's not more than an hour away from the city.
I would love to hear from people who have relocated to another state, and what their experience was like.
Anyone relocate from a big city to a small town? If things didn't work out, did you move back home?