Do you feel STUCK where you live? (house, find a job)

[jaynetarzana]

I'd love to hear from people who feel stuck where they live due to a job or inability to sell their house etc... How do you handle it? What kinds of things do you do to cope?

[kyle19125]

It's a difficult place to be, and life is far too short to be stuck like that. I know it's easier to get a job elsewhere than dump a house where you owe more than it's worth, but one has to figure we're not going back to the inflated home prices of 2007 anytime soon. You have to decide whether you feel comfortable having this same conversation three years from now....or would you rather start over in a new place and with a new job, on your own terms.

[WannaMove123]

I live in Michigan and I feel stuck here. Due to the economy it is hard to find a job in another state especially since I have not been in the work force long (3 years). Also having a family I can't just wing it in move without securing employment first.

[Count David]

I felt this before I left my hometown when I was 20. I ended up moving to an even crappier place.

I left the crappier place after a windfall.

The next place was MUCH better, but ended up leaving it for a job opportunity after two years. The place with the new job was even better than the previous place, but then I had to move back to the previous (not as good) place, and am still here, and feel a little STUCK here.

Excellent coping mechanism = a social hobby you enjoy.

I play poker at local bars for fun. If it wasn't for that, I don't think I'd be as balanced mentally as I am now, sad as it sounds. It gives me something to look forward to at the end of the week. My wife and I make more-than-decent money, and aren't struggling, but I don't want to live here forever, but it's good enough in the interim (the social hobby makes a huge difference in making here not seem so bad).

The plan: return to my happy place when finances/circumstances allow it. No sense in wallowing in the meantime when I can keep the dream alive.

[DANNYY]

i do not feel stuck in any of the three cities I live in. Austin (School)/Chicago (primary residence)/Houston (primary residence)

I love each and every single one of those three places, entirely different from each other.