[oh well]

Hey all. Thanks for taking the time to read this and to all replys-
I am grateful...

We have been home for almost 6 months now with annie. We are considering moving, and although it is a personal decision, I would like to list the reasons why we may move and if you think it would be wise or unwise to move....kind of silly, but I do value your opinions!

Reasons to move....1. no garage
2. noisy neighbors (only one currently)
with a large barking dog. (Houses about
12 feet apart!)
3. boys can't ride dirt bikes (live in the city)
(so dh loads them up in his old truck to go)
4. We would all like to live out a bit (are
looking at 10 acres right now...& an older
home...
Reasons to stay....
1. I love my house (inside)
2. I love my water gardens and flowers
3. walking distance to both boys schools
4. current house is paid off in about 10 yrs.
if move we would go to 30 yr. mortgage ...
(we are both in very early 40's)...
5. annie loves it here.

What would YOU do???? straddling the fence! oh well.

[csw]

Hi
The ten acres and lovely old house get my vote! We have 3.5 acres and a log home..we are in the cul-de-sac..barely any traffic and it is a great place to raise kids..cities are great though, and we are about 1 hour to Baltimore..so we do go to the zoo, the aquarium, science center etc.. We have some boys around here doing the 4 wheeler thing..I havent let my son do it yet...but if your boys are into that I would say a large piece of land would be great..When you live more in the country, you have to plan your trips out to try to get alot done..with the gas prices etc..I cant drive the 30 minutes to the main town every day!
She will love anyplace you live,,as long as she is with her family!
Let us know what you decide...Cathy

[pmgor]

Ok you asked

Based on the lists you presented I would stay at the present home.

We live in a rural town but we live in town, not walking distance from almost anything, and it's hard, very hard. Also there are no kids for our children to play with, *very hard* for the kids, I also have to end up driving miles everywhere for everything.

We are actually considering a move to suburbia, LOL and are doing the same lists, pros and cons. It's a hard choice to make you will give up things in both locations its really what you can live with/without.

Now that said a loud neighborh would drive me batty and would be enough to make me want to move.

Good luck with your decision.

[becky]

Tough one...a couple of questions:
1. Are your kids active in sports and activities outside of school? If so, would you have a lot of driving to take them to practices, games, etc? That is a big consideration, especially as they head to middle/high school.

If that isn't a big consideration, then go for the land...sounds like heaven to me. I have always wanted land for the kids to play, explore, etc. It's true that they won't be near neighborhood friends to play, but they will have each other and a great environment to live in...

[Alesanto]

In my opinion I would stay where I am and pay off my home, then with the money I saved I would buy a small vacation home with alot of property, and consider that our family "getaway" Who says you can't have the best of both worlds.

I do sympathize with you moving is a huge desicion and it is extremely stressful on everybody. I am sure that whatever you decide it will work out for the best and everyone will be happy.

Good Luck!!

Lisa

[prose3a]

Originally posted by oh well
...Reasons to move....1. no garage
2. noisy neighbors (only one currently)
with a large barking dog. (Houses about
12 feet apart!)
3. boys can't ride dirt bikes (live in the city)
(so dh loads them up in his old truck to go)
4. We would all like to live out a bit (are
looking at 10 acres right now...& an older
home...
...Reasons to stay....
1. I love my house (inside)
2. I love my water gardens and flowers
3. walking distance to both boys schools
4. current house is paid off in about 10 yrs.
if move we would go to 30 yr. mortgage ...
(we are both in very early 40's)...
5. annie loves it here.

What would YOU do???? straddling the fence! oh well.

I would take each of these reasons and posts into consideration and tally them up. How much does the barking dog bother you on a scale of 1 to 10? How much do you love being able to pay your house off in 10 years?

On going into a 30 year mortgage: You will probably live a lot longer than you expect. At the end of the 20th century, people were living only into their 50's. Now they usually live until about 80. You'll probably live at least into your 90's and I doubt you'll want to totally retire for 20 years! (I don't plan on it!) Just a thought.

[regino]

I think the question isn't should you move, but why this particular new (old) house and land.
I think the answer to a move may be somewhere in the middle. Maybe there is a house that has more land but is still in a neighborhood atmospere. Children used to walking to friends/store/etc. in their neighborhood may be miserable in the country. Think about your childhood. I was a city girl but my family now lives outside a small town. We have land, but also friends across the street. It's a great balance. Even if you think "I'll drive them", realize that it will get inconvenient really soon, and you don't want to become a family that lives in their car. There are many beautiful homes out there and if you try not to be too anxious, you can find something perfect for you and your kids. Good Luck!

[honeycustard]

Hi. That does not sound too bad. Try living in Queens, NY. first of all i am in a attached house - where there is a constant maltese dog barking, then i have the Long Island Rail Road in my backyard, and then constant traffic and kids hang out. But you know what, I would never give it up. Because i just love it here.

[oh well]

Actually had our dinner on the pick-nick table on the pivillion over looking the back yard (10 acres)! very pretty fields and many large oak trees around. The old rock house needs some updating though, and it is a little expensive for us. (they want 145,000).
It isn't exactly in the sticks either, only a mile and a half from a huge walmart, and the main street of our town! Both boys play soccer, and I have to drive them all around for that already, what would change is taking them to school every day...oldest starts high school and it is about 6 miles away. We were sitting there having supper and began planning a future pond we would have dug if we got it...dh and I said we would pray about it, and wait awhile....we are wondering if we are too old for all the work it would take?!?! oh the dog barks only when he wants in the house...but they don't tell him to shut-up? and sometimes it goes on in the middle of the night as well...and sometimes they have parties, late ones...and she babysits during the day...
If we stay we will be putting a privacy fence up soon! (we've lived here 9 years now, and they just moved in about a year ago...) oh well...
ps...thank you for your suggestions...they are all so wise!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4kids4meTN]

It sounds like you live in a neighborhood like mine. Our houses are very close together...with small yards. We moved from a house with 1.5 acres. We have also considered moving to a house with more land. But, we too love our house, our kids can walk to school or ride their bikes, we have sidewalks, and there are kids everywhere for mine to play with. It's a tough decision..ask your older kids what they think. It's so hard to find everything you want in one place! Good luck with your decision.

[csw]

Hi
Even though the smallest lot in our "development" of custom homes is around 2.5 acres..there are 14 kids in the neighborhood for my son to play with, including 3 boys his age within walking distance..so we have the best of both worlds! Also,,there are 3 infant girls my daughters age within walking distance..so she will have lots of playmates! Good luck...Cathy

[senseis]

Hi- We are kind of in the same situation as you and were just talking about if we should stay or go. The only thing that is keeping me here is my job, but you didn't mention how far you would be from work. My neighbors have been doing loud contruction on their house for 4 years! Our other neighbors just moved in with 15 people. I am in the city and if I could move out to the country and keep my job I would do it in a second!

mama to d/s home from Guatemala 4-04

[Gingerella_68]

It's surely a big decision to take and I understand your concerns. As in every decision to take, there are positive and negative points.

We're married 12 years and every time we have to take a big decision we make each a list of the positive and negative points (without showing to each other) and then we put a scale to each point, so that we see what is really important to each other and what is not. And then we compare and discuss and let it rest for a week or so, it always turns out pretty realistic.

We're building a house right now and the place we are going to has nothing to do with the place we're now. We'll loose positive points and gain other positive points, it all depends on your priorities.

We preferred to move out to the country, we wish to see our kids run in the fields and have certain freedom, but we will also live close to people with kids and are on walking distance to the school, I surely would consider that point, so that you won't be a taxi driver the whole day.

I wish you the best for your decision.

PS: Annie will get adjusted werewer you move, it might be harder on your older children.

[oh well]

Since we have doubts, we've decided to hold off for awhile. Last time we moved we were "dripping" ready to get out of there!
(our neighbors there sold drugs)! We feel if we have any doubts we should wait! This house and neighborhood is pretty good, we need a garage, but our back yard is pretty big, and although the houses are close, there is still plenty of walking space, and with the elementry school in view, plenty of grassy spaces as well. We also live near about 4 churches that all have large lots of green space, so it doesn't feel so much like a big town at all. I dream about a sunset someday....maybe someday! We have too many trees in the neighborhood to get much of a sunset now. So pray for our neighbors! May we all respect each others space! But don't you sometimes just long for QUIET!
I know I do! Thanks again for your replys, good to know many others are facing this same thing! oh well.