We are considering making a long distance move this spring to warmer weather. Most of our family lives with in about 2 hours from us, some closer but nobody close enough to just run over to babysit for an hour or anything like that. How do those of you that have no family around make it work? We are just a bit nervous if this is what is right for us or if we move further north closer to one side of family. We are tired of big city living anyways but we can’t make up our minds! Some of the family would also like to move to warmer weather eventually but some one has to be first…
Oh yeah we have a 14 month old and college degrees/good jobs and are pretty much self sufficient in all areas (except very occasional Sat/night out babysitting)
Thanks I appreciate the advice and I know whatever we choose will work out for the best! Its just nice to know we’re not the only crazy ones 
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I wouldn’t worry about moving too far. Your family will visit. My Mum moved to Canada from South Africa before I was born and since a lot of her family have move to our town or fairly close and we’re not the only SouthAfrican family to do so. Don’t worry, Move where your family will benefit the most.
My husband and I live in Arizona and my family is in Maryland. Day to day things are pretty manageable without family around. You just need to rely on babysitters and friends more. Most really warm places (like AZ, FL, ect.) have alot of people without alot of family around. It makes it easier to find friends who are willing to fill those family roles for each other.
Here’s what I find to be difficult. With limited vacation time and finances, it’s difficult to see family enough for them to really get to know my baby or vice versa. We probably see them four times a year. Which, all things considered, is pretty good. But it’s not the same as a relationship that’s formed when they see each other more often.
I asked my niece this very question when she moved to California from Texas. She said that they made very good friends that helped them out when she fell off the roof while putting up Christmas lights. The neighbors with small children had a babysitting exchange and the guys golfed or went to the gym together. I guess that when no family is around you depend on friends more.Thank God for good friends.
first of all, you should do what feels right for you and your child as this is a big decision. If you are not certain then don’t do it. Moving to a new place far away is going to be hard but if you are not convinced it is the right thing then you will end up back where you started! If you do not see much of your family now then moving should not be too different. As you say, once you have made the move others may follow after visiting you. My husbands family live in Morocco and we only see them once a year if we are lucky. I miss having the support from his side of the family as my parents could never help out when my kids were little. Make that decision and don’t let anything change your mind. Good luck!
Where i live we have no family around us, so if we go out it’s with the kids and on rear occasions we have a family member in the area so we take full advantage of them wanting to see the kids,they babysit while we go have some fun.
All our family is at least two hours away, some five hours by plane. And we wouldn’t have it any other way. Yes, it would be nice to have them around our child, so he could see his grandparents more. But really, we enjoy not having the drama that grandparents can add. At least our parents would. Not sure about yours. So if you get along with them all the time, then maybe it would be better for you. If we lived near our parents, they would expect to see us way more than we would want to. So for us, this is the best situation. We just make sure to hire a babysitter at least once a week so we get date time, that we would have more if we had family nearby. But like I said, for us, it’s much less stressful without in-laws so close. If I were you, I wouldn’t move because of family. Only do it if it really is the right move for you guys. Not for your family that lives farther away. This is your life you’re living. Not theirs.