If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

I have alot of family on my dad's side that relocated to Wilmington, NC (right by Wrightsville beach). It's beautiful there...we could easily sell our house and buy a house outright down there. The taxes and utilities are cheaper. DH could easily get a job as a cop down there. Everytime we go and visit we think about how nice it would, what a different kind of lifestyle it would be. But than I get emotional thinking about leaving my friends and family that are up here. I know if I moved, my parents would move in a heart beat.

I'm waiting to see what kind of raise the NYPD is going to get and that may be the deciding factor. All my family who has moved there (some have been there for 10 yrs. now) say it is the best thing they every did.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

my straw has been broken awhile now, but dh doesnt want to leave ...

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

If we were to leave (but we are not) if youwmostly be financially related. My parents moved OOS as well as my sis & BIL. Also, my cousins are on their way out. They are all moving due to $$

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We had been thinking of moving to FL for about 2 years before we actually did. We would come down at least 3-4x a year to see family, go to weddings, etc., and never wanted to go back!

What made us finally make the decision was when I was laid off due to my company being taken over and relocating. Our lease was also up that next month and rent was going up AGAIN. I told DH it was now or never... and we did it!

We can't imagine ever moving back. We are actually closing on our first home next week!

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

Charlotte has one month of winter with no snow. Rush hour still s*cks but nothing will ever compare to the LIE during rush hour. We live like royalty down here for half the price we were paying on LI. I can go on all day but I am at work...so I should probably pretend I am working.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We would move in a heartbeat but we cant...our exs are here and they have no intention of moving...

DH could easily get a job almost any where...

The COL here on the Island has gone up dramatically since we bought our house 3 years ago. We are barely scraping by....and yet we cant leave.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

If i were in your situation and had family in a more affordable part of the country i would go! Im sure you would miss NY but you can always visit! good luck!

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

I'd go to FL. DH could probably get a job down there, but, probably not his salary.
My parents and inlaws both have homes down there and if DH and I were to go permanantly I *think* they would follow.
My brother, SIL, and sister would probably follow as well.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

we moved OOS when DH was laid off after 9/11 - we ended moving back though.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

well, we moved to an equally expensive area (So California) - so it wasn't that hard to move back (actually things (housing, gas, food) were actually a little cheaper moving to LI)

things to consider are family and friends - are you planning to have kids? are they? your roots - how attached are you to NYC area. I hated watching seinfeld and SATC b/c it made me homesick for NYC.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

D and i are thinking about moving too... but we're both teachers and I am making GREAT money (as far as teachers are concerned on LI) and DH is doing pretty good in the city. We would have NO problem finding jobs down there, but our salaries would be cut DRAMATICALLY.... and although houses are cheaper, we'd be earning less... and since food, gas, and utilities are the same, besides the property taxes, i think it evens out.

I think the only way peopel do really well if they move OOS if their income stays as a NY income and they have no debt. (ie. mortgage to pay off after the sale)

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

we moved to florida, orlando area..hated it and moved back here last april after a little less then 2 years there..having my DS while there and no family and friends nearby is what I didn't like at all.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

The straw that broke the camel's back:

For us, it was the fact that DH and I are both gainfully employed, smart, hard-working people...and the possibility of owning a house was 0. We never would have been able to afford it in a million years.

So, we moved right outside of Charlotte, and like Emily said, we're finally able to live the way we SHOULD be able to live. We live in a brand-new 5 bedroom house, and our mortgage payment is $1900 a month. So, we not only own our own home, but we're able to LIVE A LITTLE, too!

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We live on LI and have no plans to move, but if we did, it would be if we literally couldn't afford to stay. I'm from upstate and know all too well about the quality of life debate, but I have a lot of reasons to stay here. I would, however, love to convince both of our families to move somewhere beautiful and affordable..that would be awesome

My big fears about living on LI financially speaking are what property taxes & homeowners insurance are going to look like in 10-20 years

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We will be moving in July because the COL is just ridiculous here on LI! We had the opportunity to build our home and leave the rat race to raise our DD so we took it! No, I am not looking forward to saying goodbye to my friends and family but eventually they will be following in a few years!

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

really want to move but DH doesnt. Alot of our friends have relocated and 2/3 moved back--mostly due to not finding a job that could cover their NY bills.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

Danielle and I would probably move if her family moved too.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We moved to NC almost two years ago...the COL was just too much for us to survive, even though DH made good money and I was making good money, it wouldn't have been enough...we would have been working for our house.

Living here we have everything and more, we bought a brand new 5 bedroom house, taxes are cheap, there is no traffic during my commute to and from work, we drive two brand new cars, etc.

I can say in the beginning I was very upset about leaving my family and friends and NY...but now I look back and its the best decision we've ever made.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We probably won't be moving b.c. it won't be as easy for DH to relocate with his job. But I can tell you growing up - my parents had enough and decided to move to Nashville. They sold their home, and grandparents all sold theirs as well and moved with us (they sold a few months to a year later). We were there for 6 years and loved it - BUT - they missed NY - they missed all that NY had to offer and decided to move back.

They felt although my dad had a great job - and my mom was SAHM - that they should never have sold their home - when they wanted to move back their Nashville home had only appreciated a few thousand dollars whereas the price of their NY home has double and almost tripled while we were gone.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We were going to move to Tampa in 2004 and then DH got called for the FDNY, so here we are.

Honestly, now that we have DS, I don't think we could leave my parents. It sounds bad, but they hate not seeing him for more than a week and I think they'd be really upset if we moved.

Part of me thinks that it would be SO much better some place else, and part of me thinks that in this economy, living anywhere is tough

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

Our commute was too much. We just never came to terms with it.

I knew I wanted to be a SAHM, I did not care where we lived as long as my commute days were done.

DH was over the commute as well...he came down, visited Charlotte, said that I would like it and that was it.

My area is wonderful. I can't afford to buy where I rent right now, but I will cross that bridge later.

DH has a 25 minute drive to work, could be shorter if I wanted to live in the country.

I love staying at home, DH loves it here.
skiing, biking, hiking, whitewater rafting center...this is his dream come true.

Our quality of life is exactly where it should be. Time together as a family, that is what we were lacking.

oh yeah...and that MTA strike was what made me excited to pack my things...

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

Well DH and I would move to Tennessee if the COL got our of control but we would rent our house here, just in case we ever wanted to move back.

Right now things are good. But I think once we're done having kids we'll want them to grow up in a different environment then what L.I has. Our only problem will be DH getting used to the slower pace of living down there.

Re: If you moved off LI out of state, what was the "straw that broke the camels back"?

We came very close to buying a farm in Tennessee about two years ago, we were planning on staying here until DSD graduated high school & DS graduated college. My Mom, Grandma & one of my friends were all prepared to move too.
We weren't leaving because of COL, because we live really lean compared to other LIers already.
It was just because we want more land, like acres and I want the slower, rural lifestyle. The thought of paying $700 a year for taxes on 50 acres is tempting though.
After some major thought we decided to make it our goal to buy land here on Long Island, probably the North Fork. We'll be settling for probably 4 acres instead of 40 acres but in the end of the day I think we'd miss my extended family & our friends too much.
We host every family holiday at our house, everything would change if we left.
I know a couple now that want to move because they think its easier in NC, IMO you can't go just because its hard here. There are challenges in life everywhere, you've got to go because the place you pick is where you REALLY want to be.
I applaud those that make the leap & love their new home.