| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| NicoleG |
Posted - Mar 19 2006 : 1:19:19 PM
I have been looking at farms and land within a reasonable distance from my family (within 3 hours drive) and I realize that I will probably have to either move farther than that from them or settle on a smaller farm. The prices of land are way too much for me (and boyfriend/will be husband) to afford and will only get higher.
So my question is, how far are you from your family members (parents, in-laws, siblings etc...)? Is this based on you wanting to live in the area or just what you could afford? Was it your first choice or did you have to settle for that land?
Thanks!
Nicole |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| NicoleG |
Posted - Mar 24 2006 : 09:29:31 AM
Thank you all for your posts. They have made me feel much better. I know we won't be buying for another 2-3 years but we have begun the search now so we don't end up in a town we don't enjoy. It looks like it will be 3-5 hours away but, if the land is what we've been looking for, it will be alright! Thanks again!
Nicole |
| JanO |
Posted - Mar 21 2006 : 8:33:39 PM
I've also lived close to family and far away. Currenty it's about 1300 miles between my daughter, grandkids, 1 sister, and other extended family members. It's not easy because we've always been a very close group. But, it was right for us to go where we could not only afford to live our dream, and for a number of reasons we really needed to get some distance between us. All I can tell you is what I told my daughter when we moved... "I didn't raise her to live her life for me, I wouldn't expect it. And I can't be expected to live my life for others." You have to do what's right for you, and your immediate family.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
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| westernhorse51 |
Posted - Mar 21 2006 : 11:19:00 AM
I've been close to family and far away. I think you have to do whats right for you & your family (boyfriend, husband kids). I moved to a place to be near a sister & it was a disaster. I love having family around very much BUT I will go where the land I can afford to buy IS.
she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands Prov.31:13 |
| Horseyrider |
Posted - Mar 21 2006 : 05:49:12 AM
My daughter and her family live about an hour away. That's a blessing. My dad lives 3 1/2 hours away, my daughter's on the left coast, and other family's scattered everywhere; New Jersey, Wisconsin, Texas, North Carolina or who knows where. (One brother has a weird job that necessitates long term travel and being in remote, inaccessible locations.) I miss this family, but there isn't much I can do; we all sort of moved far away. We moved for the job opportunities, and because we wanted a country lifestyle with livestock, my hubby has a bit of a commute. We enquired as to the cost of acreage close to his office, just for the fun of it. Unimproved land was about $800,000 an acre, and this was 23 years ago!
We've made good friends here, and they've become a sort of family of the heart. Not blood, but in some ways perhaps better. You can't choose your family but you CAN choose your friends. That said, I do miss having family around; but I don't know what could be done about it.
"What another would do as well as you, do not do it. What another would have said as well as you, do not say it; written as well, do not write it. Be faithful to that which exists nowhere but in yourself, and there, make yourself indispensable." ---Andre Gide |
| junebug |
Posted - Mar 21 2006 : 04:57:30 AM
Family will always be family no matter where you live, and from a Mom's point of view, it's hard to let them go, but I know they have to make their own life work best for them even if it means moving away. My youngest is moving to West Virginia this summer after college to be a youth pastor near his girlfriends hometown. I will miss him terribly and so will the rest of the family all who live here, but I have to let roots and wings take over. I might even get another daugher in law out of it! Do what is best for you and your little family and good luck!
" Aspire to Inspire before you Expire"
www.herbalfarmstead.blogspot.com
www.countrypleasures.motime.com |
| MichelleTN |
Posted - Mar 20 2006 : 7:17:50 PM
For me it was about being closer to my family, when I turned 19 I moved to the Blue Ridge mountians in VA, LOVED the area but within a few years, I just thought about how short life is and really wanted to be able to spend quality time with my family so moved back to the same town I left to pursue "my" dreams. I have not regretted my decision too much! lol Nothing beats being able to run over and have coffee with my grandmother, if I still lived in VA I would miss all that.
I wish you the best in whatever you decide!
Hugs, Michelle
http://tangledthreadsandknottedyarn.blogspot.com/ |
| therusticcottage |
Posted - Mar 20 2006 : 09:31:29 AM
My parents are both gone now but my brother and sister both are 2000 miles from me. I made the decision to move to WA in 1985. I missed my parents terribly but visited as often as I could. I totally agree with Patti -- you have to do what is best for your immediate family.
http://therusticcottage.etsy.com
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/therusticcottage/
http://rusticcottage.blogspot.com |
| sillyfoulks |
Posted - Mar 20 2006 : 09:25:52 AM
My closest family is 2,000 miles. However, my husband has lots of family close by. The price of land was a contributing factor in our decision to move. A farm in California like ours would have been triple the money we paid.
It has been an adjustment and I miss my family considerably. However, after 2 yrs I still feel it is worth it.
Elizabeth
Not how long, but how well you have lived is the main thing.
http://livingcountrystyle.blogspot.com/ |
| Libbie |
Posted - Mar 20 2006 : 08:04:03 AM
I live around 3-1/2 hours from my parents and grandmother (lucky me to still have some grandparents!), around 13 hours from my sister, and my other grandparents live in Hawaii - so, we're much more likely to see my parents. Since I have their ONLY grandchild, we see them quite a bit . I like living that far away, in that we can still see each other, but we're not quite close enough to get in each other's way, so to speak. My parents are going to move around 5 miles away soon, though, and I have to admit...I'm really excited!!!
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Mar 19 2006 : 10:24:26 PM
We live 13 hours from all of my family..including my oldest three boys...and moved here almost 4 years ago. I havn't regretted it at all but do miss the boys alot. We do see each other a couple times a year and talk on the phone usually weekly. We have some family here in town, but honestly we sort of do most things as a family unit anyhow. I do have my favorite sis in law and her family moving here in a month..already a member of my farmgirl chapter long distance..and I am sure excited that she will be here close!
We really could never have afforded to buy even a house on a tiny lot where we lived before...here it was very affordable..so, yes, that was a big consideration. Also the quality of life. I love the tiny town and the slower pace. This place is where I want to live for the rest of my life.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| happymama58 |
Posted - Mar 19 2006 : 1:51:36 PM
We've been everywhere from a 24-hr drive from our families to living in the same community, and several situations in between. Every situation we've ever experienced has had it's negatives, but each one has had tons of positives.
Personally, I would never buy a home or land based on where my family or in-laws live. We love them all dearly, but our first priority has always been to build our own life as a family. Also, on a very practical level, some of them will move & some will pass away, but you will still be where you are. If you pick a place you can't really afford or that you don't like as well, then some of those folks leave or whatever, and you're stuck in that situation without the benefit you sought. I hope that makese sense.
After reading this, I know it sounds harsh that our priority has been to build our own life as a family. We do tons of things with my family and with my in-laws, but my first priority (and my dh's) is *our* family.
Some people search for happiness; others create it.
http://happymama58.typepad.com/my_weblog/ |
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