Nervous to move to unknown area

[Honeymonster2]

I'm planning a move 3 hours away from where I am now. My family will be an hour away further again. It's an area I don't know, although Google says its nice enough.

Has anyone started completely fresh in a brand new area with just them and their children? I won't be able to work as I'll be alone and my youngest isn't at nursery yet. So maybe another year before I would put him in and start a part time job.

The new house would be loads bigger, I've got 3 boys in one room and a girl in another now and the new house is bigger all over plus an extra bedroom. Did you feel painfully lonely in the new area? Did you make it work? I want my children to flourish obviously so I'm very nervous!

Personally I wouldn't move to somewhere by myself just for a bigger house. That first year not working would destroy me loneliness-wise!

I don't have anybfamily or friends here either and I'm 4 hours away from family. If I move I'll be in the same position but 1 hour away. My worry is the new area, new schools etc. I didn't grow up where I am but I've been here and there in this area for 10 years

If it's 3 hours closer to family then 100% I would move. I grew up moving every 2 years though so it's not a big thing for me but I always adjusted fine.

An hour away really isn't far if you/your family drive. We are about an hour away from both sides of our family and see them regularly. We drive almost an hour 3 times a week just for DDs sport lessons.

Your kids will presumably have nursery or school to make new friends and you'll be able to say hi to folk at pickup etc and arrange playdates or whatever?

If they're younger then get to toddler groups etc. join the local Facebook groups to find out what's on in the area before you even move. Introduce yourself as moving to the area soon and trying to see what's available.

Good luck!

I always find it exciting moving to a new area, it feels like a fresh start.

If you're comfortable sharing the rough area, you may find someone on here who is local and can give you suggestions of activities for the kids, jobs, things to do ..etc, maybe even make a friend, albeit online but in your new area

So you'll soon be 4 hours away from your family as opposed to 3? Can't you move closer to your family?

Your first post is a bit confusing - implying you'll be 4 hours away from family, but later you say one hour.

Like a pp, I wouldn't move to a new area where I knew no-one without a compelling reason. If you move for a job, that gives an immediate network of local people, but it you are going to be in your house, not woth, with 2 small children, I suspect that would be really isolating.

No, I mean at the moment I am 4 hours away from my sister and family, if I moved I'd be 1 hour away, but it's not somewhere I've been before, so it's a big gamble