How much do you miss home?

[colie]

For those of you who have moved quite far away. Not sure how many miles would be considered far enough away from where you grew up

I have moved about 300 miles away. I have lived in Merseyside now for 2 years but still miss my friends and family. I am quiet by nature and have not made any friends.

i just really miss having another outlet. As well as leaving my family I have also left my inlaws who have known me for 21 years and I miss having a familiarity with people who have know me over a long period of time.

Dh and I discussed moving back home today and he knows how much I would love it. I think/know we will hopefully within next few years. This got me thinking that maybe others leave their hometown and don't miss it.

What do you's think. Do you's miss, on rainy winter sunday afternoons, being able to go to your parents or in laws for a few hours, especially when kids are going stir crazy. I just miss the support so much that I couldn't imagine
the rest of my life, living it 300 miles away from home.

There is a programme on in the evenings about emigrating and maybe, this has got me thinking even more, about how much I miss home. I don't know if I am abnormal. Do others move away and make a new life, then after a few years being away, it becomes too hard to move back home again.

Any feelings or views would be greatly received.

Sorry I wasn't referring to you as stand-offish, Colie, it's just my theory about me, although I don't mean to be.

Think I should listen to cat's advice re. pining for what I haven't got (and realise that wine makes me maudlin).

cat64 - I agree that sometimes I pine but not for ontap babysitters. I just think it would be nice to be able to attend a parents night together, to go out for an anniversay meal and a birthday meal. Maybe just two or three times a year. We didn;t ask for anyone to babysit much more than that when I was at home.

I was only asking how others felt about living away from the rest of their family.

I was feeling "homesick" and obviously for this feeling to have a title then it must be a universal feeling, and not just a matter of missing out.

This thread has shown me that some people love living away from "home" and others like me have their "homesick" moments.

'Home' is a figment of my imagination now. I left my home area almost 30yrs ago and when I go back I barely recognise it, there've been so many changes. Plus I no longer know anyone in that area so to me, home doesn't really exist anyway. But I'm pretty good at making my current location home.

suedonim-think that will begin to happen. As time goes on "home" will be where I live now. My home city is changing. I suppose that is only natural.

You do sound not very well settled, Colie. As you have young children have you been to things like NCT Toddler groups to meet people? Lots of NCT's have babysitting circles too. Or maybe your clinic can put you in touch with something similar.

We've moved lots of times and it eventually dawned on me that I had to be the one to make the first moves. No one was going to be beating a path to my doorstep to be friends so I had to be the one to get out there and meet people.

If you're quiet then it can take a lot of courage to make that move but you have to think of the benefits of getting to know folks. Ask people to come for coffee. Most people don't expect an immaculate house and if they do, well, they can just go home again if they don't like it! Make some little cards or slips of paper with your name, address and phone no on, so you can easily give your contact details without having to faff about with bits of paper and pens.

And don't make the mistake I did of thinking you have to be bosom pals with everyone you meet. It took me y-e-e-e-ars before I understood it was ok to just have some people as acquaintences!

suedonim-thanks for reply, Everything you have said above is great advice. Have now just contact nct. Thanks.
Will try harder and def invite sum mums back for coffee. If they say no I have lost nothing (new motto_.

It was interesting though, seeing others replies. Also my dh wanted the move, for work reasons, I never did, need to get over that.

Thanks again.

I like sueodnim's line of thinking.

A good one to follow/keep in mind.

Good for you, Colie. And you're quite right - don't let any negatives set you back. A good friend or two is out there for you, you just haven't met them yet.