Do you live near your family?

Tulip

I am half an hours walk away from my parents which is nice I would hate to be a long way from them as I need them for most things like dad to mend toilet seat etc or change a lightbulb for me if one blows.I will always need support but I am independent and can cope for myself.

Raggs_2

I live about 2500 miles from my parents. But a 5 min walk to my OH's.

I think this is a bit problematic, since it kind of restricts ease of movement for holidays, since I want to visit them, and so have to go to the same country every time.

However, I think once you live in the same country, it probably doesn't make too much difference, as soon as you're more than a 30 min drive away. Once it becomes a journey to visit, it's a journey regardless of it being 1 hour or 5. As long as there's no flights etc, I figure it's not a problem.

As to the emotional side of things, I've been away from my parents for the vast majority of the last 8 years (26 now), travelling around the world, living in different countries, and uni in a distant city (plus a ferry ride, which really helps make it seem far). And the only time it was hard was when a relative was very ill, the day they passed away I was on the plane back to support my mum. But in an emergency like that, wherever you are, you'll find you're way back quickly enough.

ailuro2

Sequeena wrote: »

That must be awkward! :eek:

The sibling leaves via the other end of the street so doesn't drive past very often.

Doesn't really walk anywhere so never walks past the house either.

Our kids are different ages so never really played together.

It's been like this for about 9 years now, and to be honest it's a relief, as we were always helping out, her kids would turn up with a message from sibling asking for something while we were sitting eating our dinner... which is what families are for but can get a bit wearing always being the one who is helping..:(

It doesn't help OP though. If you're close to your parents then you will remain close no matter how far apart you are geographically. sometimes a bit of space can improve relationships too - flying the nest and them not being able to [STRIKE]interfere[/STRIKE] help can sometimes be a good thing.:)

clairec79

I remember seeing one TV show where they drew two circles from the parents house, one was too close (lived close enough to call in on the off chance without ringing) one was too far (would have to stay overnight for visits) and wanted to live soemwhere inbetween so the parents would need to ring first to go warning but could go home at the end of the day

my in laws live quite a distance away so don't see them that often but I end up giving in to them when I do see them because we don't see them that often

*Louise*

We live close to our family and I wouldn't have it any other way. My parents are a 15 min walk to get to, my sisters are 5 and 10 minute walks away. Even my grandparents are close by. The furthest we have to travel is 15 mins in the car for OH's parents

OH did entertain the idea of emigrating to America or Canada at one point, but I couldn't possibly. My children have great relationships with all their grandparents and I couldn't do that to any of them.

sheilakellas

All our family stay about ab hour away in the car, close enough to visit but far away enough to have peace lol we have lived closer before but it is nice to have some space!

MadDogWoman_2

I live about 5 minutes from my parents and one sibling, the other sibling and DH's family are about 45 minutes away.

Having my parents support is invaluable to us, as my mum is my main childcare whilst I'm at work, plus she was an angel following the birth of my DD (c-section) as she was able to co-ordinate visitors leaving DH to concentrate on helping me and getting to know our DD.

If the move feels right for you, go for it.

Plans_all_plans

I live 300 miles from my parents (we couldn't afford to buy a house in the South, so moved away) and thousands of miles from my in-laws who live abroad and I don't like it really (even though my parents drive me mad when I see them).

I feel like our daughter misses out on her grandparents and it really upsets me.

My sister lives 100 miles away. I am lucky that my mum doesn't work and my sister does shiftwork so they are both very good to me and have said that they will come and stay during school holidays to look after our daughter when I return to work.

My sister in law lives down the road but she is the only family we have locally. It would be easier if everyone lived near to us, or if we could afford a house in the South on one income so we could move back!

red_devil

no i dont live near my family and havent done for many years. My parents do have my siblings abit closer though.

CupOfChai

Are you me? :rotfl: I did the exact same thing just over a year ago!

I'm presuming you are moving for a good reason such as a job or uni, and that you have no children. What happened to me was that while I had moved about 200-300 miles away to go to uni, I had returned afterwards and never thought I would permanently move more than about 20 miles away from my parents (the distance to the nearest city, where for a short time I also lived). Neither did they.

Then, without getting bogged down in detail on how the situation came about, I was offered a job approx. 500 miles away from the area where my parents lived, where I had lived all my life, and where virtually all of my family live. We're a pretty close family with good relationships, but I went for it. Took the job and moved. We are still close, possibly it has brought us even closer. Perhaps only seeing them occasionally makes you appreciate the time together even more, whereas when you see people, especially parents, all the time they can start to do your head in :rotfl:

I did think for a minute I had lost the plot, but it's worked out fine. Maybe I would want to be nearer them again if something happened such as my having children or god forbid one of them getting ill, but then I never ever thought I would do this so I'll not worry too much about how to cross those bridges until I come to them as I don't know what could happen before then.

However my situation was slightly different to yours as even though I could tell my parents were also slightly bamboozled as to what had come over me, and that they were sad to say goodbye and see me go so far away, they didn't let it show and were fully supportive of my decision even to the point of putting themselves out to help me with the relocation.

You sound as though you have already decided you want to move, so go for it. Reassure your parents you love them, will miss them, will phone every Sunday evening, will come back to visit for a week at X date/event, and so on, but go after what you want. Don't end up in a position where for whatever reason you don't do something, then you regret not doing it.