[giddyupgoj]

Has there been any of you move back to Michigan after leaving for a number of years?
I/we have been gone for going on 22 years and still miss it very much. My husband and I are looking at moving back after retirment. Are we alone? Did it work? Are you glad you moved back?

[Brent85]

No your not alone. My uncle lived his first 23 years in Michigan. Than moved to Florida to work as a firefighter. In a couple years he's going to retire and move back here. It's very attractive because of the cost of living here is low, and look at all there is to offer.

[Coldjensens]

I lived in Michigan for 24 years, moved to California for 18 years (maybe 19) and then moved back.

Our reasons:

1. family kids need to know grandma and grandpa and aunts and uncles.

2. Better overall moral atmosphere for raising children. Yes there are problems here but nothing like there and the adults here discourage rather than encourage bad behaviors. Liberalism has simply gone too far there.

3. Space. Our kids used to play on weekends in an empty parking lot or we would have to drive in heavy traffic to a park, wait in line to get a parking space and then play in the park or at the beach for a few hours. Now the go fishing in the front yard or roam the woods in the back yard.

4. Outdoor beauty. Soutrhern California is basically a desert and everything is artificial or ugly. Yes the mountains are pretty, but usually obscured by smog. If you drive to the mountains, it is an all day excursion. the beaches are pretty too, but you have to drive there, hunt for parking etc. You can live in sight of water if you are a multi millionaire.

5. Slower paced lifestyle. (including far far less traffic).

6. clean air, water, woods, etc. rivers and lakes actually have water in them.

7. Four seasons. This one is actually my wife's preference. I preferred the weather in CA. I find the weather here tolerable to nice (sometimes intolerable like yesterday). the change is nice and our younger children play outside a lot more here than they did there. Not sure why exactly. Weather changes seem to draw them out.

8. schools. There are some good public schools in CA, but you have to be pretty wealthy to live in those districts. Further the attitude (gotta wear Gucci and drive a BMW) that goes with living in those places is not good for children (or adults for that matter) Most public schools here are comparable to their best.

We miss a lot of things about CA. But overall the move was a good idea, especially since my family is here.

[Bydand]

Well said Coldjensens! I moved away several years ago then came back in 2004. In 2006 my Parents got ill and needed some help for a bit. In June we are headed back and this time there is the understanding that if the parents need help again they will have to move back to Michigan because we are NOT leaving again.