A sob story from a guy who has everything

Mr. Leary

Mr. Leary

Adventurist
Founding Member
So I've got a wonderful family and a job that suites me well and pays well. My wife and I are working steadily towards our financial, career, and personal goals. Life is good... but... I have to say that living in DFW is feeling out of place. I suppose it always has. When my family moved to Texas, I wasn't happy about it, but I've been here in various places as long as anywhere else in my life at this point. I never thought I'd be raising my family here, and not being able to see mountains and have easy access to outdoor activities and neat places is just not lining up with that checklist that I had in my head about how I want to raise my family.

My wife and I have discussed two options.

1. We stay here where cost of living is cheap. since I can work remotely, my wife could drop back to part time / contract work, and we could live on the road for a few months per year between school and everyone's schedules.

2. We move. Colorado Springs and SLC are in the top spots. I would need to travel more, and some would probably be on my dime, so I could avoid sidelining my career.

Realistically, the best place for my career is right here, and that's really the rub. How to make a move without sidelining my career or being away from my family often again.

I know some of you have or have had similar issues. Thoughts?
 
Uh start hunting!!! I go out to Texas several times a year to work a ranch and take people hog hunting. I'll be out there deer hunting like always in January. Granted dallas is a bit far from the good stuff but road trip!!!


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My wife and I just had a discussion about this subject the other day. However a little different......I work for the government and will most likely retire in 5 years. We are in VA now and planned on calling this home for the long run (till we die) we were tired of relocating so often. We are discussing now downsizing our current home and moving west after retirement. We have lived in Colorado and California and there is so much to do and see on a regular basis. We are talking about maybe Arizona.....I would love to be able camp and explore all the vast West.

I know this does not help your dilemma, but like you have stated there are others out there debating our life choices.....good luck with yours!!!!

Scott

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SFSMedic said:
Uh start hunting!!! I go out to Texas several times a year to work a ranch and take people hog hunting. I'll be out there deer hunting like always in January. Granted dallas is a bit far from the good stuff but road trip!!!


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I used to hunt, but its not much of a family sport with a young child. Ill take a doe or a pig to fill up the freezer, but I mostly "hunt" with a camera or binoculars these days while hiking.

There are beautiful places in texas, but a long drive from here.

We have some local kayaking and mountain biking, and some pretty places 3-4 hours away, but no mountains or large swaths of public land for 6 hours plus, which rules out spontaneous weekend trips, which is what I think would be a really nice alternative to traveling for several weeks, but only during certain tines of year.
 
I've been living in a very nice " for the East " part of America for a very long time on my family's land and it being 16 years so far living above Asheville. Every year I find myself out west exploring, feeling the pull and draw like a favorable addiction, to places unseen by my eyes or visiting wilderness areas I saw when I was but a lad. I too make decent flow here and I am able to save enough each year for a major modification or an off road vehicle upgrade. Although, if I move out west, I don't think I will do as well financially. But yet my heart and mind are drawn daily to America's backyard, in yonder hills afoot too far. It's difficult attempting to choose a new living local based on future income and how much we can save prior to moving, versus spending the flow on a new upgrade and vacation before coming back home and starting all over again.
 
Maxcustody said:
My wife and I just had a discussion about this subject the other day. However a little different......I work for the government and will most likely retire in 5 years. We are in VA now and planned on calling this home for the long run (till we die) we were tired of relocating so often. We are discussing now downsizing our current home and moving west after retirement. We have lived in Colorado and California and there is so much to do and see on a regular basis. We are talking about maybe Arizona.....I would love to be able camp and explore all the vast West.

I know this does not help your dilemma, but like you have stated there are others out there debating our life choices.....good luck with yours!!!!

Scott

Sent from my Roof Top Tent
Click to expand...

I'm in the same boat as you except I've got about 10 years left. We are already planning on AZ at this point but that's not quite set in stone yet.


Brett C.
IronworksTactical.com - owner
 
I fully understand where you're coming from. From the first time I visited Colorado, Wyoming and Montana as a kid I knew I had to be here. Life held up my plans for a while but not in a bad way. It just took me a little longer to realize that. I was in the Marine Corps in my early 20's and living in Yuma, AZ. I felt as though my best years were passing me by and I wanted to be fishing the evening hatches and climbing 14ers and camping and snowboarding and wheeling all the open land.....When my enlistment was over I was offered a great job in Waco, TX.... so I took it. 10 years later I moved my family here to Colorado and we'll never leave.

Some folks will say to just pack up and leave and do it while you're young (you didn't mention your age it may already be too late for that ;))...... and that's fine advice if you can make it work, support your family and put smiles on their faces. But it's hard to do those things without money. Colorado has become expensive to live, rentals are non-existent, housing prices are up especially if you're looking to live in the better school districts. However..... it's sunny almost everyday here, it's an outdoor family paradise, the mountains are spectacular and there is so much to do that unless you need to see the ocean, you never have to leave the state.

All that being said..... Colorado isn't going anywhere. Make your family and career the priority and all the pieces will fall into place. In the end, I loved my time in Arizona and even in Texas. I took full advantage of the desert in Arizona and spent weeks exploring Texas lakes, fishing and mountain biking. Keep working to get to where you want, both financially and geographically.
 
I am stuck in Virginia for the next seven years, and am chomping at the bit viciously to move back to Wisconsin.
 
I've always had the same conundrum being born and raised in PA...but living in NY. Also, having spent 10 days in Colorado Springs las year I could see the attraction as a no brainer. Fortunately for me both states share equal beauty, without an 8 hour ride.

I think I would ride out the current path...save, plan for the future, when the kids get college age make your move. Good, qualified people will always be in the need, so a job will not be à concern. I also realize the job market may be a bit tougher as you age, but experience and work ethic are always good for a résumé. You be young enough to enjoy some good years in your new location.

Good luck
 
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