Moving interstate away from family - have you done it? Feeling guilty.

[Arimeh]

We moved from queensland to tassie nearly 2 years ago, and we put our place on the market last september because we want to go back to queensland.

I'm not sorry we moved down here, but we do feel guilty that we have taken away the grandkids from DH's parents - these kids are the only grandkids they have, and they are missing out on seeing them grow up. They are on a pension so can't afford to come down, and we can't afford to fly everyone up (its about 2 grand for all of us!)

I miss my siblings as well I have great friends down here (really really awesome friends) but their kids aren't my kids cousins, and I loved growing up with my cousins, and I want my kids to have that.

I don't regret moving down here - at all - because I had two beautiful births down here that I probably wouldn't have got in Queensland, and I met some great girls down here who have become like my surrogate family. Plus I got to see my nan for the first time in 20 years before she died.

But I miss my mum. And the biggest thing for us (apart from my IL's) - that if someone in our family dies, we can't afford to fly up there for a funeral. And I would hate that.

So we've done it, dealt with the guilt for a year, and then made the decision to move back. And we are still waiting because our place hasn't sold.

Good luck with what you decide to do, you can always move back if its not the right "fit" for you

[Gigi]

i'm really curious about the financials of a big move. Do you load EVERYTHING on a big truck, and then have to buy again, what gets broken in transit. i think most of my furniture would not survive a huge drive. And surely, there must come a time, when for the cost of the moving truck, it would be same/or cheaper, to buy new whitegoods when you get there? I can never get my head around it (the money part).

And working out where to live, when a different state is new to you.

it all sounds so overwhelming to me.

sometimes i think about it, as i live in a very dry part of Australia.

back to you Daintree, c'mon - with a username like yours honey, it's obviously where your heart is, GO FOR IT! i think you'll kick yourself if you don't.

Kids have 18 years - so yes, your Vic rellies will miss out on 2 of those 18 years. (not counting visits).

Sounds like a great adventure to me.