If you’ve never left where you grew up

[Lasagnafortea]

Why not?

Sort of inspired by another thread.

Did you want to leave but couldn’t, never had the yearning to see more? did you want to stay, are you happy?

Just curious really!

I’m an only child, as is dh. Still living in area of birth. Both sets of parents are elderly and rely on us a lot, and want to see their grandchildren regularly.
If it wasn’t for a sense of obligation we’d have moved long ago, we’ve had more than one child deliberately and also brought them up to be independent and not feel that they have to look after us in old age. We have another area of the UK that we have every intention of moving to when able.

I live in the same town I grew up in. Our family goes back generations here and there are loads of us still here. Parents and both sisters live 10 minutes away in the next village.
Never really travelled apart from a few package holidays but I love my house and garden and don't miss the hassle of travelling (mainly caused by DH hating anything different and being a grumpy stressy sod if he has to do anything outside of his comfort zone). Worked for the same very good company for 43 years.
I wanted DS to go to uni, travel and see the world, work abroad, go skydiving, all the things I didn't do, but no, all he ever wanted was to to be a mechanic and now runs the garage in our village and lives next door to me😁😁😁
Comfortably early retired now and on childminding duties so can't see much changing in the near future.

I moved away and then came back to care for my grandparents

They've died now and I'm desperate to move away again but my mum guilt trips me into staying.

How do people relocate long distances while selling a house? Looks so difficult and scary but I'd love to.

If I die here, I feel like I wasted my life! No jobs, deprivation, education could be better etc

I moved to an affluent village a few years ago. The closest local town has a particular area where people are born and tend to stay within a small radius. I find it really difficult to comprehend. Lots of hard working tradesmen family's that stay in the first house they lived in as an adult and generally do up to a very high standard. I grew up in a similar area and had such itchy feet to move as soon as possible z

I’m an only child and if I’d left my parents wouldn’t have anyone else around them plus I really like my hometown

I love the town I grew up in and am happy to raise my children here. I feel they are safe and we have a good support network. We are also close to our ageing parents which has been a blessing when they have been ill. I do often ponder moving out of area to somewhere with bigger houses which would allow us to be mortgage free but my business is here, the kids are happy here, schools are good & DH work is close by. It's near a major city & airport so travel & culture is easy to access. There's not much not to like. I also think it will be more difficult for the kids when they are teens if we move to a more rural location.

Why would it have been selfish? I just don't understand this thought process at all. You are absolutely entitled to live your own life (even if other people try to make you feel guilty about it...you 💯% don't have to! That's on them, not you!) 🤷‍♀️

You're only half an hour away? Surely you don't consider that "moved away from family"? You can pop in for a cup of tea!