Is it stupid to move if your life is good where you are? (job, quality of life)
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I have lived in DC for 5 years. I love my apartment and the neighborhood that I live in and it took me three years to find the best spot for me in town. I have a good, secure job at a well respected organization and get to do work I like, I have a great relationship with my boss.
I am considering moving to Chicago (with a job offer). My brother lives there and when I visited him, I fell in love with the city and my gut told me that it was where I belonged. What I have now is good but I know that I don't want to build my roots in DC. There are things that I don't like about it (the career obsessed, Ann Taylor wearing crowd, high cost of living and the transient nature of the place. I am drawn to Chicago because of the down-to-earth vibe of the people, the lower cost of living, and the grander scale of the city (also, the lakes!). Although I think I will miss the beauty of DC compared to the brown-ness of Chicago. I will also add that DC has the highest proportion of women to men in the entire 50 states, so I'm hoping to move somewhere where the odds of meeting a romantic partner are a little more in my favor.
Most of my good friends have moved away at this point and it's either make all new friends here or in Chicago. I am at times incredibly excited about living in Chicago and getting to explore a new place all over again, but then I am overwhelmed with anxiety about leaving what I have here for an unknown new reality and having to establish myself all over again.
So I ask you, would you leave something good for something new and potentially amazing even though there's no guarantee that you'll like it better?
If Chicago truly feels like the place you belong you should move there. Plus your brother is there. Don't underestimate the importance of family. Your life in DC sounds comfortable, but not what you really want. You only live once, go where your gut tells you is home. (I lived the vast majority of my life in a place where I didn't feel like I belonged, but I had a wonderful life so I stayed. I finally made the big move to where I wanted to be and wish I would have done it sooner. I finally feel like I'm home.)
Yes. And, best done when you are younger if you have the inclination to do it. If it turns out you are wrong about Chicago, you could probably go back to DC. Sounds like Chicago is the winner. You can work to like just about any place if you are motivated enough to do that. No place will ever be perfect and you'll miss some aspects of even the worst of places or this has been my experience.
I moved to the Delaware beach area years ago for the quality of life and great place to raise kids. My advice would be do what is going to make you happy. If the job offer is solid and what you want what are you waiting for??
It's a great job but when I decided to move to Chicago, I planned to leave around August so that I would have one more summer here in DC to say goodbye. I guess it's happening faster than I had prepared myself to leave and it's making me have second thoughts.
No, it's not stupid at all. Sometimes, being really settled feels stagnant and stifling, in which case moving on will give you a fresh start and new experiences.
Plus, Chicago is an amazing city. I'd live there in a heartbeat. An added bonus, for you, is having familial support there.
It's best to do major life changes while you can, rather than living with an, "I should have when I had the chance". And, if you find out that it wasn't the best decision, you can always move back.
I actually have the same conflicts....I have an amazing job. I live in a great place. But....really, it seems to me that the town I live in is for married folks. Or young folks.
I wish you the best. I am probably gonna stay planted.
I have lived in DC for 5 years. I love my apartment and the neighborhood that I live in and it took me three years to find the best spot for me in town. I have a good, secure job at a well respected organization and get to do work I like, I have a great relationship with my boss.
I am considering moving to Chicago (with a job offer). My brother lives there and when I visited him, I fell in love with the city and my gut told me that it was where I belonged. What I have now is good but I know that I don't want to build my roots in DC. There are things that I don't like about it (the career obsessed, Ann Taylor wearing crowd, high cost of living and the transient nature of the place. I am drawn to Chicago because of the down-to-earth vibe of the people, the lower cost of living, and the grander scale of the city (also, the lakes!). Although I think I will miss the beauty of DC compared to the brown-ness of Chicago. I will also add that DC has the highest proportion of women to men in the entire 50 states, so I'm hoping to move somewhere where the odds of meeting a romantic partner are a little more in my favor.
Most of my good friends have moved away at this point and it's either make all new friends here or in Chicago. I am at times incredibly excited about living in Chicago and getting to explore a new place all over again, but then I am overwhelmed with anxiety about leaving what I have here for an unknown new reality and having to establish myself all over again.
So I ask you, would you leave something good for something new and potentially amazing even though there's no guarantee that you'll like it better?
Not to sound cliche, but the only guarantees in life are death and taxes. You don't know it Chicago will be better. However, it sounds like you want to live there and it would be a good place for you. I say go for it. If it turns out to be a bust there's nothing that says you can't move back to DC.
Thats the problem i've been suffering from the last few years. I make pretty good money with the company I am with, my job is really low stress with real good benefits and is very stable all things considered. My town is a very safe place, I live in a clean neighborhood with a basic but comfortable and warm townhouse with lots of convienent shopping within walking distance.
Problem is, i'm still in the same town and state i've been born into for the last 32 years, so I have a drive to wanna move and experience more things in a variety of area's vs taking all the crap thats going on in the world and just telling myself "I should be so lucky compared to so many people" and just stay here. Portland has been calling to me since my College days in 2000, but so many people on these boards are so depressing and pitiful sounding about everything in that are it makes me wonder if really is a good idea to give up my "safe and comfortable" living conditions right now and take a chance to be broke, lonely and miserable just because I needed a "change"
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