In March my baby brother moved back here to our City that was once home to him too. He and his wife had moved to Dallas but he did plan to move back to Louisiana when he retired in less than five years. At the beginning of the New Year though his boss asked him if he would like to move back to Lafayette now and work from home....and of course he jumped right on that offer. So now I have two brothers back here and one still far away in Oregon. My Nephew also recently moved back to Louisiana only a couple of hours from Lafayette. He and his wife are expecting their first child, a son, later this month. Since this will be my sister's second grandchild I expect she will be heading this way more often too. They say "Home is where your Heart is" ....looks like more of my family is finding their hearts and homes here in Louisiana once again.
We're all scattered and always will be....We all started out in Pittsburgh but really nobody I'm my family there anymore... My mom was the last to leave after my dad died and she moved in with my baby sister in NJ. It will be 2 years tomorrow that she died. My sister and one niece has in laws still in Pittsburgh though. I'll never see the day that all of us are in even the same state.
My wife's family would never live in the same state as us, because of the difference in lifestyles and that they absolutely hate snow and here in Florida...…...humidity. Again, due to the difference in lifestyle and personalities, between my brother, his wife and their family, we never see them again, unless for our funerals. After years upon years of not seeing my brother and one sister (all "half" related), both, with their spouses, came to our wedding and reception. We have never met my nieces and nephews, on my side of the family and probably never will. Just doesn't bother us and, obviously, doesn't bother them. However, when we lived in Colorado, we did fly to Las Vegas and my wife's family who would drive in from So California. Perhaps that will happen again, after we move.
People in my family usually moved because of jobs not lifestyle or weather. Then once they were there, guess they liked it and stayed.
Growing up in the UP, I loved it and never imagined that I would one day move. In fact, I can remember getting angry when some of my cousins would talk about how they couldn't wait to move. However, I found that there wasn't anything to do for work that I could imagine wanting to spend the rest of my life doing. On one of several trips to California, I found a job and never moved back to the UP again.
Originally, my wife was making plans on leaving So Calif. and moving to Laughlin, NV. Nobody in the family knew this, because she didn't want to create a family problem about her moving away from her family. Then, after I met her, I discussed with her about moving to Colorado after we got married. She totally went for it. Didn't have to convince her at all to move there. I had been in Colorado (The Front Range) before and really, really liked it. With no job "in hand" to go to, we headed for Colorado. Wife got a good job almost immediately, but it took me a year. After 5 1/2 years, we sold the house and headed for N. Carolina. A big draw there was Lake Norman, but, after living there for a year, wife was laid off. Didn't like Lake Norman or North Carolina after all. Next, Florida. No job, but she got a temp very fast. By this time, I was getting EUI for being out of work for more than a year. So, for us to move had nothing to do with better paying jobs, but much more wanting to go back to 4-seasons and seeing wildlife.
I know there is no way that all my siblings would move back to Louisiana but it's nice that some family members are. I have a few Nieces and many Nephews still here so at least I know my siblings will be back for visits as long as they can make it. We are all getting up in age though so the traveling is getting less for all of us and will continue as the health problems continue to come, etc. Everyone of my siblings except for one brother who lives in Oregon has stayed living in Southern states though...so they really aren't that far away from me.
One of Brooke's daughters wants us to move to California so she can take care of us in our old age. We really like it here and would prefer to stay but it is getting harder and harder to take care of these 25 acres. I once had hiking trails crisscrossing the property and around the lake but they are overgrown now. I think we'll probably make the move In a year or two.
There does come a time when we just can't do what we used to do Sheldon. You are wise to recognize this time has been coming for y'all. Moving closer to family as we get older and will need some help is a wonderful plan, especially when family wants you to come closer so they can be of help. I realize that not everyone has that option...but I am happy to hear you and your wife do Sheldon. It's hard making changes sometimes but if you think of it as an adventure and a new season of blessings in your life...it's something you can look forward to instead of mourning about. I pray it all works out and that y'all will find joy in your new promised land.