Have You Relocated from CA to Another State and How Did It Work Out???

Updated on May 19, 2012
M.B. asks from Redlands, CA
14 answers

Husband and I are considering moving out of Southern California to Austin, TX area. We have a 2 1/2 year old and a 10 month old. My husband makes good money but it doesnt go far here in Southern California. I am a SAHM and he can transfer his job. The Round Rock area is where we'd be going. We don't have any family there or friends so it would just be us but we feel like it is just a better choice for where we want to raise our girls. We have been there once already so we aren't moving there blind. We want to move before our oldest will start school. My question is to those of you who have done it, did it work out for you? Was it hard moving your family away from family? My brother and his family moved to NC five years ago and they are doing really well compared to how they lived here. We are choosing TX because we like it there and compared to here it seems like housing is far more affordable. Was relocating worth it for you and why did you relocate?

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M.B.

answers from Austin on

Central Texas is a wonderful place! Round Rock is close to Austin, which means you have the benefits of the big city without as much of the hassle. I live in Georgetown, and the schools up here are really great. A lot of people live in Georgetown and work in Austin, and it isn't a bad commute at all, depending on where you work.

We moved to Georgetown 20 years ago from central Iowa (very small town) when hubby was transferred.... he was laid off 6 months later, but we stayed.

Good luck!

2 moms found this helpful

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K.U.

answers from Dallas on

We moved from Northern CA to Fort Worth, TX about 3 years ago, I had only been here once. After my husband was laid off from a few jobs in CA, he went back to school. After graduating, he couldn't find a job in CA so he applied all over the country and got hired with a company here in Fort Worth.

When we moved, my then 5 year old son was getting ready to start Kindergarten and I was about 6 months pregnant with our twins. My son adjusted immediately and made friends with our new neighbors and at swim lessons.

I had a hard time for the 1st few months. I ended up on bed rest so I couldn't make friends and was just hormonal and missed home. Once the babies came, I was so busy I didn't have time to remember I missed home. After we got into a routine with the twins, I joined a play group and met some great women who are now my closest friends.

I think I finally felt happy and settled after being here for 2 years. While I still miss home, I know we can afford a more comfortable lifestyle in Texas than in CA.

Good luck :)

4 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

Round Rock is the home of the Houston Astros AAA baseball team - the place right before they get called up to the Majors!!!

I left Southern California in 1989 for Northern California - then for Europe. It was the best thing I did. I'm now in Washington, DC and am on the other side of the country from my family. Yes. I miss them. We talk often (daily mostly!!)

We moved because the military told us to. I wouldn't move back to So Cal if you paid me to. It's sooo messed up!!! My parents would love to get out as well but can't due to the foreclosure rates on homes and not being able to sell theirs. Sad, isn't it?

You will miss your family - but in the long run - you have to do what is right for YOUR family and if that means moving where you can make your dollar stretch farther - then that's what you do.

I can tell you that ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING!!! If you want to love it there - you will. If you don't - it will suck. Research the area first. If your husband can get a job there - find out how much he will be paid, how stable the job is and what the unemployment rate in the area is. Do your research.

I know people who LOVE Texas!!! I think it would be a great move for us! Unfortunately, there aren't companies that do what my husband does there.

GOOD LUCK!!!

4 moms found this helpful

J.✰.

answers from San Antonio on

Yes come to Texas! My husband moved from Orange County area to San Antonio Texas when he was single. Sold his house in CA and bought 7 acres here in Texas with money leftover! He didn't have family to move, so I can't remark on that. But he met me and we started a family (I was already here inTexas). Housing here in Texas is way more reasonable. Taxes too. Traffic is different here (no carpool lanes). I think the biggest difference that you'll notice is the weather. If you can deal with hot and humid, then come on. A lot of californians that visit complain about the humidity. Sure y'all have 100 degree days in CA, but in Texas we may have 85% humidity on top of that, making you sweat more. If you can sell your house there in CA for a reasonable price, I say go for it if you are both on board. If you rent in Rockwall for a year or two, you could always move again if you feel it's not the right place for you (not having a house to sell).

2 moms found this helpful
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S.W.

answers from Amarillo on

Home is where you make it. You can move across the street, around the corner, to another state or country. It is all about attitude. You are a family unit (husband/wife/child(ren) and that is your family. The other family members are outsiders and you must do what is right for your unit.

Once you move away and come back it will not be the same. You have grown and matured and the hometown area has changed for the better of for the worse.

Be positive about the move and your chldren will be able to make new friends right away. You also have to go out and make your own new friends and that does take time but it can be done. If you have any hobbies or interests of some of the new mommas it makes it easier to get to know others. Just hang in there and don't compare home to there it doesn't work as every place has its special interets.

I haven't lived in CA but have lived in NJ, AZ, NV, Canada, Germany, and now NM. My kids live in TX and CO so I get more range in cold and heat.

I do love the outdoors and looking up at the sky at night to see the stars.

The other S.

PS I miss the beach but I can get there for a weekend (TX) if I need to.

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L.F.

answers from Chicago on

I have a friend who relocated with her family to Rockwall a while ago. She has since relocated again, but she loved her time in TX. She made lots of new friends very quickly. I have never known anyone who has moved to TX that didn't LOVE it. Your dollar goes so much farther there, and you have so many great amenities.

I moved from So Cal to Washington D.C. before I had kids. Now that sucked.

1 mom found this helpful

F.H.

answers from Phoenix on

Yes, we moved from Orange County to a Phoenix suburb. We did it when our kids were 3.5 and 6 mo. The kids were getting bigger and we couldn't afford a house in CA. My now ex husband transfered with his job, I thought I could find something but the pay was WAY less than in CA. We did get a huge 5 bedroom house with a pool, lost it in the divorce. My mom ended up moving out when we did, I'm an only child and she didn't want to be away from her only grandkids. We didn't know anyone either but thru work, church and meetup.com groups, we had met some good friends. I believe you just do what you think is best and it usually works out for you. Had I not moved here, I would not have met my husband, who is the true love of my life and he's so good to me and our kids. Good luck with the move, I'm sure it will work out great for you guys!

1 mom found this helpful
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R.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

I would agree with Attitude is Everything! And If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy. So knowing and really understanding how much work and effort it takes to move is important.

Two years ago I went kicking and screaming from Southern California across the country. It took my Mom's commitment to me to come often and help me get settled that made the difference (we are very close and used to live very near each other). The truth is we have a much better life here now then we would have had if we stayed in California. At times I do still feel new here since I haven't found doctors I like or a mechanic or a good hairdresser or a reliable gardener, all part of my support network back in California. Also spontaneous childcare is very hard without nearby family or old friends, I still struggle with that one too.

If there is anyway to go to North Carolina or a nearby state there really is a value to being in driving distance to family. I believe one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a relationship with their grandparents and cousins and one of the greatest gifts we can give our parents and siblings is a relationship with their grandchildren and nieces and nephews. It takes a lot more effort to be close to family. Cell phones and SKYPE have made a huge difference.

My last advice is to commit to your new life. If possible, don't rent buy a new house, make it your home, if you are renting you are less likely to feel like this new place is really yours. Find a church or synagogue early on in your new state, become a member and belong and get involved. The only way to meet people outside of your family is to get outside of your home.

If you are quiet and you sit and listen to your instincts often you know what you want to do. You posted this question so obviously you are thinking about it a lot. What does your gut tell you?

Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful
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M.M.

answers from Washington DC on

We are now living in VA after moving around the country with the Marine Corps.
THe first move was the hardest. But after we were settled and made some friends it got easier without family being so close. Move 7 was also very hard. My daughter was by then a rising junior.

It takes about 2 years to be a part of the community. By then you have established a relationship with a hardresser you like, the grocery stores, cleaners, church, etc.

This is actually our second stop here in VA. We made a conscious decision to retire here instead of NC, where we were living, or Chicago, closer to family.

It has been absolutely worth it. Although I am still a Cubbies fan. ;o)

1 mom found this helpful

C.M.

answers from Washington DC on

I moved from south OC a year and a half ago to northern VA. We moved because my parents moved away to Arizona and my husbands whole family is here in VA. The hardest part is not being near the beach. It's very over crowded here and the traffic is a thousand times worse than in CA. I honestly hate it here and if I had the chance I would move back. I do like fall weather here though :) My kids are 4 and 7. We moved mid school year and my daughter who was in K at the time did a great job adjusting to her new school and made friends right away. My son, still talks about when we lived in CA and how he misses it.
Good luck with your move. VA is nothing like I expected it to be at all (and I have been here at least 5 times before we moved here). Living and visiting are way different.

1 mom found this helpful
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K.E.

answers from Dover on

We moved from the Sacramento area to Delaware. In CA we both had to work. Here in DE I'm a SAHM. We have been here for three years. We moved with a 4 year old and 7 month old. It was really hard leaving our support group but I can't picture ever going back to that state.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.Z.

answers from Reno on

I'm not in CA, but I can tell you that when my husband got a job transfer that took us away from both families and the area we'd grown up in, I was furious. I told him that I'd rather he quit his job than move.

The move turned out to be the best thing we could do for our little family (we were still newlyweds). We had to rely only on each other, and we had to create our own traditions and rules instead of just gliding along on whatever our extended family decided.

When we had a chance to move back years later (another transfer!) we chose a much smaller town, since we'd gotten used to the feel of one. The city we'd grown up in felt too big (and messy and prone to crime).

What works for others may not work for you, but I say go for it! :)

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M.G.

answers from Seattle on

We moved from the High Desert and IE to WA. It was a huge adjustment at first. We moved due to job opportunity for hubby. We do not have family here that we're close to although my in laws do live 45 mins away. It is very hard on me the older I have gotten to be away from family but that's a personal issue I suppose. :) Monetarily speaking we do well for ourselves to where I can be a SAHM and we never have to stress over money. Now, granted we don't live in a house but rather an apartment but taking all things into consideration for our situation we're doing very well. We've lived here almost 9 years and each of our children were born here and while yes we miss home like crazy we wouldn't go back either. We make it a point to visit back home once a year and find that there's no way we could afford to live there without a huge jump in pay.

I say if it is worth it to you and your husband to make the move, do it. If it doesn't work out you can always return home. I realize that is way easier said than done.

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J.B.

answers from Los Angeles on

my family is moving to washington state. i have family out there but it is still a big leap. i am covering my bases and putting in for a leave of absence for a year (i work for a school district). but it will be a better life for our daughter and anyother children that come along :)

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