Posted on 05/22/2006 10:57:55 AM PDT by SantaLuz
We are thinking of making a life changing family decision in the next couple of months: To sell all, quit my job, buy an RV, leave California and go fulltiming across the USA for a year or so, and find a new home city. We are a family of 5 with children aged from 5 to 15. So why would we do something like this? Well for a number of reasons:
- My health has deteriorated due to stress, long commutes, and lack of time to take care of myself. I've known I needed a sabbatical for some time now. - We've made the decision that we want to move away from California, but we don't know where we want to move to. We been looking at Boise, Raleigh, and parts of Texas lately. - My oldest was diagnosed with ADD in kindergarten and we have been trying to keep him from being forced to take drugs to fit into the formal square school peg ever since. He's been in public school, home school, and currently in a very expensive private school. But it's hard to watch him suffer in a formal school setting. We just had him complete over two full days of testing, and they diagnosed him with superior intellect, but with ADD holding him back. From experience we already know home schooling or very small class setting works best for him, and the experts diagnoses confirmed that. - My wife already home schools our other children and so this is something we already have experience doing on the road. - We'd have less distractions and could really focus on the learning of our children. - We've always wanted to travel across America and see it together as a family while we are still fairly young. Both my wife and I are in our forties. Our parents retired with poor health and never had any "golden years". We want to be rich with family memories and not with material things. - Visit some older relatives across the country that we've not seen in many years and whose days are numbered. - We want to blog, write a book, and create a family movie of our experiences. - We're not rich but we can afford to do this for a year if we sell everything. We'll have less money to put as a down payment where ever we move to; but at least we'll know something about the area.
My wife and I were discussing next steps the other day when our kids begged us to go see a movie. They chose RV! Without knowing what we were talking about. My wife and I laughed so hard in the movie and winked at each other knowing our kids didn't have a clue. And the we realized we didn't either.
It would be hard to say goodbye to family and friends, and certainly there are many risks; but it is something we can't get out of our minds. Our kids are excited about it too now.
I'd be grateful in getting some opinions on best family oriented cities to live in. Best places to visit. Best RVs to own, and any extended road travel experiences with children.
Are we being bold or crazy?
Houston and Dallas seem like they are going the way of So Cal with urban sprawl, but I could be wrong. Recently I was looking at Plano, since there was a good job for me there but it seems like Dallas is spreading out all they way to Plano within a decade. A couple years ago we were looking at Corpus Christi, but my wife didn't like the likelihood of hurricanes. So Austin? San Antonio? I'm in high-tech so it seems there are some good companies in those areas. Anyone from Plano?
I grew up in a small town in rural Virginia. My folks didnt have the money to do much traveling so I didnt see anything except my own backyard (so to speak) for 18 years. When I went on my first trip to Montana in college, I was mesmerized. A few of my galpals and I drove there from VA. Ive been convinced ever since that there is nothing that can replace real life experiences. You have to get out there and see it to truly appreciate this awesome country of ours. Your kids will only benefit.
Sounds like a great idea and something I would love to be able to do with my family, but can't.
My suggestion though, before this (ad)venture is to tell you what my mom always has told me about making big decisions. And that is, to pray about it and put it in Gods hands.
Good luck.
Albuquerque (west side is really growing - new homes in the mid-100s) is a lovely town. San Antonio is another favorite (westside there is also the place to buy new homes for reasonable pricing). I live in Phoenix and am happy here but it's becoming like LA-San Diego (Casa Grande still has houses under 200k but only if you know which builder to look for).
Welcome to Free Republic!
Thank you very much.
Ive already made a few mistakes, I think, but Im learning the ropes.
I've been here 11 months. The 2nd week, on my way to work, two half-clad idiots were holding up a large banner on an overpass that read; "Legalize Our Love". I can tell you just can't wait to 'splain that to the kiddos.
I've lived and worked near Plain-oh, too.... big family town. Soccer-mom deluxe.
I was raised in the midwest, btw, flat's not boring at all when you're riding your bike.....you are master of all you survey :)
I thought the best advice on this thread was to pray....and the one that said to plant in the vicinity, and take shorter jaunts. Sounds more practical, less risk financially. I'm not against Texas, really, it's just that as a kid, I liked to roll around in the grass with my dogs, something that's sorta hard to imagine doing in most of the fire-ant, sand-spur, scorpion, brown recluse, and rattlesnake - infested wild areas I've seen around here.... the grass aint soft and lush, "Texas needs rain" but hey, it's a big state, & I haven't been everywhere!
People in Texas are kind, and big-hearted mostly. I'd prefer Ft. Worth over Dallas, San Antonio over Austin, and Hell over Houston.
Do you like hot and dry?
http://www.findyourspot.com/
Sigh.
I went through the entire quiz, only to find that they want personal info before they'll give you the results :(
Here's another site which has quite a bit of info, although not in quiz form:
http://www.bestplaces.net/
Is it stifling in Nashville in the summer?
Yes. But the rest of the year is very comfortable. I like that we have real winter weather (sledding, fires in the hearth) but not enough that you have to shovel the walkway more than once or maybe twice a year.
Another good RV movie, believe it or not, is THE LONG, LONG TRAILER with Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, from sometime in the fifties. Beautiful technicolor and some funny slapstick.
Cal home prices are 30-50% overvalued.
take advantage of that while you can
If you decide to move again..you'll still be $ ahead.
Go for it!
Your Charleston island childhood sounds fabulously idyllic. Sigh... . I haven't been to South Carolina but a road trip to the Charleston area is near the top of our to-do list. Maybe this fall.
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