Did you grow up where you live?

[ThriftoRama]

I boomeranged. I grew up in Ohio, moved to Chicago at 18, then Portland, Or and then spent 10 years in New Orleans. Moved back home because of H. Katrina and have actually enjoyed it. I didn't think I'd ever move home.

[Taribor]

Grew up outside of Cleveland, OH and now live in Sacramento, CA. ...stops to Southern Ca., Atlanta, Saint Augustine & Orlando Florida along the way.


I have always had jobs (military and now government) that make easy and/or required relocation and we love seeing the country. New baby to the family so we will get back east closer to famliy within the next few years and settle down someplace more permanent, either back in Ohio or Florida.

[Brokemofo]

Grew up in San Diego. Live in Midwest. Would move back to San Diego in a heartbeat if my Wife would leave.

[Pitman]

Born, and raised in the Bronx, NY. I plan on staying close to my family but if opportunity knocks somewhere else, I'm going.

[Diolla]

I grew up about 6 miles from the House I live in now, in the same city.

All of my family has either died or moved away, I think I have one Aunt.

I may travel but I love it here and will never move away permanently.

BTW- I live in Topeka, Kansas

[syracusa]

Syracusa basically said americans are stupid

Kindly stop putting words in my mouth. You are bordering on crass.

[syracusa]

Also as shown ...

Nothing has been shown.

I feel a arrogant european trouncing on American values.

You first deny that there are such values (Your implication: "Americans care about family ties as much as other cultures do") then decry that those values are somehow questioned / examined.

If Americans hold certain values that is perfectly fine - only that there are consequences for living with any given set of values. A highly mobile society such as the US will pay a certain price for its mobility.

Of course, a culture that places very high importnace on family ties, including extended family ties, will also pay a certain price. When you deal with strong relations of reciprocity, not everything is bound to go smoothly, with everyone. People are not perfect and you have to accept dealing with their shortcomings, flaws, egos, a certain amount of self-interest, which Americans usually loathe doing. Most other cultures prefer to deal with those downsides (human flaws) than with claiming apparent independendence via loans from a cold institution.

I think the story has reached its end.

[syracusa]

Repeat deleted.

[disneysteve]

Syracusa basically said americans are stupid and like to move away from family. They choose to relocate and hence why were are on a hamster treadmill.

Basically we don't live with close family ties. Nor do we value them. People move for $$$ they don't stay put.

I think there is a lot of truth to that, though.

Look at my family. My father's sister lived one block away from us. My mother's one sister lived 2 blocks away, another sister lived 3 blocks away. My father's brother and my mother's other 3 sisters all lived in our city as well.

Now look at my generation. From the aunts and uncles I just mentioned, they have children living in CT, NJ, NY, MD FL, CA, PA and NV. Only one set of brothers even live in the same state as their siblings.

We are a much more mobile population than we once were, for better or for worse.

[syracusa]

I think there is a lot of truth to that, though.

Look at my family. My father's sister lived one block away from us. My mother's one sister lived 2 blocks away, another sister lived 3 blocks away. My father's brother and my mother's other 3 sisters all lived in our city as well.

Now look at my generation. From the aunts and uncles I just mentioned, they have children living in CT, NJ, NY, MD FL, CA, PA and NV. Only one set of brothers even live in the same state as their siblings.

We are a much more mobile population than we once were, for better or for worse.

Exactly. That was my whole point.

But nowhere did I state that Americans are "stupid" like the OP implied, that was really infuriating to read. Some people just cannot control their keyboard-enabled mouths.

It is a reality related to a certain mindset that has to do with maybe pride, rugged individualism, single-mindedness you name it...that characterizes the new generations of Americans even more so than those in the past. And that's the result: EXPENSIVE LIVING.

When you try to do everything on your own (that is, all with the help of financial institutions but NOT with the help of extended family/community) and when your own family believes that it is your responsibility to do eveything on your own without any hands-on help from them, then life gets very expensive indeed.

It is the way it is.

[curvaciouskitti]

I grew up in Massachusetts and I would leave in a heartbeat if it weren't for my family. I think I would miss them too much.

[syracusa]

I grew up in Massachusetts and I would leave in a heartbeat if it weren't for my family. I think I would miss them too much.

Nice to hear an exception to the rule; but then again, I think you're from a very nice place. You have both the family vicinity and a great place to live going on for you.
What is it you don't like about Massachusets? That state is one of the very, very few places in the US where I think I would enjoy living.

[LuxLiving]

My siblings and I all live w/i an hour of our homeplace. Always have. Brother lives 10 minutes away, sister 45 minutes away, and me an hour away.

I was a big city girl trapped in a small town situation when I was younger. My personal sense of privacy was too often violated in the small town atmosphere and add in an abusive situation that needed myself removed from it. Had nothing whatsoever to do w/wanting to get away from my family of birth and extended family connections. While away I met and married a man from here.

Syracusa, I think we may be missing some of your points because it appeared you were painting with a mighty broad stroke. There are many, many people who live in America and stay close to home and love their families very much.

Some people do move away from home for financial reasons. Lots of them in fact. Some places in America are very limited in the job market. Are we all to stay home and starve together?

[Gruntina]

I have an extremely large family and I am the only exception that moved away for relocation for non military purposes. My family all live in Montana and Montana is truly a beautiful state and my family is more than wonderful. I miss them but I am glad to live in the Bay Area in California despite the HCOL issue.

Here I have a bigger opportunity and my world is bigger because of the deaf community, interpreter agency that is widely available here that makes my life so much smoother. Selfish as I may be, I rather all of my family move here instead of me moving back to Montana. But again, my family loves to visit as it always a good vacation time for them to come here as the weather is warm and I live near an ocean.

[feh]

Born, raised and currently live in Wisconsin. As an adult I've lived 60 miles from the town I grew up in.

I'd like to move...I really hate the 5 month long winters, but my wife wants to be within an easily-drivable distance from our families.