Comments on: Close to Home

By: sameve

sameve — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 00:24:02 +0000

Thanks Tiffany! It's been so great to hear from people who can relate to me and my desire to be close to home. If that's what makes you happy, by all means do it, and don't think any less of yourself.

By: tiffanythompson

tiffanythompson — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:52:52 +0000

this is fantastic! at times, i've been envious of the “lifestyle design” movers and shakers. but, i kinda like where i live – a sleepy little hampton roads community, just 3hrs south of my parents, my aunts and uncles and my brother. there is something to be said for that. thank you for reminding us that it's okay to be happy with who WE are – not who someone else is telling us we should be.

By: sameve

sameve — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 07:14:57 +0000

Hi Kelly: It's great that you found an opportunity in your hometown. Like me, you've been far away, and realized that it's great, but not for everyone all the time. Kudos to you too! Love the appreciation

By: KellySnyder

KellySnyder — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 01:36:42 +0000

Well said, Sam! I graduated this December (from a major university that's in the town where I grew up), and immediately started as a communication analyst with State Farm (also in my hometown).

I spent a semester studying abroad, so I had a chance to be completely independent...and I learned that I really love being near my family. I feel so fortunate to have a wonderful job that's so close to my family. I'm definitely greatful that they're so close, since the rest of my family lives at least 8 hours away.

Kudos to you for appreciating your family!

By: sameve

sameve — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 20:40:09 +0000

Like Ben, you were another person I was thinking of as I wrote this post. I know how hard it was for you to move away from your family, friends and hometown. But, I also know that you hated your job and love your fiance. Relationships do have a funny way of making you do things you never imagined doing. I admire the way that you have embraced the changes in your life and made Chicago home. It's interesting, even though I've stayed close to home and you haven't, we've both had a pretty tumultuous year. I guess that's just life! Thanks for your perspective, Matt. Make sure you remember to breathe every once in a while!

By: Matt Cheuvront

Matt Cheuvront — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 16:32:37 +0000

There's a lot to be said for being content with where you're at. There is NOTHING wrong with loving your current situation – staying close to home – etc. I moved not so much because I wanted to get away from home – but because it was the next logical step and relationships have a funny way of making you do things you never though you were capable of doing (quitting a job and moving to a new city after living in one place your entire life).

We often need reminders like these to tell us that it's OK to not be “on the go” ALL the time. With so much “up in the air” over the past 12 months, I'm ready to take a step back and breathe…maybe tomorrow

By: sameve

sameve — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:16:42 +0000

Ben: You are one of the people I was thinking about when I wrote this post. I know your job search story, and I also know how important your family is to you. Like Grace, you realized that your hometown wasn't the best place for you professionally, so you branched out. For you, it's kind of like you've been bracing for this move by going farther and farther away: first school, then Detroit, then Baltimore.

It seems like you and your family stay in touch really well. Cell phones are awesome for keeping in touch, and I think that sometimes people take them for granted. Even though you're not as close to home as you might like, it seems like Baltimore will be a great place for you. Selfishly, I'm very glad that you're on the East Coast

I'm incredibly fortunate that my parents live near a major city, and I didn't have to choose between being close to them and the job market. I'm definitely grateful. Thanks for sharing your story, Ben!

By: benjamintwilcox

benjamintwilcox — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:06:07 +0000

My move across country was pretty much a given. I had been out of work for a long time and this new job is better than the position I was laid off from. For me there really wasn't another option. Plus, all of the snow is making me feel at home. My parents still live in Cleveland where I grew up. While I love getting back to visit them, the job market there isn't great to say the least.

That being said, I text or talk with my folks almost every day and I still am very close with them. I really would like to live closer to them, especially for those impromptu lunches and so they can help in crisis. But in terms of engineering jobs right now, my best opportunities were in the east coast. It is tough sometimes for me here, but I have always had my family's support for moving to new places for my career. When I was in Detroit for my last job and Columbus for school, I was still about two and a half hours away from them, so being 6-7 hours away doesn't change much other than type of transportation. Let's just say that I have gotten very familiar with Southwest's ticket booking software.

I definitely agree that the fact your family lives in the New York area is amazing for you both personally and professionally. NYC is one of the places where people move to further their career (if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere) and it just so happens your family is there too! The most important thing in life is knowing what you want, need and can live without. I think by writing this post, you are confirming that you have made choices in your life that align well with those three things. Great stuff Sam!

By: sameve

sameve — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:18:45 +0000

Excellent! To all of the above, even the cows

By: sameve

sameve — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 01:17:18 +0000

@Grace: I think that's the key. You miss them, but you still enjoy your life. Four way video chat sounds so fun! Thank goodness for technology and social media, right?!