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Monday, April 07, 2014 at 1:00 PM
Where do you live?
Here's the scene: We're hanging out at our favorite West Village playground. It's the evening golden hour, and rays of sunshine are slanting through the trees. I'm chatting with two friends, while our kids play with toys in the sandbox. Then Toby comes up to me and says, "Mama! I'm a doctor, are you sick?" And I say, "Oh, yes! I have a bellyache." He holds a little plastic toy thermometer up to my mouth, and I kneel down to play along and I'm basically licking the thing, when suddenly my friend looks over and gasps and says, "Joanna, that is a used tampon applicator!"
Oh my goodness, I can laugh about it now, but at the time I was dying. New York can be so disgusting sometimes!
It made me think: Should we move somewhere a little...less gross? With more grass and space? The astrologist told us we should move to California, after all. Is it time to leave?
But we also love New York–especially on these spring days, when it's so magical. And the idea of moving kind of freaks me out. We've been here for so long! Is it scary to move? Have you ever made a big move? Honestly, this is so dorky, but I was homesick when we moved from the West Village to Battery Park City! And it's 5 minutes away!! And another friend admitted that she was traumatized when she moved two houses down on her block. We're all such creatures of habit. :)
I'm SO curious: Where do you live? Do you like it? Would you recommend it? Where do you want to raise kids? I'd love to hear!! xoxo
P.S. 15 genius tips for living in a small space, how not to look like a tourist, and 9 crazy things about living in NYC.
(Photo by James Nord)
773 comments:
1 – 200 of 773 Newer› Newest»- angharad said...
I've moved between countries before - it's stressful but worth it. You get to experience so much living overseas. If you're going to relocate it's probably easier to do it now before your kids are at school right?
- Mia Stizzo said...
we live in a little old house in a suburb of sacramento. we'll probably never leave here. northern california is pretty awesome. we're 90 minutes from the bay and wine country, and 90 minutes the other way to tahoe. can't beat it.
- Alli said...
We are in the process of moving from Brooklyn to Westchester, and we are so excited/freaked out. Totally normal to fear transition, but I think if you're making the move for the right reasons it will just feel right.
- Meredith said...
I'm so sorry, that sounds horrible. But hysterical in retrospect. I can't imagine a big move, but it would also be an amazing adventure. We live close to my parents now, which is a hugely wonderfully thing with a 15 month old and a 3 year old. Plus, our house and land is amazing. Sometimes I think about living somewhere with a warmer climate and nicer spring than Maine, but... it's SO WONDERFUL here.
- Meg said...
Hahaha, oh my goodness, that's too funny. I've been moving around a lot since I went to college six years ago - from Colorado, to Washington, to Mexico, to Jordan, back to the States, to Australia, (back to the States), and now to Arizona. I love Colorado and Washington best, and I'm trying to let AZ grow on me; but it's hard moving all the time! You have to give yourself so much time to settle into a new place, and that's hard when you've moved away from your already established community! (Also, I live in Phoenix, and I totally DO NOT recommend it. Traffic is awful and it's supposed to be almost a hundred degrees on Wednesday! The winters are lovely though.)
- Christie said...
Ha, ha! I was about to post about my awesome town (ok, here is something I wrote about it http://www.designsponge.com/2013/01/bloomington-indiana-city-guide.html#more-160916), but then I remembered how you often can see underwear and used condoms along the sidewalks after big weekends, like the Little 500. It is a college town after all!
- haylie said...
We live in DC and truly love it. It was really, really hard moving here from Oregon, though (I cried like a baby in the car to the airport, saying Goodbye to everything. Goodbye Powell's! Goodbye Bridge! Goodbye Mount Hood! It still gives me sad achy shivers to think about). And I expect when we leave here it will be really, really hard again. I have this theory that the more we travel the more of our soul we scatter around. It's beautiful and expansive feeling, but also terribly bittersweet.
Wow - that got deep :) I love your blog so much. - 1:06 PM
- Urban Wife said...
How absolutely mortifying and disgusting! Blech.
Anywhere sunny and pleasant, like Cali sounds amazing! Austin is a nice (less expensive) alternative to Cali and it's very similar in climate. The only downside is there's no beach. - 1:06 PM
- SRBratton said...
We live in LA - we are transplants from Boston - and it can be pretty gross here too. The weather is always nice, so when everyone is always outside...well, there is a lot of interesting (disgusting) debris in the park and playgrounds. The weather is great for children, but having to drive everywhere is MADDENING. I really miss good public transportation.
- Amanda Smith said...
I live in Los Angeles, in Venice actually, near Abbott Kinney. I think LA is simply divine just based on the year long amazing weather! There are so many options and wonderful niche neighborhoods. I grew up in Thousand Oaks and South Pasadena, both LA suburbs. I went to college in Northern California and promptly returned to LA thereafter. I've lived downtown and by the beach and I love it all! My 20s were lonely, but it would be that way no matter where I lived. With kids, you get an instant network of friends from kids schools! So pick wisely on that front.. I highly recommend the cali lifestyle :D
- Rachael said...
Hahaha oh gosh!! I would have died too! I think every place has a level of grossness...maybe NY a bit more but the grass is always greener :) I live in Cleveland and though it gets a bad rep, it's actually awesome and experiencing quite a little revival right now. These affordable Midwestern cities are becoming havens for entrepreneurs, foodies, and artists. It's been really fun to experience since I grew up here. And we have lovely Lake Erie - although I definitely have seen a used tampon on the beach, too ;)
- Prescott Perez-Fox said...
I live in Midtown East, but I'm moving in June. Back to my parents' house in NJ, actually, but that's another story. Midtown East is a pretty crummy place to live. Very noisy, very crowded, no place to stroll and relax.
- EmmaMalloy said...
I live in the city of Chicago and I feel the same way you do... I LOVE this city but am so disgusted by it too. I never want to move to the suburbs and actually get anxiety when I drive out to the burbs, but some green space would be nice and kind of just....easy. I take the EL to work everyday and have had some interesting/scary/gross experiences on there. Most recently I got on a packed train, looked down and a homeless man was sleeping on the train with his penis just hanging out. I screeched and ran to the other end of the train. I later noticed someone had put a newspaper over that "area". Sometimes I wish I could just drive to work. We've thought about moving, but our family is here and with a baby on the way, I just don't think we could do it. I'd miss them too much. Maybe one day!
- auste said...
That is SO GROSS... but also a little bit hilarious. Kids are always going to find the grossest thing at the playground to play with, right? We live in Santa Monica, CA and it's pretty much my ideal place - beach, bicycles, farmers markets, parks and sunshine. We'd love to have you out here!
- Anne said...
I lived in CA and then moved to Upstate New York and now I am looking to move again maybe Atlanta? New York City? Back to CA?
- Hannah Meyer said...
At age 18 I moved from Canada to the UK.
Everyone always asked about my accent, and then the remark 'and you live here?'.
Yes, I do live here. Do I love it- sure its home now, Ive been here 7 years and am starting my family. I have always been scared to pack up and move back to Canada, I have no clue what 18 year old me was thinking!
- Joanna Goddard said...
that's exciting, alli! i know so many people who love it there.
- Sarah @ Two Blue Lemons said...
Yes! Two years ago we moved from Providence, RI to the little island of Martha's Vineyard. Totally scary because it's ummm an island and all the year rounders here have know each other for 100s of years. BUT best decision ever. I play the game - if someone told you you HAD to move (for a job, etc.) would you be secretly excited?!
- Jen said...
We live in Mountain View, CA. It is in the Bay Area, so it is quite expensive. Sometimes I daydream about moving somewhere where we can actually afford to own a home *and* have a life. Or own a home *and* fix up that home like the bloggers I know and love. =) BUT. It is so beautiful here. The weather is amazing, the schools are good, we can walk everywhere, the City is only 45 min away, our extended family is here, etc. I could go on and on. I think there are trade-offs wherever you might live and you just have to find the right balance for you and your family!
- Jasmine Irvin said...
I live in New York City for a little while, then moved back to North Carolina - I live in Durham. I miss NYC in certain ways, but here are some aspects that NYC can't hold a candle to: cost of living!! You can have a cute 1940s bungalow style house with plenty of charm and updates and a lovely back yard with a garden and a neighborhood park within walking distance to our kids' school and to cool restaurants and bars and music venues downtown for the same monthly price I paid for a 450sq apartment in NYC. Also, less terrible Winters. Same magnificent Spring.
- Amélia Cherulli said...
My husband is a diplomat, so we've moved four times so far. It's always difficult, specially after the kids. My older daughter is a first grader and she's having trouble reading. That's for me the worst part, watch my kids suffering. But in your case is different, they are smaller. If it has to be, it has to be fast, before school age.
- Michelle said...
Admittedly, have never made a big move; I have lived in Atlanta for all of my 32 years, and love it! The traffic can be horrific, but it's the perfect place to have big city life that is also affordable. My 5 bedroom house and large front yard is only a few minutes north of the city limits and still extremely populated. Also, you get all 4 seasons each year, and can fly direct to (probably) as many places as from NYC. Sold yet? :)
- Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic said...
I live in Cambridge, MA and absolutely love it. I did the big move 10 years ago - it was a little hard to adjust at first but I don't ever regret it :)
- Molly Putnam said...
Lived in NYC for 12 years and had my daughter there. Moved when she was 6 months old to Charlotte, NC to be closer to my husband's family. Big change, and I missed it at first, the energy and my closest friends. But, we have another kid now, and a house,neither a yard, and we are still in a city...a very family friendly city. I love it. I now get nervous when I visit NYC because we have so many people to visit and never enough time.
Our mortgage now is a quarter of what our mortgage was on our one bedroom in NYC, and we have a car. Wait till you drive to the supermarket and put your groceries in the car. The angels sang! I am still amazed! - 1:10 PM
- xina said...
Moving can be so daunting and stressful, but I think, once said and done, it's so refreshing to start over in a clean space and a new city, it can give life a kick-start into something new and wonderful that you never expected. I don't live there currently, but I loved living in San Francisco!! Such a lovely, exciting city. I've also lived in Seattle, if you're looking for something north, with a bit more seasons :) And anyway, you could always try out a city for a few weeks vacation to see what suites your fancy xxxx
- Emily C said...
This summer my partner and I moved from Victoria, BC to Montreal, QC. On top of it being a very long drive, most of the population speaks French here and we only came armed with what we remembered from high school. We are far from family, friends and everything familiar, in a bigger, louder, very foreign-feeling city, and to be honest? The first few months were HARD. I was homesick and lonely and desperately worried that we'd made a mistake. How could we be happy with no ocean? No support network? How would we make friends?
But as time is going by, I'm feeling more at home here. I don't know when it will feel like Montreal is my home and Victoria is where I used to live but as it is right now, I am liking our new community more every day.
I think you have to decide what parts of your live are indispensable and then move around that. For us, we didn't live in the same cities as either of our families (my parents live in Thailand and his in BC and Alberta) anyway, and many of our friends moved around a lot. Our constants were each other. We don't have children yet and we felt like there would only be so long where it would be this easy to move across the country. Although I love my friends, ocean, family and the familiar life we had, I love all the new and the change and the growth that this move has brought. - 1:11 PM
- Humle said...
I live in a small town in Norway. I moved here because of work. Although i imagined being in a bigger city for a few years after studying, i think we'll stay here. It'll be a great place to live once we have kids, and i finally managed to get some friends here (it's really not easy making new friends as an adult!!). My partner works for an aid organization, and since he's gone in long periods at a time it's (especially) important for me to have a network on my own.
- Joanna Goddard said...
auste, we love it there too!!!!! i would eat lunch at huckleberry every day :)
- Jenna Lombardi said...
I lived in or within 45 minutes of my first home as a child for my first 24 years of life. My husband and I moved to Haiti last year for a few months and I was very homesick-- but we weren't in the greatest situation with our job or where we lived. I think if you have something exciting to look forward to, like a great job, a good community, or spending time discovering the hidden gems in the city and really making it your own, it makes all the difference! it's all an adventure! and even though living in Haiti was difficult, I am so thankful for the experience and everything I learned about myself, my husband, and about the country. But there were definitely a lot of tears shed :)
Now we are dying to get to New York or Boston, but it looks like we will be in Atlanta, Georgia for just a little longer. At least we will get a good feel for city life :) - 1:12 PM
- junkle1 said...
I've lived all over the place and a used tampon applicator can fall out of the garbage when being dumped into a truck, or discarded by some gross person in any village, town or city in the world. My point being, there are positives and negatives to every place in the world.
- Vale Cervarich said...
Come to San Francisco! I live in the Haight, in a house not quite big enough, but whatever. Come be my neighbor!! Xxoo
- maddie said...
We just moved our family of four (we have a two and four year old) onto a boat in the San Juan Islands. It was both scary and exhilarating. Honestly, it was the best decision we ever made. I have found that sometimes doing the things that scare you the most often produce the best results. http://www.adventuresofwildrose.wordpress.com
- farnorthcarrie said...
I live in Anchorage, Alaska and would move to the West Village in a New York minute.
- Kelsey said...
I moved from Austin to New Haven for school and then New Haven to Arizona for a job. It is so hard to get out of your routine and I thought I'd never get over leaving Austin but you know what? I L-O-V-E the west. The mountains, the sun, everyone is friendly, the outdoor spaces, so many great roadtrip opportunities and National Parks. I think you should do it!
- maddie said...
We just moved our family of four (we have a two and four year old) onto a boat in the San Juan Islands. It was both scary and exhilarating. Honestly, it was the best decision we ever made. I have found that sometimes doing the things that scare you the most often produce the best results. http://www.adventuresofwildrose.wordpress.com
- Kellie P. said...
I live in Minneapolis with my husband and baby, and even though this winter has been brutal (like record-breaking brutal) I can't imagine moving. Creature of habit for sure!!
- Molly said...
I moved from Washington D.C. to Texas a few years ago. I was definitely homesick for a while, but now I love it. I took lots of pictures of my favorite places before I left and I'd look through them when I was sad, it sounds crazy, but it helped!
- poisonwood said...
I've moved a few times across Canada from Ontario to Halifax in NS and now to Montreal. It can definitely be exciting and adventurous but it is also difficult to re-establish yourself every few years. I am looking forward to moving back home soon and planting some roots so I can stay put for a while.
If it makes you feel any better, I've seen some pretty gross things (like used tampon applicators) in every place i've lived, small cities and big cities. I've always wondered where they even come from, like why aren't' they far away in a bathroom garbage? So strange!
- Jo Schaeffer-Crabb said...
I've been thinking about this topic so much lately. We were basically settled in Utah (I know I know but it was freaking gorgeous and we played outdoors everyday in the beautiful mountains). We lived there for 6 years (the longest we've ever lived anywhere) and then we had twin babies and moved to TX so my husband could go to grad school. We are in Austin and its great and not great. The people are kind and the food is awesome and there are lots of community events all the time. But its hot. And theres bugs. And there aren't nearly as many outdoor things to do, which I guess we sort of became outdoorsy people. And now that grad school is ending and my babies are toddlers and soon to be school age, I wonder where in the world we should go? I know it needs to be beautiful and have tons of outdoorsy things, but thats all I've got. So now do we just tour the country for the right fit? New York reminds me a lot of Paris actually. Very urban and almost european and has so many cool things to see. BUT its also very gross and people are nasty and everyone wheres black and its hard to hold on to the magic.
Start a new chapter. Thats what I say. Even though Austin isn't for us, we have learned so much about our family by moving away from all that had become comfortable. - 1:13 PM
- Noah Wilke said...
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- Heather said...
I moved across the country (from DC to Phoenix), changed my mind a year later and moved to Baltimore and finally settled down in Richmond, VA and it was SO MUCH FUN! I did it sans kids but now I can say I have full confidence I know I'm in the perfect location for my future kids to get the highest education, we have a great quality of living for a reasonable cost (I can afford to be a homeowner at 28!) and I'm still driving distance to all my favorite cities - DC, Charleston and New York.
The longer you wait, the more you'll over analyze and probably talk yourself out of it. I say trust your instinct and do what's best for your family. you figure it out as you go. - 1:14 PM
- Ms. Shypoke said...
My Ex and I picked up and moved from Virginia to San Jose California. Decided and made it happen in a matter of months.
I did end up moving back.. due to a divorce..lol. I couldn't afford our house payment out there by myself!
I have moved to several different homes on my own and with my new husband several time. Moves like an hour away from the city.
I guess it may be more difficult if you are terribly grounded by your family.. but honestly, you will find new friends (not replaced.. but new ones). You will find where to get your clothes cleaned, who to fix your washer.. a new mechanic.. a new favorite restaurant.. all those things exist in other places.
I couldn't bear to be confined by living in a place like NY with all the crush of people. But that's just me. You might be completely out of sorts in the country.. I am ok with small cities to rural.. don't like heavily congested places though. - 1:14 PM
- Emily J. Stivers - Oh Happy Roar said...
I just moved to NYC this year from Louisville, Kentucky! It was scary and stressful to move (e.g., I H-A-T-E packing!), but I have wonderful friends and family who helped me all along the way. I can't imagine doing it without them!
- Divya B said...
I used to live in Bombay, but I moved to Wisconsin to study. The only thing I actually miss is the feeling of sunshine on my face! That being said, I have acclimatized to the cold, so it isn't that bad anymore :)
- Barbara Smith said...
Such a good imagination, Toby! LOL
We made the move from our cute Chicago neighborhood to San Diego this past fall, and while there things and people I miss.... we are SO glad we made the move. We live in a cute historic neighborhood with bungalows and palm trees, and are 5 minutes from the Pacific, Balboa Park, amazing eateries and breweries... and obviously amazing weather.
I would say go for it! You can always move back. I think you would love life in Cali., though... It's just as romantic as NYC but with more possibility.
- jenny said...
I've lived all over (Kansas, Monterey California, Salem Massachusetts, Vermont, Savannah, New Orleans, and now Florida) and while I dont always love where I live right now, there are places I've lived that you couldnt pay me a million dollars to move back to. Like New Orleans. Fun to visit but definitely not a good home for everyone. Mostly I moved as a kid so some changes were more traumatic than others but I think it's fun, overall, to experience different places in life!
- Jessi Genco said...
I grew up in Western New York (south of Buffalo) and have lived in Central Pennsylvania (you don't get much more 'middle of nowhere' that that!). I live in Delaware now, and plan to stay here indefinitely and raise a family here. It sounds so lame, DELAWARE...but it's a really nice place to live. It's not too small or too big, and I live 20 minutes outside of Philly, 2 hours from NYC, 2 hours from Baltimore, a little over 2 hours from DC and a couple hours from the coast in both Maryland and Jersey. It's very convenient and you can have quiet when you want it, but I still have access to great restaurants and entertainment. And I live 15 minutes from Terrain (one of my favorite places in the world!), which is definitely an added bonus!
- Oh Molly said...
I live in Boston, and I think our parks and playgrounds are probably equally as gross.
Every time I've moved since college its been to get closer to work and cut down on my commute so I can actually enjoy my neighborhood. We got so lucky with our current neighborhood (close to the subway, close to the highway, beaches, parks, lots within walking distance) that I can't fathom moving to even another part of Boston or the surrounding cities if it meant it would take even longer to get where I'm going. - 1:16 PM
- Carolyn said...
Okay, wow. That is brutal. I just recently moved. From Chicago (proper) to a suburb right outside of Chicago. Like literally 20 minutes from my old house and maybe 30-45 minutes from "downtown" BUUUT it's still a suburb.
I moved to be closer to my sister and my mom. I moved because I was tired of never having any place to park on my block with a newborn baby in the middle of the polar vortex and having to shovel my car out of 101001 feet of snow daily. I moved because my car kept getting broken into. I moved because the schools stunk. I moved because I was tired of carrying my baby carrier up all those stairs to my apartment! I moved because we lived really close to a train/bus/L stop. And while our neighborhood was great, with picturesque homes and tree lined streets, it wasn't always populated with the most desirable individuals. It was dirty and smelly at times. And like you, I sometimes witnessed really really gross things. (I'll spare you)
I know there is no guarantee wherever you go, but I like the idea of moving to a suburb, having a yard, and an attached garage. Friendly neighbors and of course being walking distance from my sister and her new baby was a huge factor.
- E. and Baby P. said...
i live in oakland and i absolutely love it. i moved here from long island 18 years ago and have absolutely no regrets. if you can move to cali i'd do it.
- Lindsay said...
I live on the Central Coast of California. It is paradise! Wineries, rolling hills, the ocean. And not too far to SF and LA. The people are so friendly and I think they are just so happy! When you look around, you know why.
- Eva Dorrough said...
I live in Seattle, and I adore it. I'm from the Pacific Northwest, but lived in D.C. for about a year after school. I missed Seattle so much that I moved back! It's a perfect mix of city life and outdoor beauty.
- Ash said...
I live in the city now, but I grew up in Northport, on Long Island. It's really a lovely place to raise kids, especially if being by the water appeals to you. And not a terrible commute to Manhattan, either!
- Wendy said...
I've made two big moves, CA to FL and back again years later. Moving is tough, especially with kids. Maybe I make too much of it, because I lived my entire life, to age 21, in the same house. I now live in the foothills of No. California about an hour outside of Sacramento. Its beautiful and quiet, but too remote for me. I think your biggest adjustment could be not being able to walk everywhere (unless you settle in a big city, of course).
- Eileen said...
Oh gross! I live in the teensy, rural Lewisburg WV and absolutely love it. I'm due with our second child and so far love cultivating our family here. I admit I'm enamored with your blog and the idea of family living in a city... But for now this is our gig. We know most everyone and vice versa, which after 12 yrs I still find charming. Everyone is just plain nicer living this way!
- Roopika Malhotra said...
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- Roopika Malhotra said...
Omg! That is terrible! Thank goodness it wasn't something worse (?!) like a syringe! My friend lived in NYC for ages but finally decided it was time to move when someone threw a cigarette butt from a balcony above that landed in her toddler's stroller! And I distinctly remember the day I took my then eight-month-old for her first time in an infant swing downtown, only to notice a pile of human feces in a bush nearby :( :(. Personally, I think you should move to LA! Knowing how much you dislike the cold (like myself), you won't be sorry! (We aren't!).
- pancakesandpoodles said...
I moved from Northern California to Toronto to Providence and we'll probably pick up to go somewhere new in the next year. I've loved living all over the country (and continent)! Sometimes it can be hard -- my heart feels like it's divided all over the place -- but it's also so exciting. For me, it's easy because I don't have children, but I think there's real value in immersing yourself in different cultures. That being said, there are tampon applicators everywhere :p
Though I do have to say, the more I move the more I learn that there really is no place quite like California :)
-- Emma - 1:20 PM
- Anna said...
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- Anna said...
I live in Alaska. My life is sooo different from yours, but I think that is why I love your blog so much. We have the same problems, as mothers and women, but we live completely different lives.
- Taylor K said...
I live in Long Beach, CA. I was born and raised here, then moved away for ten years. I came back four years ago and I absolutely love it. It's so diverse and there are so many fun things to do. It's less stressful and fast paced than LA, and less snotty than Orange County. It's my perfect little pocket.
- Hannah said...
I just moved from Atlanta to Greenville, SC for a job and it was one of the best decisions I ever made! There is really something so satisfying about truly knowing that you can be brave (whatever your portion of brave may be).
Plus, the timing couldn't be better for you guys. Move before your kids start school, that transition is often the one that prevents my friends from moving. - 1:21 PM
- Rachael said...
Funny you should ask! I just moved from Philadelphia to Seattle two months ago (my boyfriend was offered a job out of the blue, and the time-frame from job offer to the move was only 6 weeks...eek!). It was a little scary, but it was mostly exciting, especially because we had been itching for an adventure for a while. I have made a few big moves in my life, and honestly each one seems to get easier. I grew up in PA and lived there through college, after which I moved to Nashville for two years (having never even set foot in Tennessee before), and then spent three years in Boston. Moving to Nashville was definitely terrifying, and after just a couple of days there I told my boyfriend in tears that I thought I was going to have to move back home! Thankfully I stuck it out, because I made some amazing friends in Nashville and it is like a second home to me to this day :)
- Rachael L. Anderson said...
I live in Marietta, a suburn just north of Atlanta. I grew up here, and I love it!
rachaellambanderson.com - 1:21 PM
- Kaitlyn said...
That is absolutely TRAUMITIZING Joanna! I had a similar story happen to me when I was a nanny and the five year old found a "funny looking balloon" aka used condom in a park. I live in Chicago and it's great for a single 20 something but after nannying for many families over the course of school here,I don't think I could raise children living downtown. The most mundane things turn into a task (i.e. running for groceries) and events that should be fun, i.e. visit to a local pool can become nightmarish. Like coralling small kids on a hot El train whilst lugging 14 pool toys, towels, snacks, water wings and god knows what else. I say west coast for sunshine and nature and yards :)
- leslieryann said...
I live in Charleston, SC, and it is seriously the best. I consider myself a bit of a "mover," but I've been here 13 years and can't bring myself to leave. It just gets better and better. Y'all come on down. You'll love it!
- quesoburgesa said...
i live in brooklyn and i absolutely hate it. I'm ready for california myself.
- Jo-Anne Pascua said...
I cannot stay in one place! I love the idea of moving and the thought of staying in one place kinda bums me out. But, I have kids now...so time to settle I guess. I have lived in the Philippines, Los Angeles, New York and now I'm in Vancouver, BC Canada. I love it here...especially with a family. It's a balance between NY and Los Angeles. It has a city atmosphere with great public transportation, yet not as hectic as NY. It is also such a foodie city like NY. I would suggest moving to a city-like feel especially since you've lived in NY for quite sometime. In LA, you will miss the convenience of NY. You will miss just walking down the street to the nearest cafes and restaurants. You will miss the liveliness of the city. You will miss walking! I would say San Francisco would be a great option and balance for what you're looking for. :)
- Erin said...
I live in Napa, CA and absolutely love it! And I have to tell you, there are an awful lot of former New York dwellers (myself included!) who now make their happy home in the wine country regions of Northern California. :)
- Emily Lauren said...
Have you thought about moving to DC? Seriously, I lived there for 5 years and there were tons of young families, playgrounds, people running with their dogs, and so much history and beauty. It often gets overlooked, but I think it's one of the best cities in the country (and you can have a backyard!) :)
- Thalie said...
Hi Joanna!
My husband and I have been dealing with the same issue now.
We currently live in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil, which is the 5th city I´ve lived in Brazil, if you count my hometown. I´ve also lived in the US for a while.
I was really attached to Belo Horizonte, which is where I lived before coming to Rio and I miss it dearly.
Living in a big city like Rio or NY can be very stressful and sometimes gross, like you´ve pointed out.
Of course Rio has its beauty, but I´m so tired of the traffic, the high prices and lack of security. So, we´re seriously considering going back to our hometown next year.
What scares me the most is finding a new job, especially because I have a degree in International Relations and it´s hard to find a job in this area even in large cities. But I´m sure we´ll figure something out.
Moving can be scary, but so fulfilling at the same time.
I hope your family can make the choice that´s better for all of you!
Lots of love all the the way from Brasil! <3 - 1:24 PM
- allthethings said...
I've lived in one city (London, UK) my entire life but have moved all over it - from the centre to its fringes and back again. In the last ten years alone I have moved every year or two! I think it's quite normal here when you are a renter (rents are getting steeper). I love London though and don't ever want to leave it.
- bushesandbeans said...
I live in Houston and I LOVE it. The city has a really unfair, and inaccurate reputation causing a lot of people discount it without giving it a chance, but it's such a great place to live. Like many of the people we know, we moved here from another large city planning to take advantage of the cost of living and economy for a few years, and then move somewhere else. That was 10 years ago! We live in a big house with a big yard and a pool, have tons of great friends from all over the world. My kids are outdoors year round. The food is amazing (we have more restaurants per capita than any city except New York), we have the best shopping in the country (according to Forbes), we're the most diverse city in the country, and we are much more liberal than people think (our mayor is a democrat, and we are the largest city in the country to elect an openly gay mayor). It's probably the last place you would think of, but it's really great.
It would be really cool to do a series about motherhood (or just general lifestyle) around the country similar to the series you did last year. I would love to read that! - 1:25 PM
- Sarah Pedersen said...
I'm from California, my husband is from Denmark, and we live in Newcastle upon Tyne, England! We love it. I traded 1 hr+ driving commutes for 20 minutes by bike; we get 45 vacation days per year (!!!); nationalised health care; and enjoy life here. Yeah, the summer could be a bit better weather wise, but I love having seasons. It's a small city by NYC standards, but Newcastle has everything we need. Just the same, I always have a bit of wanderlust when it comes to thinking about living in another place... :)
- Flávia said...
Hi! I live in Brazil and I just become get out of my mother´s house to a tiny apartment on downtown. In the beggining, it was scary, but now, I can´t believe that I spend so much time living away from the places that I love to go or taking 2 buses to go to work everyday. It´s so nice in here! ps: sorry about my english
- thatmagpie27 said...
I moved from a small town in West Virginia to Raleigh, NC last August. Complete culture shock, but I love it now. It was a HUGE move for me and I was homesick at first, but I definitely love it here now. :)
Keep in mind, there are gross, public tampon users where ever you go. That gives me the willies just to think about. - 1:25 PM
- Marcouiller Trimble said...
I live in Belgium with my husband and twin 5 year old boys (who were born here). We have been in Belgium about 9 years and I am a citazin now. My husband is from Montreal. I love Belgium and our quality of life here is AMAZING and it would be hard to leave but if our family had a chance to move to the San Francisco area I would do it in an instant. That is where I am from, and miss it so. I have also lived in NYC and can not imagine being there with my little dudes (unless I had unlimited funds :)
- heartofjoy said...
I moved from Texas to Indiana last year to marry my (now) husband and be with him through medical school. I had just finished law school so had to take the Indiana Bar rather than the Texas one that I was more prepared for. It was a tough year trying to make some friends of my own, but its gotten so much better! We've found a great group of friends and I sincerely believe that its the people who really make the place. Next year we'll be moving again for residency (goodness only knows where!) and will have to start all over again. I'm dreading it, but I also think it could be great!
- Emily said...
I just relocated our family from DC to Greenville, SC and regret it immensely. Everything about it is the wrong fit for, although I never could have known it before we moved here. I hate my new job, I'm very non religious (people here talk about faith/church/jesus/bible all the time), it's not any warmer than DC (which I was hoping for), I'm in the car just as much as I was in DC even though my overall commute is shorter, cost of living isn't that much better, turns out I hate living in a house, I hate living in a small town. I miss the city and walking to places, and museums and big parks, and ...and....god what did I do?!?!?!
- not a morning girl said...
We live in Northern CA...Healdsburg in Sonoma County. It is crazy awesome. We are natives, but we still say multiple times a week 'I can't believe this is our home.'
- Courtenay Verdun said...
Salt Lake City, but I want out! I'm stuck for the moment however. I recommend it if you want to be in a safe city. As for me, I see myself in the mountains of Europe, maybe Switzerland or France. Henry Miller once said it drove him nuts that people believed they couldn't go where they wanted to. (I believe this comes from a letter written to Anais Nin, published in one of her diaries--either the 3rd or 4th.) So I'll stick with his philosophy and just keep my trajectory toward those European mountainsides. :)
- Sabrina said...
I spent all my 20's and early 30's living mostly in St. Paul and sometimes in Minneapolis. I love both cities so much, (St. Paul is the better though). Once I got married and had kids, I longed for the wide open quiet spaces of the country. So we moved to a small town outside of the Twin Cities. I'm learning to embrace it and for the most part love the small town feel. But I miss all the great restaurants of the Cities!
- Paige said...
We live in Medford, MA (right outside of Boston/Cambridge/Somerville), and we love it. Granted we don't have kids yet, but there are lots of families in the area and in neighboring Arlington. Big moves are scary (I've moved from Texas to LA to Boston), but they're exciting too!
- Sara said...
I've lived all over the country and in Europe. I'm pretty adaptable. I recently moved to Beacon, NY. I love Beacon maybe even more than anywhere else I've lived. It's a train ride into the city. It's beautiful and there are a ton or great restaurants and art galleries. It's being called NoBro for North Brooklyn.
- Amanda said...
In San Carlos south of San Francisco on the Peninsula. Your astrologer thinks you should move to California. I think you've blogged that your sister is out here. Its a great place!
- Wallace said...
I've moved several times. As an adult I've lived in Northern Cali, Colorado, New York City, Los Angeles (for ten years), and now in the Santa Barbara area.
I adore where I am now. The Central Coast is incredibly beautiful, an easy drive to both LA and San Francisco, and a bit more manageable than the bigger cities while still having culture readily available. I'm actually in the mountains above Santa Barbara so we even get a lovely change of weather with the seasons (not anything close to New York, though, of course.)
I am also a creature of habit and moving feels really scary until you get to the point where you just can't stay where you are anymore (kind of how I felt about LA). You'll know when you get to it because the idea of staying will feel more overwhelming than the idea of going. Good luck with your decision! - 1:32 PM
- world the said...
I live in London, a place I've called home for the past 5 years. I moved here when I was 18 (I moved around as a kid, my parents are from Belarus and I went to school in Cyprus).
I would hate to move but as this city is so so so expensive I might be forced to in the next couple of years, but London is where my heart is. - 1:32 PM
- Shannon Buell said...
We live in beautiful Santa Cruz, California and although we have been here for almost 4 years my heart is still in San Francisco, so we make it back for visits as often as we can. Santa Cruz is great too, family friendly vibe, great schools, arts scene, beach bonfires, redwoods and great surf 300 days a year are nothing to complain about.
- Ashley said...
AHHHHH! That's worst that the Liz Lemon "He spit in my mouth" moment! Oh, New York. Of course you know where I think you should come!!
And funniest thing: I just learned a friend is moving from seeing her comment on this thread! :) - 1:32 PM
- Anna said...
Yikes!! I moved about a year ago from Ann Arbor, MI to Boston. I have moved states four times in recent years (for college, a semester abroad, grad school, boyfriend's job) and will likely move states again next year. I figure I might as well explore and live different places while I can. It is interesting to compre different states and communities. The hardest part, at least for me, is making friends. When you move pretty often and don't know anyone when you arrive it can be rough especially the first few months. Still, I am grateful to have been able to have the experience of living in different places.
- Ladamsdesigns said...
We live on the older side of town in Knoxville, TN. The neighborhood is filled with big trees, big lots, and old houses from the 20's on up to a few more recent builds.
As a child, we bounced around due to my parents careers. I vowed that my family would have roots. My husband's family is from around here and I love it. We're big hikers and water people. There are 3 major lakes, rivers, and streams It's not for everyone, but if your a nature nerd like us, it's for you! If we ever moved, it would only be to live on a farm and raise sheep (specific and weird, I know!). Otherwise, I'm never leaving this house. - 1:32 PM
- Allie said...
I usually live in Seattle, but right now I'm living in the Netherlands for a year. But Seattle is fun, Joanna! Beautiful parks for kids to play in, GOOOOOOD food. You should visit!
- Ashlae said...
I moved from small town Ohio to Denver five years ago and love it here. However, my fiancé and I are gearing up for another big move (either cross country or overseas) in a year or two, but the idea of leaving Denver makes my heart ache. We're in the process of buying a little apartment near the heart of downtown (that we'll rent out when we leave) so that we'll always have the option to come back. It makes me a little less hesitant to leave the city I've grown to love so much.
And the tampon thing? Gaaaa-ross. - 1:32 PM
- Natalie Meteoroid said...
Oh man, that is another level of gross! But, you totally have way more antibodies now if that didn't kill you. I live in Vancouver BC and I've weaved my heart tightly into it. I love going away and traveling but it's always so wonderful to come home.
- nbritz said...
My husband and I live in San Luis Obispo, CA, and we pinch ourselves daily that we get to live where we do. No traffic, safe, walkable, bike able, 75 degree weather most days of the year. We are 10 minutes from the beach, 10 minutes from fantastic wine tasting, and close enough to drive to Santa Barbara for a fancy date night. With all of those great qualities aside, one of our favorite things about SLO is how centrally located it is. We are halfway between LA and SF, and about and under two hours to Monterey! It is absolutely perfect and makes it so simple to make the most of living in this incredible state!! But shhhhhhhh.... Don't tell anyone ;)
- leah. said...
i live in philadelphia, and i could definitely go for a move! while i grew up here, and both me and my husband's families live here, i am just over it all. the crime, the grossness, the congestion. i am currently longing for the mid-west, funny right? oh, and anywhere warmish year round after this past winter :)
- rochelleask said...
I used to live in L.A. and my husband and I moved to Delft, Netherlands for his Post Doc. I honestly love it here. I don't miss driving and I use my bike to get everywhere, we live next to a canal and it's a beautiful town. We are moving to Munich in a couple weeks and I'm really sad to be leaving Delft.
- trish said...
wow. this is the stuff of my nightmares!
my husband and i live in long island city, only one stop from grand central on the 7 line, and we LOVE it. it's the perfect little family community - lots of friends for the little ones, good schools and an amazing park on the east river with plenty of space and jungle gyms. and no used tampons (yet)! please come check it out! - 1:34 PM
- pjluce said...
I have lived in Paris, Washington, DC, San Francisco and now Seattle. I've lived in Seattle now for over 10 years and have started my family here and I don't think I'll ever leave! It is the perfect city to raise a family in. It's a great mix between a big city and an outdoorsy haven. You have mountains and water all around you. You can have a house with a decent sized yard in the city and actually afford it. Some people may think it's expensive but coming from somewhere like NYC or SF, it's a deal! And the public schools are great, parks are great, etc...overall you get a city with a great community feel...perfect for families!
- a said...
we live in boulder, co. love it! moved here after college... left for Jackson Hole, WY and western NC and had to return. 300+ days of sunshine, hiking, biking, and beauty all in your backyard... college town with all the perks (music, amazing food, culture, shopping) big city life (Denver) is an easy 30 minutes away and world class skiing, fishing, and scenery is just beyond the foothills... love it!
- Erin Williams said...
I currently live in DC, which is all fine and good, but I'm from the Bay Area (Sonoma County), which was the BEST place to grow up. Close to the City, close to the beach, gorgeous hilly country roads). We lived in a town that was basically designed for kids (and obviously access to enough wine to keep the parents sane). Ahhhh how I miss it.
I've also lived in Los Angeles and I would move back in a heartbeat. Venice, even downtown is perking up these days.
Back in '08 I packed my bags and took Amtrak to Boston from CA to move, sight unseen. It was great fun, but man oh man did the winter hurt. - 1:34 PM
- birddog said...
Let me save you some time...Healdsburg CA! The raddest town. Best food & wine, lots of young families, town square etc. It is a total dream with SF only 70 miles away & the coast 45 min. Your kids would be in heaven. Come check it out!
- Jana Miller @ 333 Days of Hand Lettering said...
I live in Sunny Southern California, a hour south of LA. A short hop to fun laces like San Diego and Palm Springs. Ski slopes within a couple hours.
I'm wearing shorts today :)
Great restaurants close by, amazing schools, beaches beyond compare (Laguna and Newport).
We travel often but I always love coming home!
If I had to live in a city, I would chose San Francisco for sure!
If you are going to move-do it now so your kids can put down roots before they start school. - 1:35 PM
- Briar Rose said...
I think that it is weird to NOT move. I have moved on average every 3 years since I was born. So to hear people get all anxious and scared about moving makes me go "Really? Come on now."
- Emily Dara said...
speaking of almost putting things your mouth... I lived in Croatia for a year, which was fabulous, and was fighting the flu when my Croatian roommate insisted I take my temperature. He hands what I assume is a clean thermometer and I go to put it under my tongue when i see a horrified look flash across his face! Apparently they only take temperatures via the armpit in Croatia... My bf and I live in Brooklyn (crown heights) and adore it, although were constantly contemplating if we'll be here forever.
- Maggie said...
Thank you for this post! It made me laugh, but also made me feel better: I find moving to be extremely anxiety-provoking which makes me feel like such a baby. I completely relate to the feeling of homesickness when you move even five minutes away. But I guess I am not the only one!
I live in Ann Arbor, MI. It doesn't have restaurants like NYC and is a bit flat, but it's wonderful. - 1:37 PM
- Unknown said...
I grew up in Los Angeles and now I live in Cambridge, MA. Never. Looked. Back.
- Cyndi Welch said...
we live in bucks county, pa...a little more than an hour from nyc. we enjoy raising our family and life here. we moved here from the south (nc) and it was a big adjustment (mostly for me). change is hard and so good for you too! Many positives about living in the suburbs (school district, shopping conveniences, yard to play in, people-for the most part!, cost of living). we are still close enough to nyc and philly to enjoy the city too. good luck and know you will make the best decision for you and your precious family!
- Katya said...
I just moved from Southern California to NYC and I really regret it! I miss California so much. NYC is too dirty and cramped for me... I miss the sunsets, the beach, and the slower way of life California offers. I say, make the move to CA!
- raina tinker said...
I lived in NYC for about 5.5 years with my boyfriend turned husband. We hit a point about 4 years ago where we want to be able to save more money, to have kids, to have more personal space... so we moved to Western NY (up by Lake Ontario) and we have never been happier! We bought a house, and have a toddler and another one due any day now. We still visit NYC whenever we get the itch (which is a lot, I think the first year we lived up here we were down there once a month!) but we still feel very connected to NYC and now that we have a lower cost of living, whenever we visit we can afford to do so much more than when we ACTUALLY lived there! Funny how things work out like that!
- SpeakingFondly said...
I live in Vancouver, Canada and did a few big moves as a kid. From Vancouver to Nevis, West Indies at the age of 10 and then the reverse when I was 16. As a young adult now, I'm dying to go somewhere again and explore.
If you're giving it so much thought, perhaps you need to just DO IT so that you never wonder what would have been :) - 1:39 PM
- Liz M C said...
Barf. I'm from New Orleans but live in San Diego. I moved from a city saturated in culture to a pretty bland city.
Move to New Orleans. - 1:40 PM
- Sil said...
NEVER LICK ANYTHING unless you're sure what you're licking!!!
I live in Argentina, still with my parents, but I'm planning to move alone in the near future. - 1:40 PM
- Kelly Rae said...
that's pretty awful! We live in The Woodlands, TX area and it's very pretty. I've never seen anything like that at any playground here. We are about to move to Scotland but I have no idea what that will be like.
- Delicia Pennington said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- Katherine said...
another ex-brooklyner here...now in westchester for 4 months. love it. we go back into the city probably once a month, and will more once it's really nice out again. it's also fun exploring the city from the northern end - we finally made it to the bronx zoo and arthur ave, and can't wait to do the botanical garden, cloisters, and lots more. but there is a lot of great stuff up here and although i miss things about the city, life is EASY. having a car and a driveway to park it in is a-m-a-z-i-n-g.
we have beautiful parks and nature preserves, lots and lots of kid activities (currently doing a toddler art class as well as outdoor soccer w/ my 2yr old). another huge plus - preschool costs WAY less and the application process is sooooo easy compared to the city. and no more fretting about school zones, overcrowding, lotteries, etc. there are tons of young families who recently moved from the city. and i haven't seen any tampon applicators at the playground yet :) - 1:42 PM
- Carrie said...
I live in (metro) Detroit. Eh. It's home. Our family is here. Our friends are here. We wouldn't live anywhere other than Michigan; however, I wish Detroit was a city we could live in. We work in the burbs and commute downtown. It's a great place to hang out but the lack of density, Target, and public services doesn't make it a desirable place to live. I'm a city girl at heart and would love to have the lifestyle you do in New York.
Michigan is great for the lakes and weather. Yes, I'll say weather because I'm not worried about earthquakes, hurricanes or tornadoes. I love the state and things I can do but I'm not recommending Livonia to anyone. - 1:42 PM
- Ashley said...
I live in Philadelphia now, but I moved here in 2011. Before that I lived in London for the 4 years after undergrad. My husband (then boyfriend) is British and was just beginning his PhD, during our time in London we lived in a bunch of different flats, got engaged, had a "secret" wedding, both finished grad school and then decided to jump over to the US! The biggest factor in the decision was missing my family and friends. Though, now 3 years after our move, I have to say I miss our family and friends back in the UK just as much! I know we can't keep moving back and forth forever, and we're pretty settled in Philly now (we bought a house last year!). What I take from all of this is that as soon as you settle somewhere you develop bonds with the place and people, and there will always be things you miss if you move away. BUT as long as you have great friends and family somewhere nearby or willing to travel, anywhere can be the perfect home :)
- Gabrielle Netzer said...
Gah! How horrifying (though I will admit your retelling made me laugh a bit :).
I'm from Saint Louis, but moved to Denver about two years ago to be with my boyfriend. I've never been a huge outdoorsy gal so I was a bit nervous to move (would everyone else only talk about skiing and hiking?), but I have become absolutely smitten with this state. I live in an awesome, super compact city and have the company of the mountains as I walk to work in the mornings. Having a view of Pike's Peak in the distance from my apartment is still as breathtaking to me as when I first arrived here. I don't know that I'll always be in CO, but I am so happy to be able to say I live here now. - 1:42 PM
- skim said...
We live in Pasadena, CA. We call it a slice of the midwest in Los Angeles County. Downtown is a short train ride/drive away and we can still trek out to the Westside and other beaches if we feel the need. We love raising our kids here b/c they get to be kids and not feel the pressure to grow up too fast.
- Bryna said...
Aaack! That will stay with you for awhile, won't it?
I moved from New Mexico to Dallas {10 hours away} and have never regretted it. Best thing ever! Now, I live in Fort Worth, which I have to say is even better than Dallas. Fantastic Restaurants, wonderful art scene, great history/culture and super-friendly. Love it! Also, so affordable to live here...Can't recommend it enough! - 1:43 PM
- AdaPotata said...
Your story has a perfect country living match:
My friends and their Yorkie visited a deserted island in the middle of Lake George (where you can get a permit to camp or dock your boat to explore). When they were ready to leave, my friends were calling the dog and he wouldn't come as usual. They eventually found him licking an abandoned, used tampon hanging from a low branch!!! They were HORRIFIED. As disgusting as we all know it is in NYC, the country apparently has the same nasty garbage. - 1:43 PM
- ale norris said...
ohhh my gosh, that totally made me cringe - ha!
i live in austin, tx and absolutely adore it. although it's getting pretty crowded now, my husband & i love the super laid-back vibe, the AMAZING restaurants and bars, the cleanliness of the city (mostly), we love how it is such an outdoorsy and active city. it's so easy to be healthy here - clearly, we are fans of this place. - 1:44 PM
- Anela said...
SEATTLE! I love love love my city and although family is far away, I think we may never leave. Just look at all those lovely pictures on elephantine!
- Amanda said...
We live in the suburbs of Kansas City. It's a great city and there's so much to do. The school system is pretty good, and I like the Midwestern politeness of everyone. Plus, it's super affordable to live here. However, the summers are too hot and the winters are too cold. And, ohmygod, the wind is terrible. I'd love to live somewhere more temperate.
- Bryna said...
Aaack! That will stay with you for awhile, won't it?
I moved from New Mexico to Dallas {10 hours away} and have never regretted it. Best thing ever! Now, I live in Fort Worth, which I have to say is even better than Dallas. Fantastic Restaurants, wonderful art scene, great history/culture and super-friendly. Love it! Also, so affordable to live here...Can't recommend it enough! - 1:45 PM
- Maywyn Studio said...
I remember the long awaited trip back to the East Coast. We went to the beach to take home save some Atlantice Ocean in a jar. There was a tampoon holder floating in the water. I didn't know then that trash was dumped into the ocean off shore.
I think you and yours might thrive in Austin, Texas. - 1:46 PM
- Madeline Lowry said...
My husband and I just moved to Charlotte, NC from Atlanta in October. It's the first time I've ever lived outside of Atlanta and it's been really scary! Quite and adjustment to make new friends and build our lives here. But I think it's been great for our relationship and for me personally. Plus, Charlotte is such a beautiful city and much more walkable than Atlanta.
- Kat786 said...
I know exactly what you mean about being close by, but homesick at the same time! Last summer, my husband and I moved from the UWS to Long Island City. I couldn't deal with the huge rent increase and thought I was ready for a change of scenery.
We are literally ONE train stop from Manhattan and I feel a million miles away sometimes...the skyline view (while amazing) somehow reminds me of what I might be missing over there. It feels so silly sometimes!! - 1:46 PM
- Erica G said...
I live in Eastern Iowa and have lived somewhere in Iowa pretty much my whole life minus my study abroad semester in Valencia, Spain during college and my student teaching semester in Minneapolis at the end of college. I love Midwestern living, but sometimes (okay, often) I fantasize about living and teaching in Europe. My husband and I don't have any kids, but are planning on starting a family soon, and know our parents would hate us raising our children so far away from them. Still, I think if either my husband or I could ever find an international teaching position for a year or two we would totally jump at the chance. Other than that, I can't see us moving out of Iowa since our entire families live within a 3 hour drive and we like to see them as often as we can and we like our jobs and the city we live in is pretty clean, safe, and friendly.
- JessicaF said...
We moved from New Jersey's NYC suburbs to the suburbs of Chicago a few years ago. We couldn't take the commute into the City, time away from the kids and the traffic to the grocery store on weekends. (Weekends!!!) We got plenty of space and a less-crazy schedule but we really miss our friends and family left behind in NJ. It's really a trade-off. After this winter, we've started talking about another big move. Maybe West? Big moves make you bold.
- MelanieKPrice said...
Oh my goodness. I shuddered and laughed out loud at the same time while reading this. Oh Joanna...you poor dear. I would have been scarred for life.
I am originally from San Diego. I moved to Fresno (don't ask) for college and met my husband who is from the area. We moved back to San Diego for 7 years and lived in an adorable little beach bungalow in an amazing neighborhood. Well, after our daughter was born my husband got an amazing job offer. In Fresno. Ugh! We really though long and hard about moving and made a HUGE pros & cons list of living in Fresno vs. living in San Diego. And believe it or not...Fresno won.
So, when Dorian was 8 weeks old we moved back to Fresno. It was a bittersweet move. San Diego is so beautiful, magical and amazing in so many ways...but oh so expensive. We were able to purchase a home with a pool, be close to his parents who are a HUGE help and be near many friends who have kids. I do not regret the move at all, BUT my husband and I both know that we do not want Fresno to be our end all story.
Our goal is Paso Robles (north of San Luis Obispo). We are saving for another home there and are getting excited about this move. Hopefully in 2-3 more years.
California is amazing and I love being from here and living here. So much beauty and a lot of outdoor activity here. I am def on the 'Move to California Joanna' team for sure!! I think you and Alex would love it. Isn't he a Calfornia native?
Moving is scary but exciting. Another adventure with your best friend and adorable kiddos! And Lucy lives here too!!
Cheers. - 1:49 PM
- krysta lin said...
We moved from Greenpoint, Brooklyn to Southern California 6 years ago. The first year was extremely hard for me because I always thought I was a NYC person and California is on a different RPM.
After that hard first year we bought a home in Long Beach in a amazing neighborhood with like-minded folks and haven't looked back. Finding the right area and group of friends makes everything better.
I still miss NY sometimes but life is much sunnier here in California. Our young daughter is a beach/outdoor person and California is made for that.
You should really consider moving west. I think you would end up liking it.
And if you don't. NYC is always there.
- Katie Krieger said...
I associate you so strongly with New York! It's hard to imagine you living elsewhere.
I live in San Francisco, and I have to say that I go back and forth between absolutely loving it and wanting to leave. It is a beautiful city with great culture, natural beauty, fascinating and friendly people, pretty architecture, and delicious, local food. But we are just starting to think about a family, and I think it could be hard to raise a family here, at least on any kind of income. Many, many families move out of the city when their kids reach school age. There are more dogs here than kids. I think it shares some of the negatives that people talk about New York as having - a little grit, high cost of living, small older homes, not so much green space. I imagine the cultural, art, and fashion scenes would be much better in New York. But the weather is hard to beat, though you would almost certainly miss thunderstorms and warm summer nights...
All that said, I moved here from Texas and felt pretty instantly at home! I felt like I had found "my people" so to speak :) - 1:50 PM
- Iris Fugate said...
My husband and I live in San Diego and honestly, we take advantage of this fabulous place. The weather is perfect about 362 days out of the year, there is amazing food, and you could conceivably snowboard and surf in the same day, maybe within the same stretch of 5 hours or so! That said we do live downtown and it feels so crowded. The plan is to move to north county San Diego to raise our kids but we always fantasize about leaving SoCal for a place like San Francisco or even further up the west coast. That said, I think I would always be homesick for San Diego!
- Shalini said...
I've moved several times in the past 11 years since I got married. From India to Providence,RI to back in India to Dubai, UAE and now to Gurgaon, India. Its great to see and live in new places but now that mt elder daughter has started school, I crave settling down which is why I'm so glad to have done all my cross country and across the world moves. Oh yes..I went to college in kansas! Another move!
- Lauren Huber said...
North Carolina! Gorgeous skies, lovely weather, and the ability to get to the beach or the mountains for a day trip if you need it! My husband and I LOOOOVE it here, and are always trying to convince all our friends to move, too! :]
- Nicole said...
that sounds like the grossest thing ever Joanna! yikes!
we just bought a house and we move in at the end of the month! it's only 2 miles from our apartment now so hopefully it will be an easy transition. but this weekend, I met a girl who lives in our future neighborhood and I got so excited thinking I'd met my first new neighbor friend and so my response when she told me where she lived was "you're kidding! we just bought a house in that same neighborhood! do you love it?" and she immediately replied with a straight faced "I hate it." WOW! luckily the reason she hates it is because her boyfriend lives in a 10th floor condo in midtown Atlanta and this neighborhood is in the suburbs so it has nothing to do with the neighborhood itself. It's funny how people just spit out their opinions though right? - 1:50 PM
- Shalini said...
I've moved several times in the past 11 years since I got married. From India to Providence,RI to back in India to Dubai, UAE and now to Gurgaon, India. Its great to see and live in new places but now that mt elder daughter has started school, I crave settling down which is why I'm so glad to have done all my cross country and across the world moves. Oh yes..I went to college in kansas! Another move!
- Lauren Huber said...
North Carolina!! My hubs and I LOOOOVE it here! Gorgeous skies, wonderful weather, and the ability to drive to the beach or the mountains in a few hours for a day trip if you need it!!! The two of us are always trying to convince all of our friends to move here, too!
- Anna Grace said...
We live in Blacksburg, VA its been rated as the best place to raise a family! We love it, its quiet but is such a great community!
- Courtney Estes said...
We moved to Santa Monica, California from Indiana where I had lived my whole life. It was slightly depressing at first since I was away from friends and family. But almost five years later, I wouldn't change it for the world. You can walk to the beach, drive to the snow capped mountains, see a Hollywood star at the Farmer's Market, or have world class meals at any local restaurant. I say move to Cali, girl. We're waiting!
- Rachel Powell said...
Yes! Move west! I'd never lived anywhere but North Carolina until I got married and my husband and I decided to move to Seattle. It was so scary but we love the west coast and the city is so green and lush- even in the winter! I also feel like I appreciate sunshine so much more that before- every time the sun comes out (which is daily in spring and summer- don't let them fool you!) the whole city is outside and in a good mood. It's magical!
- Evelyn L said...
YOU POOR THING!!!! I would have vomited right there and then! Toby was probably so confused!
I live just outside of Vancouver, BC. My husband and I first lived in Vancouver and moved out of the city when we started having children. It was a tough call, but we wanted to be around family to raise family. We definitely miss it and wander our former streets on weekends, but we're glad we made the choice:) - 1:54 PM
- Michelle Butler said...
After being married all of two months, my husband and I moved from Maryland out to Colorado. We live just outside of Denver now and totally love it. The west is much more laid back, which is much more our style. Colorado is so, so beautiful and the people here just seem to love life and having fun. The thing that's been the hardest is being so far away from family. All of our family lives on the East Coast, and I definitely underestimated how frequently we would be able to fly back to see them. Overall though, we're so glad we moved and really feel like we belong here.
Michelle - 1:54 PM
- Abbey said...
I kind of think that could have happened anywhere! I've seen a used tampon applicator on the side of the road on my runs lately, and I live in suburbs in Kansas! Doesn't get much less like NYC than suburban Kansas.
- heather epstein said...
OMG this story...i can't even. It's one of those that should be on a TV comedy. I was born and raised in NYC lived in Manhattan all my life (looks like I turned out pretty okay lol). Went to college in Reading, PA then moved back to NYC..and then moved to Brooklyn. My fiance and I lived in Clinton Hill for awhile and then moved to Carroll Gardens. Never was I really afraid of moving (well minus to college but thats to be expected). As my fiance and I get ready for our wedding I can't help but think that we one day will have to move out of Brooklyn if we want to buy something (that we can afford). The thought of moving out of Brooklyn scares me. I love BK and I love this neighborhood. Its filled with families and restaurants....*sigh*
fashionistanygirl.com - 1:54 PM
- Chelsea said...
grew up in the suburbs in Michigan then moved to Houston for 4 years after college, now living in Chicago. I live in the Lake View neighborhood in the city which I love. It has tree lined streets, grass, and parks, but still a 15 mins El ride into the loop. I feel like i have the best of both worlds. Although I don't have kids that touch and pick up gross things off the ground. But i am 5 mo pregnant so we will see how my perspective changes.
- Karelys Beltran Davis said...
I love it here.
We live in Central WA so we have most days of awesome sunshine. Yeah, some stuff can be gross. I think that if a tampon makes you want to move then you'll end up wrapping your children in a bubble and it'll be more detrimental to grow up in a perfect place than somewhere (like New York) where they can clearly see that humans are all kinds of different and life can be challenging but rewarding.
I would need a REALLY GOOD REASON (like can't deny it kind reason) to move.
I've moved a lot. It's good to grow roots and learn to see the good in the bad. There's no place that is absolutely bad and there's no place that is absolutely good. - 1:55 PM
- Becca said...
After living in New Haven for 10 years, we are moving back to my hometown of Salt Lake City. There is so much to love about the east coast, but the call of the west is calling us home! You should come west--living near mountains is so unbelievable!
Also, yes, I'm really freaked out about the move and heartbroken to leave the best friends imaginable! I know that it will never be the same! - 1:56 PM
- Jenna Fahey said...
I truly believe that home is where the heart is, and my heart belongs to the people in it. My family and friends are what make my decision of where to live. I'm from Central Wisconsin, lived in Oklahoma for 5 years while doing my schooling and have now lived in Chicago for almost 3 years. I love the idea of moving different places, but we decided that the best is to live near our family and friends and then TRAVEL to all the places we want to, instead of using all our vacation time to visit family. Now our vacations feel like true vacations. :)
- Unknown said...
Ugh about the "thermometer". But that could really happen anywhere, right? I live in Seattle, where I've lived most of my life. It's a wonderful place for kids, in my opinion. I've lived in New York and Maryland, but am very happy to be back in Seattle. Your twin sister lives in California, right? Maybe that's why the astrologist felt you would go there. :-) Moving from NYC to anywhere would be a huge transition. New Yorkers I know here in Seattle seem to wax poetic about NYC even after living here for decades, so maybe Seattle's not such a good plan...:-)
- Chelsea Foy said...
I'm thinking you should DEFINITELY move to California, just sayin'... ;)
When we moved out here from NYC a couple of years ago, I was afraid how we would feel about it. But despite some bouts of nostalgia for the city, it was the best decision we could have made for ourselves. Granted, I'm a California girl originally, but LA has been such a wonderful place for us so far. There's so much creativity and so many cool things to do and see, and the weather has me in a constantly good mood.
When we go back to visit NYC, it's a little strange to be a visitor. But I kind of feel like it will always be one of my "homes." And Ryan and I have talked about how there's no final decision -- who knows where life will take anybody? But I'm definitely grateful for our time out here right now.
And there's a BANGIN' blog communtiy in LA! ;) - 1:56 PM
- Ilona Garner said...
San Francisco. I'm a life-long west coaster, but it can be just as gross, believe me. I was walking my dog the other day and had to avoid piles of *human* feces and a used needle in the park. At least it wasn't a needle that he stuck in your mouth! And I live in a relatively safe/nice part of the city. Days like that I wonder about moving somewhere cleaner too. I think a big move is the ultimate life shake up to prevent years from bleeding into more years.
- DIMH said...
I lived all over but mostly in the DC area. I came down to Chapel Hill, NC for graduate school and absolutely love it. There is so much sky and trees, but also lots of walkability, great weather, inexpensive cost of living and there is always this energy of living in a college town. People are so so nice. Everyone I have met has been incredible. I highly recommend it as a small city. Lots of people love Raleigh too :-)
- Olivia said...
Hmm...no one else (I think) said this, but, I live on Long Island! Born, raised, and currently in Huntington. It's the most family friendly town; I love love love living near the village with all the local shops. We rent a three bedroom house, with a backyard and garage for the same cost as my friends' rent in NYC apts. :)
- Rebeka said...
OHMYGOSH that is sooo funny and soooo gross. Yikes, I would be totally freaked out if that happened too. I live in Seattle, I've been here since 2005 and I like it a lot. Although, I've always seen myself moving to somewhere like NYC or southern California for the warmth and sunshine, because Seattle is so darn rainy most of the year.
- Nikki said...
I've lived in the west village for 12 years and now that we are expecting our second baby, I am dyyyyyying to leave nyc! Your post was another reminder that so many of my mom friends are wanting out! Hoping to move this summer or later in the year!
- Abby said...
My students will pick up anything on the playground. One day one brought me chewed gum and asked what to do with it. Um..stop touching it!!
I live in Indiana, but gosh would I love to move to SoCal. This winter was long and cold, and I'm over it!
Abby - 1:59 PM
- A. Sparkle said...
And that would constitute a freak out moment! Gaw! I've moved around quite a bit over my life. I've spent most of it in Tennessee and then moved to upstate NY.. It was way different than I expected from weather to people's attitudes.. I love an adventure so I don't mind moving especially when it's with someone (i. e. The hubbster). I live in Atlanta now in a condo and I love it. No matter where you move, you will still find people, places, and new things to love about where you live. I say jump in with both feet! :-)
- N.H. said...
I miss living in New York City so much sometimes..though reading about poor Toby thinking the used tampon he found in the playground is a suitable make-believe thermometer and you being the sweet mother playing along without realizing reminds me of one reason I was motivated to move. Living in NYC does mean often contending with unsanitary conditions.
Currently, I live in Des Moines, Iowa, and find it really enjoyable. I do sometimes feel restless and get the urge to find someplace new--especially some place warm, because winter can be terrible here. Des Moines though is a really sweet little city, and even if it may not have the plethora of cultural offerings found in NYC, it really is a place that is burgeoning with culture (the city has gone through a lot of renovations over the past decade to provide a lot more local and noteworthy restaurants, shopping, art venues, and a sculpture park with world class artists). It is a bit quieter here, which does make me miss the reverberations of living in a city like New York and encountering a variety of personalities, but the cost of living here is a bit more reasonable and people are for the most part kind and friendly. - 2:00 PM
- Jessica said...
I've lived in NC all my life and live in Charlotte now. I couldn't imagine leaving the Carolinas! I'm sure it'd be a culture shock to you but I think you'd love it. We have beautiful weather (only a few inches of snow a year that shuts the city down *snow days*!), the mountains and the sea, cheap cost of living, large enough city with a variety of people to keep things interesting, with plenty of great weekend trip destinations nearby (ATL, Charleston, Hilton Head, Richmond, Asheville, Outer Banks)! Everyone is friendly and the food is amazing.
My sister moved to Cambridge after college and she now has a 4 year old and is always talking about moving back! - 2:00 PM
- Meadow said...
Right now we live in Alberta, Canada. TOO COLD. We are trying to move somewhere warmer... like to the southern US. I think you can find grossness anywhere... you just have to figure out your main priorities. We have great jobs here, but the quality of life sucks because of the snow and cold for half the year. If we move, our income will go down.. but we will be happier being able to actually enjoy life. I personally can't imagine living in NYC. We live in a tiny apartment right now (we are saving), but to do that long-term is a no go for me. I also hate crowded cities. Fun to visit... not so fun to live. Give me a decent sized house with a pool and I will be happy as a clam!
- Sarah said...
I live in Denver, CO and am hesitant to even mention all the great things about my home city...we have had such a surge of people move here lately that I don't want the word to get out much more :) BUT I can't help but brag about my beautiful home. Contrary to popular opinon we don't live in frigid temperatures year-round, we have 350+ days of sunshine a year (read: vitamin D and happiness!), the mountains are a mere 1-hour drive away, you can live in city limits (with the big city feel) and still have a large yard and plenty of green space (my house is 10 min from downtown and we have a 7500 sq. ft. lot), we are super active and healthy, our restaurants are flourishing and cutting-edge (I'm a huge foodie), our arts and cultural programs are world-class (the Denver Art Museum, Clyfford Still museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, the Denver Performing Arts Complex, etc.), we are currently developing our mass transit and living in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains takes your breathe away nearly daily. I have never really lived anywhere else and couldn't even imagine it. My husband and I are starting our family (baby #1 due in 3 short months!) and CO is just a perfect fit - fresh air and room to grow. Yes, Denver is still a big city and I think that's easy to forget sometimes, but the good far outweighs the negative. I couldn't imagine raising a family in NYC, but call me biased :)
- Art Farm said...
I grew up in Michigan near Detroit and moved to Chicago about a year after I graduated from college. That move was exciting and exhilarating. But I was in my early 20s and ready to live my adult, big-city life. Now I've been here 13 years and lived in the same apartment for 12. It's funny, I've been wanting some sort of change (3 of my best girlfriends have moved away from Chicago and it's made me pretty sad) and thinking maybe California as well where my husband and I have several friends. My husband really hasn't been interested in leaving Chicago. He loves it here. But after this long, harsh winter he finally started agreeing with me that maybe we should consider moving. You'd think this would make me happy, but it completely freaked me out! So I know where you're coming from Joanna!
- tashatexasranger said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- Meaghan said...
I live in the northern part of the upper eastside (Carnegie Hill) and I love it. It is so much more quiet, clean and neighborhoodish than other parts of the city and you can't beat being 2 blocks away from the park.
- Margaret said...
we live in the mountains of so cal (above palm springs) and we love it. I would never go back to urban (or suburban) living
- Mallory said...
My husband is in the Air Force, so we've moved a lot in the last 5 years. I grew up in Michigan, moved to Colorado for school, then Jon's AF career took us to Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Since moving out of my parents house for college, I haven't lived in one spot for longer than 2 years, and we're moving again in a month - to Germany!
Moving can be so stressful if you let it. I look at it as an adventure though. We've seen lots of different cultures, in our own country, but I can't tell you how excited I am to get to Europe.
All that said, I have a 15 month old little boy, and the older he gets, the more I want to set up roots somewhere and stop all the moving. It won't happen for years - my husband is a pilot so he has a pretty long commitment, but the funny thing, Joanna, is that for whatever reason, I've been so drawn to California lately. I've dreamt about it, I think about it constantly, I'm following anyone on Instagram who posts pictures of that California coastline... but the funny part? My birthday is the same as yours. Maybe it really is something in the starts pulling me there! - 2:07 PM
- The Waggles said...
I currently live in NYC with a small baby and toddler, around the ages of Toby and Anton, and we are in the process of moving! We are moving some place with a much lower cost of living. I am looking forward to more space and a yard, a more low key way of life. But I will miss the great parks in the City, the restaurants, and most of all the possibility of just about anything you can dream up.
It was clean sand day this weekend in Riverside by the way, so hopefully those sandboxes are much cleaner today.
I have also moved a bunch of times as an adult, but never moved as a child. It is exciting to move to a new place and meet new friends and have new adventures and places to explore. It is also sad to leave good friends behind, but there are ways to stay close. - 2:08 PM
- Nina said...
I grew up in eastern NC and moved when I was 11. Since then, I have lived in the Mississippi delta; Savannah, GA; Florida; Nashville, TN; Utah; Austin, TX; and now Fort Worth, TX. North Carolina was a great place to grow up. I don't care to move back to NC, but I think you'd like it there. I didn't like MS or FL. Savannah, GA is a neat place. You should at least visit there sometime. I also loved Nashville. I've been in TX for 9 years and would be happy to stay in TX for the rest of my life. You should visit Austin sometime if you haven't before.
- Jennifer said...
I've done a few big moves in my life. I grew up outside Chicago and two weeks after college graduation, I moved to Washington, DC. I LOVED it. I had the best time there and think that area might actually be a nice place to retire...
After meeting & marrying my husband, we moved back to his home state, PA. We lived outside of Philly for about 10 years. And then I had enough (I don't think it's the friendliest place). I had a one-year old and was pregnant with #2 and wanted nothing more than to come back home, to the Midwest, to raise my kids. Luckily my husband found a job outside Chicago and we've been here now for almost 4 years (and now have three kids).
I so missed the open, warm friendly vibe of Midwesterners, so I am happy to be back. Will I stay here forever? Probably not (always had a bit of wanderlust), but to raise my kids, there's nowhere else I'd rather be.
Is it scary to move? Sometimes. But when I was consumed with worry about it the first time (all alone, moving away from home), a friend's mother said the wisest thing to me and snapped me out of the worry: "You can always move back." Duh! So true! Life is too short not to try to new things and enjoy the adventure. If it's not enjoyable, you can always change it.
Finally, one last thing: we got about 3x the size of the home we had outside Philly because things are MUCH more affordable out here. That's no small thing for a family of 5.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do! - 2:09 PM
- Kaitlin Wainwright said...
I love city living. We live in an interurban part of Toronto and my dog found a silicone dildo on the pathway this morning. At the end of the day, you'll raise a kid who has better street smarts, who knows to watch for things that seem off and the difference between awkward and inappropriate, slight though it may be. You'll have a life experience full of diversity and with so many interesting stories to tell. That's worth a lot more than green grasses and a white picket fence, if you ask me.
- fleurishes said...
I live in Berkeley and love it. It has way better weather than San Francisco, but it is still not too hot. There are tons of kids here. In fact, on the next block there are 40 kids under the age of 5. The parents tend to be smart, fun and engaging. My daughter spends hours outside everyday. You can navigate the entire city via special bicycle boulevards. People have chickens and bees. The campanile on the UC Berkeley campus still uses real bells, and they play for an hour on Sundays.
It is expensive to live here, but not more than New York. Berkeley Bowl is crazy on the weekend. - 2:09 PM
- Kiley Kate said...
I currently live in Chicago and the gross factor is definitely there on the EL and in some neighborhoods. I like living my 20-something life here with my boyfriend, but I think once I have kids I'd like to move back to Columbus Ohio. I would be closer to my family and I could afford a place with good schools and a green space for them to be.
- Maggie Haggerty said...
I've seen a few comment from some (apparent) neighbors! Come to Cambridge, MA for a long weekend to test it out. It's intellectually nurturing, community-oriented, and CLEAN! Not too far from NYC and just imagine vacationing on the Cape with the family! At least, those are the reasons I love it.
- Katerina said...
I live in Rochester, NY.
I don't recommend it for culture or weather, though the burbs are pretty good for raising kids.
I love Toronto. If I had to pick the North Eastern part of N. America, that would probably be my first choice.
If you want clean- San Diego/ La Jolla. LA can be quite disgusting in parts too. - 2:11 PM
- Caitlin Meggs said...
Right now I live in Ottawa, Canada. We have had the longest winter of all time - there is still lots of snow on the groun as of today! When I moved here in September for school I was so glad to leave my hometown of Vancouver for a while. But now I am longing to be back by the ocean, and all my loved ones are telling me how beautiful the cherry blossoms are. Sometimes a place where you have spent a lot of time become claustrophobic, and you need some distance or perspective from it. I needed that with Vancouver but I am now glad to be going back to for the summer- mostly to spend time with those I love!
- Shannon said...
Totally get it. We're in the same boat since we live in downtown LA and we love things about being in the city (http://pickleandpepper.blogspot.com/2014/04/city-mouse-or-country-mouse.html) but now with our 1 year old we're feeling that there may be a better place for us. We're thinking about moving 1.5 hours north to a town called Ojai. I get so anxious when i think about really moving (there is so much I'll miss, especially our friends!) but I also am craving having a larger living space and an outdoor area all our own and easy access to great public schools and such. Change is never easy but our family has changed now that we're parents so maybe it's time for us all to adjust.
And in terms of California definitely consider it. It's pretty great here. And i don't know how you guys deal with having little kids in the winter. We go outside all the time it's hard to imagine not having that as an easy option. - 2:16 PM
- Cate Kennedy said...
Well, depending on where you live in Atlanta, the city can be surprisingly walkable (living near the beltline would be perfect). No matter where you live, the weather is good, and the amount of green is enviable. I've lived here for many years, and I have to admit, it took me a while to figure out the right area for me. Now that I've found it though... I don't want to leave.
- domonique matthews said...
OMG! that is a crazy story! All signs are pointing for you to move to CA. The SF peninsula is waiting for you. We love our home (and weather) in Menlo Park. You can see it on Kid and Coe. I am having a big love affair with my garden these days.
- Trish said...
I don't think your homesickness is dorky at all! I've lived in 5 houses within a 4 square mile block and was homesick for all of them (some more than others).
- Jaclyn Pacheco said...
My husband and I live in sleepy little Rhode Island but love to travel. We like the quiet homelife balanced with spurts of excitement.
Funny enough, we were just in NYC last week (we visit a handful of times every year) and something about this last trip just felt like our love for the city was fading. Usually, we feel restored and inspired when we visit but after this trip, we just felt defeated.
A homeless man got in my face out of nowhere and started screaming obscenities at me, we stopped for coffee at the Everyman and the barista was so consumed by her conversation with a friend that I had to tell her 3 times what I wanted and then she made it wrong, we couldn't get a table for dinner anywhere with less than a 2 hour wait time, the subway was so cramped we almost didn't make it off at our stop (and we are subway riding pros!)....
So, as much as I (used to) like visiting the city, having lived the quiet life, I much prefer it.
I vote for California for you! - 2:20 PM
- Marcy said...
We live in Colorado just outside Denver and LOVE IT! Snow in May is made up for with 60 degree days in January (and 20 here feels like 40, seriously).
We moved here from Alexandria, VA right outside DC and we love the slower pace of life, all the space (we traded up a 623 sq ft condo for a 2400 sq ft house for $2500 more and considerably lower taxes), and options (I don't have to work here but there wouldn't have been a question in VA).
We moved with a 3 month old and it was HARD because we loved living in the DC area and sad to leave our friends. But since we left nearly 3 years ago most of our married with kids friends have also moved (and moved far). - 2:21 PM
- Caitlin said...
I lived in NYC from 2000-2005. After 2001, I was ready to leave. My husband, who was born in New York (though he split his childhood between Brooklyn and Montana) - notsomuch. We missed New York at first, but I don't miss it at all now.
We moved to LA. Our first apartment had to be in walking distance to the grocery store because we were New Yorkers. Then we realized how much more pleasant it is to drive to the grocery store (or more accurately, to drive home). Now we both love LA. We love the weather (magical springtime - lots of flowers? Every day for four months), we love the diversity. We love the cultural offerings - there are great bars and restaurants and museums and music venues and independent bookstores. We actually live in Pasadena, which feels like a smallish town, but we're 15 minutes from downtown LA, and the whole city is our playground. We can drive to the desert or the mountains or the beach with minimal fuss. And we love that we have a house with a yard and a hammock and a neighborhood and one perfect little coffee/breakfast place in walking distance. But I grew up here. - 2:22 PM
- Monica L. Shulman said...
This goes down as one of the worst NY story I've ever read. So sorry you had to experience that!
I feel like I have this conversation every other day with people in NY. Should we move? Do we stay? mostly it's other parents in the city who talk about this non-stop. A random woman with two kids started talking to me about schools on the bus when I was riding with my daughter. I think so many parents have it on their mind that they can't help but talk about it even with complete strangers. We moved from east 20th street to BPC a few years ago and sometimes I STILL feel homesick. Or maybe I'm confusing homesickness with nostalgia. I love it down here but I miss our old place and what it meant for us and sometimes I miss the neighborhood. I love this neighborhood for other reasons (especially with kids and especially when it's warm out) but still we talk about leaving the city for more space, less gross-ness (that's a thing), fewer expenses, schools, etc. I don't know. I love living here and this is our home but at the same time eventually my kids will want/need their own room - I love that they love sharing now but eventually sister and brother will need their own space. My husband and I grew up in the suburbs and neither of us wants to go there now. Plus with work schedules being what they are we feel like we want to be close to home so it doesn't take forever to commute and we can be near school for activities, etc. I keep telling myself we don't have to decide now and it's a good thing bc I change my mind every other day. - 2:22 PM
- Jane Doe said...
Missouri. Kansas. London. Atlanta. ~~ All homes to me over the past 10 years.
I just wrote a guest post today about 'Home' and how we define it. It's different for everyone.
Today, for me, home is where I'm loved and accepted for who I am. And basically wherever my hubby and little boy are.
I can tell you this though, it doesn't matter how far or where you go, you'll always leave a little bit of your heart in all the places you've lived.
V @ Life+1
New Post : Blasphemous Creme Egg Brownie Bites - 2:23 PM
- WWGwyneth Do said...
We live in San Diego. On paper, it's absolutely perfect. Amazing weather, great place to raise kids, the best Mexican food ever. But you know...the grass is always greener. And in this case, it's VERY green. We lived in LA for many years prior to making this move and while the suburbs have made life with two littles very easy and turnkey...it can also be very vanilla. And I am a little more Rocky Road than that. So we're always contemplating a move, too. Even though we live in "paradise".
- J said...
I moved to Los Angeles last February and literally do not know what I was waiting for. California is lovely in every sense of the word. We take day trips up the coast to charming Santa Barbara and Los Olivos, but live in downtown Los Angeles which is full of beautiful lofts and 'best new restaurants'. It's honestly begun to resemble NYC. Love it here. Lots of kids and beauty and a little grit. Come!
- Gail Aguiar said...
I moved to Porto, Portugal six months ago.
Previously: Toronto, northeast PA (2 hrs west of NYC), Vancouver, Scotland, Australia, mountains of Alberta, smalltown BC, Winnipeg, tinytown Saskatchewan, Philippines.
I have never moved for work, only for lifestyle reasons.
Dozens of cities and a bunch of countries later, I can tell you there is grossness and beauty everywhere. It's all about the neighbourhood and lifestyle... one person's paradise is another person's hell.
At my particular stage in life, Porto is perfect and I have zero plans on moving my home base anywhere else. - 2:24 PM
- racherpeg said...
I moved a lot growing up, so I'm very happy staying put now. I live in Nashville and absolutely love it. It's a really great mix of lots of things to do and plenty of green space. There are several weekend trips that are easy to do around the south. Also, it doesn't get too cold and the warm weather lasts much longer (I grew up in Wisconsin)!
- Jessica said...
i've lived in greenpoint, brooklyn since the summer of 2005! but at the end of the month, i'm moving into my boyfriend's cheap and cute one bedroom in ridgewood, queens... at first i was so excited for so many reasons, but now my anxiety has kicked into high gear and i can't even imagine not being in my neighborhood anymore! the bars, restaurants, friends, ahhhh!!! i know i'll be fine eventually, but the thought of having to readjust is scaring the crap out of me. i'm such a creature of habit!
- tiaz2010 said...
My boyfriend and I live in downtown Chicago. We talk about moving...every other day, especially after this terrible winter we've had. We talked about California a lot, but last year, he worked on a start up in San Franciso for about 2 months, and didn't really like it there either.
- Sarah said...
This post made me laugh, yet also squirm!
I saw one other person mention my home, which is Richmond, Virginia! We love it here! It is really sort of a best kept secret of the east coast. There is lovely downtown area with great food and culture and if you are lucky enough you can afford to live in one of the brooklyn-type row houses. It's a small city so it is really easy to get around and yet people are very progressive and forward thinking. xo - 2:24 PM
- Tia said...
My boyfriend and I live in downtown Chicago. We talk about moving...every other day, especially after this terrible winter we've had. We talked about California a lot, but last year, he worked on a start up in San Franciso for about 2 months, and didn't really like it there either.
- Nona Kelsey said...
Park Slope Brooklyn. I've found used condoms more than once on the playground. My kids play in the "yard" with the trash cans. We just bought a house in Larchmont.
- Melissa Blake said...
OMG!!! I'd totally be freaked out if that happened. But I know what you mean about being attached to a place. It's your home and you can't imagine living anywhere else.
I live in the Midwest, and I was born and raised here. Can't even begin to think about leaving any time soon! - 2:29 PM
- Shelley Musleh said...
wowza. that is like my worst nightmare pretty much.
I think I would put hand sanitizer in my mouth!
I'm in downtown plymouth, mi and love love love it. grew up here and definitely never leaving. I see my future being bouncing a baby on my knee up at the lakehouse in the summer, walking into town for ice cream cones and live music, having a a fenced in yard for a giant newfoundland...just some old fashioned suburb goodness.
I feel like your heart might be tugging at you to see if somewhere else is a better fit. Maybe lease your place out for a while and see how CA treats you? - 2:29 PM
- Melissa said...
If you are going to move... totally do it while your kids are young, it gets so much harder on them as they get older. I live in Niagara (Canada) and my parents made the choice to move here from Toronto to raise us as its saver with more green space etc. If I was you, I would move to Cali in an instant. Maybe try the coin flip... see what it lands on and how your stomach reacts... and as for the NYC spring, you could always move before winter hits ;)
- Shelley Musleh said...
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