Alexey and I (well...mostly me because I like researching this stuff) have been researching places to live. I'd like to live in a safe place where the average home value is close to what it is here that's close to a big city but not too close. I also want to be a lot closer to the East Coast since I'm hoping to one day inherit my grandparent's beach house in Rehoboth. Right now, our pick is Raleigh, NC and the surrounding suburbs. I've been looking on realtor.com at the available houses and there are a ton of really pretty ones for great prices. I know that means that the economy probably isn't the greatest, but- thankfully- with my profession that won't be too much of a problem (hopefully!). I'm also researching crime rates and trying to figure out the best communities. While it would be GREAT to know someone out there that knows the area, city-data.com is good enough for now. The people on their forums are really helpful.
Researching is the easy part, though. But in the back of my mind I'm worried about the actual move. It's not like we have gobs and gobs of friends here, but we do have a couple that will be hard to leave behind and our family lives here. Yeah, I don't get along with my family and, in theory, it should be easy to move away, but I'll never stop wishing it will get better or trying to make it better. Being far away will either allow me to pull away completely or will help our relationship. It's just scary picking up your life and moving it halfway across the country when you know absolutely no one there. Who do I give my spare key to in case I lock myself out? Since we're not the type of people that go out often, how do we make friends? Will we be able to find people out there? Will we regret moving away from our lives here? Will Alexey miss his family who he does get along with?
There are just so many what ifs that are making me want to just give up the idea and stay put, but I really don't think I'd be happy living here. My heart has always pulled me toward the East Coast. A move would be years down the road, so I have plenty of time to grow and the answer will eventually come to us, but I can't help being a planner.
Have any of you ever picked up your life and moved to a place where you didn't know the area or hardly any people?
