Need your help & wisdom!

**SarahElmore** · 09-22-2011, 08:35 PM

Hello-
I'm kinda sorta new to the forum, but not really since 2008 I was a leacher (spelling)... Here is some background my hubby & I were living in our state of Michigan. He was a carpenter while going to school & I am an RN.. He was laid off, from lack of work.. Which we knew was coming so that is when our frugal journey began. I was lucky enough to work, work, work & save save save. He finished school & got a job with the federal government- hence we moved to Washington DC. At first we were excited to start this new adventure, I was tired from all the overtime & he was tired watching me work all the overtime. So we sold our home & moved into a city apartment. Initially we thought it was great, we have good friends here & enjoy the climate. BUT- we miss home. We miss the family time, simple things & holidays.. We miss our simple lifestyle. People aren't frugal here, which was challenging from a social aspect, it wasn't til July did we get back to our frugal selves & be true to ourselves. Are we crazy to ditch a good job with job security to go back home & have me work until he finds something? We are getting tired here... We have been looking for jobs seriously since April.. A lot of the jobs require him to go back to MI for testing & law enforcement training. We are grateful for this job & it came at the right time, however, we are asking ourselves this: Do we stay here just for a job & sacrifice our lifestyle or do we move back home live super simple like before, sacrifice the job but have the lifestyle that we enjoy. This lifestyle is out in the country, near family, simple meals, have a garden, own a home, cider mill, farmers market, dairy farms.. Here in DC homes are super expensive & forget living in the country, his commute would be 1.5-2 hours each way for 40 miles out.. So we are limited to living in 600 sq ft apt or a townhouse- we aren't interested in any of that..plus at the end of the day our hearts just aren't here..

Thank you for the advice
Sarah

**Hannahski** · 09-22-2011, 09:54 PM

I'm a fellow Michiganian and have lived in Texas for the past 20 plus years. I love TX but it will never be home. We wanted to go back but the kids made friends, went to school and the time never seemed right. I live for the summers when we can "go home" for a few weeks. Do it while you can and I can almost guarantee you'll never regret it. My mom used to say the bird sings best close to it's own nest. MI is a special place and I miss it every day, especially the simple stuff. Take care-- Hannah

**mommynurse** · 09-22-2011, 09:56 PM

If you read your post, I think you'll have your answer! It's obvious you want to go back to Michigan and are willing to sacrifice to do it... Do you have someone you can contact to help you find a job? I'm an RN also (in Richmond Va) and jobs aren't as easy to get as they were a few years ago.

**Debbie-cat** · 09-22-2011, 10:35 PM

If you can secure a job, I would say move back. Life is too short to be somewhere that doesn't make you happy. If you can be super frugal, living simply and within your means.....go back home. Good luck!

**l8eebugg** · 09-24-2011, 09:47 AM

Find a job and move. I moved to where I am currently am years ago. I like the area and people but hate the winters! I am stuck here now...tenure and children who I can't move out of state. If at all possible..do it hile you can.

**ncarr** · 09-25-2011, 05:14 PM

if you decide to move, don't move until you have jobs lined up!

**DaveP** · 09-25-2011, 05:21 PM

I agree with some of the others, you answered your own question in your post. You aren't happy where you are and you recognize the sacrifices necessary to go back to what is home for you. You won't be happy where you are, so go home. You're doing it with your eyes open, which is good and tells me you're likely to prosper even without the same income. Best of luck!

**arnie** · 09-26-2011, 08:56 AM

I agree with everyone else. It sounds like in your heart you have already made the decision. Today even jobs in nursing are hard to find, as I have been looking for another one myself with little success. My recommendation is to plan it out for X number of months from now ( when your lease is up makes the most sense) and do everything you can to be completely ready when that day gets here. Good luck!

**cheryl65** · 09-26-2011, 12:03 PM

I'm a Michigander and love it. Sounds like you are too. Come home to Michigan and be happy!

**frugalwarrior2** · 09-26-2011, 12:09 PM

Another michigander here. You know there is plenty of cheap housing here and nurses should be able to find work but... Dh has to have a place too. No one will be happy if theres no money.
That said we love our Michigan. I have turned down offers of New Zealand,England,Australia and many other states to stay.
To me there nothing like fall here.

**Russ** · 09-26-2011, 12:44 PM

Another from Michigan!

check here > Carpenter Jobs, Employment in Michigan | Indeed.com

**SarahElmore** · 09-26-2011, 03:52 PM

You ladies are fabulous! Thank you thank you! We are definitely being proactive so we can go home! At the end of the day we would take a sense of home & simple lifestyle over this "glamourous" job (which isn't so glamourous afterall).

Just wanted to ask FV for un- bias advice,since many friends here think we are crazy to pack up & go home.
Thank you again!!
Sarah