Do you live near your family?

Chaos_Monkey

We're 250 miles (give or take) from both our families......thankfully! My side are close knit but happily independent, while the inlaws are the exact opposite and want to interfere all the time.

So, in answer to your question - it makes no difference to me and my family, but makes a huge difference (in a good way) to our relationship with my inlaws. I truly couldn't stand them being around all the time, although I know my DH would like to see them a bit more often. I suppose he's used to them being 'in charge'.

Incidentally, DH moved up here and then I moved up a year later....that didn't stop his mum thinking i'd 'taken her little boy away' though!!

Edit: Forgot to say - DH's parents didn't approve or support him at all when he moved up here, but he thinks it's the best thing he's ever done (bar marry me, of course!:rotfl:Come to think of it, I don't think they approved of that decision, either! )

fayhare

I live approx 250 miles from my family and 350 from OH's brother. (his only living family) I have lived at least two hours drive away from my family since I was 18 and like it that way. We aren't very close and would hate it if they just popped round. I visit them once or twice a year and we sometimes meet up for the day in London. I know they would like to see me more but to be honest I don't really want to.

OH last saw his brother two years ago and before that it was five years. But I do know plenty of people who live miles away from their families but see them regularly as they want too.

Dazi

I live approx 250 miles away from my family, moved just over 7 years ago. 7 years ago it was ok, parents were in fairly good health, DD and DS were grown and flown and had their own lives. OH and I met through a chat room and it was easier for me to move up to live with him as he had a young DD who stayed every other week (she was 8 at the time)

Fast forward 7 years, parents are now in poor health and DD has 2 children.

Love my partner and the new life we have made but wish I was there to help my parents and see my grandchildren more.

But saying that, we all keep in touch, ring most days and when we visit we can spend time as we are away from OUR home, so its like a holiday, I don't feel I should be doing the housework etc so can concentrate on being with them.

Apart from his DD my OH has a sister who lives about 15 miles away but we only see her occasionally. I think that once oh's DD is at uni we might move nearer my family.

onlyroz

I moved 200 miles away from my family. My brother did the same. So they upped sticks and moved down to us, and now live a mile away...

Greener_Grass

I live 450 miles away from all my family and good friends. I moved down here to be with my OH and have been here 2 and a half years now. The distance doesn't really bother me anymore, I'm not that close to my family, They don't ever phone me let alone see me so it doesn't matter where i live. I would happily move to the other side of the world from them now as it wouldn't be any different.

Personally I hate the thought of living in the same town as my family. I like the idea of at least an hour between us. My OH feels the same as me so we are quite well suited.

THe only bad thing i would say is my son has virtually nothing to do with any of his family as they all live so far away and he is probably missing out. I do feel disappointed in the lack of contact to see how he is but have become used to it now and it is thier loss.

Sequeena

I live 40 minutes (walking) from my mum so we're quite close... to be honest I would love to live further away.

ailuro2

I live a few doors away from a sibling I no longer talk to...well she stopped talking to me, so it became a one way street.:p

I live 500 miles from DH's sister, who is lovely and it's a real joy to see her and her family when we see each other.

There's another sister about an hour's drive away, same goes for them, we see them every couple of months and stay over, and it's nice to catch up on some real news instead of tittle tattling about day to day stuff.

Sequeena

ailuro2 wrote: »

I live a few doors away from a sibling I no longer talk to...well she stopped talking to me, so it became a one way street.:p

That must be awkward! :eek:

turn3r

We live 2 flights away from our family (a days travelling). We live in Middle East and most of our family live in the UK but my sister and her family live in Asia. Sometimes it is very hard to be away, no on tap babysitters, missing out special times and being far away when people are ill. I found it very hard when I gave birth to my daughter and no one from our families saw her for over a month! However we have lots of people visiting us through the year, Skype is a godsend, and we take trips back to the UK during the year. There are plus and minus points wherever you live and the only thing you need to decide is if the plus points out weigh the minus points! Never stay somewhere out of guilt, you have to do what is right for yourself.
xx

tiernsee

I moved about 300 miles from my parents for work. When they retired they followed me and now live about 5 miles away. We see each other at least once a week and they have got to know their grandchildren much better than if they had lived so far away. The only issue we have is my sister, who lives about 100 miles away and doesn't like the fact that my parents and I are so close - we get snipey comments from her all the time and she tries to create discord between us. Fortunately my parents and I talk quite openly so she hasn't managed to, yet.....

One of my best friends has just moved about 300 miles away for her husband's work and to an area where they have no family or friends. She is finding it difficult at the moment but trying to join all the local baby groups (she has a one year old) so she meets other people. I know she misses her parents and friends but at least we can all keep in touch much better now virtually.