[IamJen]

I thought there was a thread about this somewhere, but I'm curious to see how VBers feel about moving vs. staying in the same place. Have you moved around a lot in your life? Was it only in adulthood or in childhood? Does having your own children make a difference? Has your opinion on wandering changed over the years? (etc. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">)<br><br><br><br>
Not counting the dorms at college, my tally's now at 20 residences in 9 cities, 5 states/DC, and 2 countries. (It makes for an interesting resume <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/grin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> )<br><br><br><br>
We moved a lot when I was kid, and I think that's perhaps what got the bug in me. My younger sister (who moved much less) loves travelling as well, but definitely has the desire to find someplace that is her "home".

 

[isowish]

I'm 17, and I've only moved once in my life. I'm not sure that even counts - I moved house to somewhere about 20 minutes walk from where I used to live.<br><br>
So yeah, uh...I like staying in one place. Sure, it would be interesting to move around, but this way it's easier to make friends and keep friendships longer, and I'm settled into school and stuff. My dad moved around a lot when he was younger (his dad was in the RAF, so he moved from Air Base to Air Base) and you can tell he's itching to move again when me and my sister leave home. But I'm more of a homebody. So I think upbringing has a lot to do with it.

 

[asp3]

As a kid we moved around a fair amount. I lived in 8 different residences in 6 different cities in 3 different states by the time I went off to college. I think it was detrimental overall because I was always moving to a different environment. Since I'm an introvert instead of an extrovert it meant I didn't make many connections and those usually took a while to make.<br><br><br><br>
As an adult my focus was to stay in the same area while my kids grew up to give them as stable an upbringing as possible. Although we lived in five different apartments while they were in school we were in three different complexes. Two of them were across the street from each other and the other one was just two miles away. We got places we could afford in the best school district we could afford.<br><br><br><br>
We travelled a fair amount during summer vacations and one son visited China and India while he was 12. We enjoy travelling, but like to have a home base to get back to.<br><br><br><br>
Now that the kids are in college my wife and I were able to move to an area we wouldn't have raised the kids, but where we could afford a house. We'll probably eventually move to the southwest because we're getting tired of the crowding and cost of the San Francisco bay area. We absolutely love the weather, the people, the culture, all of the activities in the area and the overall diversity, but the cost is too high here. We'll probably take the equity we got from fixing up our current place and buy another fixer upper here before we move out of the area.

 

[zoebird]

we move relatively frequently. the house i live in currently is the longest that i've lived anywhere.<br><br><br><br>
my parents are what we jokingly call "locusts." if my dad gets a better job offer, then we move. We follow the food. The first major move (from Los Angeles, CA to Pine Bluff, AR) was due to the need for food. My father worked at a great job teaching in a university setting, but even with my mom working, they were unable to make ends meet and had to file for bankruptcy. things got pretty bad after that too--but then dad got offered a job that was in industry rather than academia which paid more and AR had a far lower cost of living.<br><br><br><br>
After that, things were just minor adjustments. He moved to a new company in the same location, but we moved to another city 45 minutes north of pine bluff. And then we moved here to PA--same company but a transfer. I started college then, and then moved from college to where i am now outside of Philly.<br><br><br><br>
In each place, we moved a number of times--from apartments and into houses and so on. since living in PA, my parents have lived in 4 places--that's in 12 years. that's pretty common for them.<br><br><br><br>
my husband and i are preparing to move now. he grew up in the house that his mom grew up in, and then went to college and grad school (but still considered his parent's house "home") and then moved here. So, this is 'officially' i guess, his first move, and our next move will be his second. But, if you count college and grad school . . .well, there ya go. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[SeaSiren]

I'm a Navy Brat and moved often. I have moved often as an adult as well. Home is where your "stuff" is!

 

[karenlovessnow]

I lived on the same block for 42 years, two different houses. I happen love the stability and sameness of living in one place. I know it's not for everyone. I've been where I am now for 11 years. I can see myself maybe moving one more time when I'm older.

 

[misq17]

I've lived in the same house my whole life (all of 16 years). I don't think I'd adjust well to moving around a lot and having to start over with new surroundings and new friends.

 

[Blue Plastic Straw]

I lived in the same house from birth until I was 21 (with some college dorms intermixed). I've moved around a lot since then, due more to circumstances than desire. I really despise moving, and I can't wait until I finish school and can settle in one place for a while.<br><br><br><br>
I do love travel, but I prefer luggage to a moving truck.

 

[synergy]

I moved three times between the age of 0-17, all places within about 6 kms of each other. When I packed up and left for Calgary 5 years ago, I didn't realise that was going to be the first of 8 moves in 5 years.<br><br><br><br>
I was hoping to stay in this apartment until I either bought a place or moved out of the city. I've been here a whole year, but, alas, the building was sold and I'm being evicted, so move #9 is coming up right away.

 

[GhostUser]

I moved a lot growing up because I was an Air-Force brat. I moved 3 times with my first husband, (cuz of jobs in the golf world. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/inquisitive.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=":stinkeye:"> ) and very stable now in the same place with the second. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/smiley.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="">

 

[VeggieMath]

Only moved once by 19, moved 8 times since college. That doesn't include the dorms. Moved every 6 months or so. I'm tired of moving. I want to be stabe. I want a mortgage, but no deposits. I just am tired of rents going up... You can only bleed a turnip so much... Incomes don't climb as fast as rents....

 

[Elena99]

Once I moved out for University, I lived in dorms, then with parents for the summer. Then in an apartment alone, with parents for the summer, an apartment with a friend, parents in the summer, then finally a room in a house with some other people, and with parents later on.<br><br><br><br>
Then I lived in Florida with my boyfriend for about 4 months, came back, lived at home. A while later, moved with him to Westminster, MD, then moved with him to College Park, MD. Then we went back to Westminster, back to Summerside, PEI, and now finally to Charlottetown, PEI. This is all since 1999.<br><br><br><br>
I am SICK of moving.

 

[Joe]

I have lived basically three places my entire life, and I've lived in Nashville/Brentwood for 23 years, so I've moved very little.<br><br><br><br>
In part because I have a closed-cab small truck, however, I have helped quite a number of people move. These experiences have usually not been particularly happy ones. Most of the people I have helped move could not afford professional movers, and they sort of found out who their friends were--or weren't--on moving day. Most often most people were/are unwilling to help, which of course made the task much harder for those few who were willing.<br><br><br><br>
There's a comedienne* who does this routine about how if a person is over 30 and can't afford a professional mover they are just a "loser" who needs to grow up. I guess that's one way to deal with people who ask you for help in moving.<br><br><br><br>
I have learned a few things about moving in the process, but that's not what this thread is about.<br><br><br><br>
I guess I pretty much dread the prospect of moving, and find it usually an unhappy event for many people.<br><br><br><br>
*ETA: The comedienne is Chelsea Handler. I couldn't think of her name when I wrote the post. Of course, she might have been kidding.

 

[Indian Summer]

I generally dislike moving too, but I've still moved altogether 7 times. 6 times were after my 19th birthday. 3 times were during my studies.<br><br><br><br>
Nowhere I've lived compares to the place I grew up. Ah, how green was my valley ...

 

[evilvegan]

I'm 19, and living where I am is the second most major move so far in my life. When I was in elementary, we moved between 2 towns that are about 7 miles apart, then to kentucky, then back to one of the towns. I now live about 45 minutes from that town, where my mother and brother still live. It is getting to me though. I am ready to move, just way, way too scared.

 

[Tesseract]

Nope, I'm a rootfoot. I've lived in the same metropolitan area my whole 33 years so far, and I lived in the same house from 0-18 years. Over the last 10 years, I've lived in three different apartments, all in the same part of town, and I feel the lack of a place of "my own" keenly. I want to feel connected to the land, and to me that means having a piece of land where I can make long-term plans, like planting a natural landscape and feeling confident I'll be there to watch it mature over the next 20 years, or refurbishing my house to make it more environmentally friendly and feeling confident that a new owner won't just rip it out 5 years from now.<br><br><br><br>
My other issue is that my career kind of ties me to the state where I'm licensed to practice law. While you can get licensed in other states, it is a bit of a hassle, and in some states, you have to take their bar exam, which is a big <b>No Thank You</b> in my book.

 

[Trueveggie14]

I move alot. I move because I don't feel connected to the area. If I found a place that "felt like home" whatever that means .... maybe I'd stay. The only place that has felt anything like this to me is Costa Rica and I have not ruled out moving there for good.<br><br><br><br>
I lived in NY (Freeport then East Islip -both on Long Island about 25 miles apart) for 20 years in 4 different places (only 2 with my parents)<br><br><br><br>
I moved to VA (Waynesboro) for the lower cost of living and to be closer to my sister. I lived there for a year.<br><br><br><br>
Then I moved to California (Seaside .. near Monterey) with my husband. We lived there for 8 months.<br><br><br><br>
Then we moved back to Virginia - this time to Newport News. I lived there in 3 different apartments for 2 years.<br><br><br><br>
Then I separated from my husband and joined the military. I went to boot camp in Cape May, New Jersey , spent some time doing recruiting in Portsmouth, Virginia, then off I went to Electronics school in California.<br><br><br><br>
I lived in Northern California (Petaluma, Alameda and Vallejo) for 4 years and 5 different places.<br><br><br><br>
Once out I moved back to Virginia (Manassas - this time) I lived there for one year and six months.<br><br><br><br>
Then I purchased a home in West Virginia. I've been here for 1 year and six months .... and I can't wait to move.<br><br><br><br>
My house is on the market and I'll be moving to Maryland to be closer to my job.<br><br><br><br>
I do dread the whole moving thing, but I don't feel like I can sit still in any of the places that I have lived for more than 2 years. I am planning on trying to stay at my new place in Maryland (when I finally get to move there) for a good 3 or 4 years, but the only way I think I'll be able to handle that is that I plan on taking lots of exotic trips. Italy, Costa Rica, Australia, etc..<br><br><br><br>
Professional movers cost about $1000 for a semi-local move. (within 60 miles). I have paid for them for 2 of my moves. The other moves I either did all on my own or my job paid for the move. I never expect anyone to help me move out of the kindness of their heart. If I ask someone to help, there will be something in it for them. I think this move coming up I am going to use a POD. They cost about $700 each for dropping it off at your house, pick up and delivery to the new address with up to a month lee-time. You pay an extra $200 for every additional month you keep the POD in storage or at your house. Doesn't sound like a bad deal, if you can fit everything into one POD. 8x8x16

 

[SunnyK]

5th grade to college sophomore:<br><br><br><br>
4 countries (New Zealand, Eqypt, Indonesia, the Netherlands), 4 U.S. states (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Colorado). Generally a year per, with the exceptions of 2 in Ohio and 2 in Arizona (one living on a Native American reservation).<br><br><br><br>
A good or bad thing? On balance, good, but it's a heck of a thing to attempt to measure experience against stability.

 

[Dirty Martini]

Lived in 1 house until I was nearly 18.<br><br><br><br>
In the past 13 years, I have moved residences 18 times, if I'm counting correctly. I don't mind it, but I am getting a little tired of moving every 9 months or so.

 

[MorningCalm]

My parents have lived in the same house for nearly 40 years, and that house happens to be next door to where my mother grew up. My adult life has been an altogether different story, though. I've moved a total of ten times over the past 14 years. Have lived in my current apartment longer than anywhere else (3 1/2 years), but am now hunting for place closer to where my soon-to-be husband is stationed. Not looking forward to the move. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/images/smilies/sad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title=""> I've accumulated way to much "stuff" as a result of staying in one place so long.