To not know where to move to?

[Monkeyseesmonkeydoesn]

We live in a really lovely town in the midlands, semi rural but walking distance to amenities and shops etc, wine bars, cafes, independent shops, nice parks etc and 10 mins from a good city centre. I have made brilliant friends here over the last 12yrs.

5yr old in good primary school and baby about to start nursery. We have good jobs.

Both sets of grandparents live 180 miles away in the same area, as do my siblings and their OHs.

We've always said we'd move back when kids are small to be closer to family but now questioning whether it's the right thing to do.

180 miles away would be rural with less amenities and that cafe culture lifestyle left behind plus work, school, friends but would give us a different slower pace of life, rural for boys growing up, relationship with grandparents etc, large house (cos of what budget translates to in area)

How do you decide! Wwyd? Has anyone been through this process?

Unless your current house is uncomfortably small, I would not move. In an emergency you could get to your families in a few hours and at least they're in the same place so you can double up at Christmas/ visits etc.

Could you move nearer but be in a small town where you still have the amenities you're used to? Or maybe that would be pointless as you're moving to be close to them! I don't think I could live very rurally. I live in a very bustling town that's surrounded by countryside so have the best if both. Maybe research the area and see if you can find something similar. Countryside is great for kids but when they're teen and want to meet friends you'll end up driving them around and they might feel isolated from friends if they're aren't any nearby.

If you're happy where you are then why move?

Which area do your relatives live in? Is there a compromise closer to them? Somewhere with everything.

The midlands countryside is a bit bland for my liking.

Would be moving to Cumbria, which is where we both grew up.

Your life sounds really lovely as it is. I would stay where you are because you can still visit your families. Being in close proximity to family can have its own downsides, plus (from people I know who have returned to their home town), some times the place does not seem the same as when you were growing up because places change. I guess it depends how you feel when you do visit your home town. Do you prefer it more than where you currently live? Because if your extended families circumstances change they could easily move away themselves and you will be left living there.