Are we crazy to move??

Colleen

Colleen

Senior Member
Location
Pennsylvania
My husband, who is 81 today, and I (just turned 75) have been planning to move from AZ to either PA or OH. We lived and worked many years in NW PA so that's the area we're most familiar and comfortable with. Yes...we know all about snow and cold weather. I was born in MI so I don't really mind it.

We've been in AZ for 7 years and we've had enough. My question is...are we crazy, at our age, to make such a move? We're both in good health and even though my husband had a total knee replacement 10 weeks ago, he's healing fast (thanks to PT twice a week) and getting stronger all the time. We're not planning to move until March or April. We'll have the winter to pack, get our house sold, and line up the van lines. We've moved so many times over the years but this time we wonder if we have the energy to do it.

Sometimes, when I think about moving I get overwhelmed and wonder if we're doing the right thing. Then, I think about all the things we want to do before we leave this earth and we can't do them here in AZ. Quality of life is not good for us here and if we're going to go, it has to be now...or never.

I'd welcome any opinions.
 

I don't think you are crazy at all. We moved to Dallas 15 years ago and love it, but I am constantly researching where we might want to move to next based on quality of life, taxes, etc. The one thing no one really considers these days is climate change. We've been quite lucky in Dallas because it isn't on the coast, although we had the February winter freeze. PA has recently seen so many storms, but I'm assuming NW PA is pretty immune to this? If so, I'd say go for it.
 
Is there a possibility that you can spend 3 or 4 months in Pa. or Ohio during the winter months to see if the cold has any affect on your joints as in arthritis? We moved from Pa. to the southwest for quite a few reasons one of them to reduce the impact of arthritis. We don't suffer from arthritis.

In the south west we can be outdoors year round. In Pa. more time was spent indoors due to the cold, ice & snow. Taxes ! We downsized so comparing taxes we paid on property & what we pay now isn't apples to apples. But if comparing apples to apples was done in Pa. it would be a bushel here about a 3lb. bag.

You are not crazy to want your quality of life to improve & if moving does it for you so much the better.
 
No, you're not crazy. You both obviously don't feel comfortable or at home in AZ so yes, make the move while you still can. It's always a great opportunity to 'declutter' as well :) Moving, particularly a distance like you are talking about, is always stressful and a lot of work but if you feel you're up to it then for sure do it.

I'd be interested to know how you plan to purchase a new place in whatever State you go to as you are currently in AZ. I expect that will perhaps be challenging in itself?

Sounds like a great adventure though - best of luck with whatever you decide!
 
Maybe connect with @Silverfox, who lives in NWPA, for a reality check. How long has it been since you've been up there for a visit?

When we moved from Georgia back to our home town in the upper peninsula of Michigan, we'd been back to visit a few times in the summer. Um. We really thought we knew what we were getting into. We were somewhat younger then at 52 and 54. Blowing sNOw❄️, shoveling sNOw❄️, plowing sNOw❄️, and the dreariness🌨️ of the long winters finally did us in. After 16 years we gave it up in favor of a warmer climate in spite of being among family and friends at home.
 
Colleen said:
Are we crazy??
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Probably not.

I don't think what you are feeling is uncommon. I grew up in a small town in Florida where well over half the homes were occupied by retirees from up north. I know from that experience a lot of people have second thoughts after moving down, and going back isn't rare.

My only advice is to do it as soon as you can, waiting will not make it easier. And it will give you more time back where you are more comfortable.
 
dseag2 said:
I don't think you are crazy at all. We moved to Dallas 15 years ago and love it, but I am constantly researching where we might want to move to next based on quality of life, taxes, etc. The one thing no one really considers these days is climate change. We've been quite lucky in Dallas because it isn't on the coast, although we had the February winter freeze. PA has recently seen so many storms, but I'm assuming NW PA is pretty immune to this? If so, I'd say go for it.
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I agree about considering climate change: I've heard more than once that, if possible, to move north of the 45th parallel if you live in the northern hemisphere or south of the 45th if you live in the southern parallel, i.e. get as close to either pole as you can since the poles will become the only temperate zones.
 
Thank you all for such positive feedback!! I'm pleasantly surprised!

A few of you mentioned climate change and it's definitely a factor here, too. Everything is drying up and rain has been non-existent in our area for 6 of the 7 years we've lived here. We're in a higher elevation (3400 ft.) so you'd think we'd get rain...right? Nope. It evaporates before it hits the ground. According to our local weather, we've had the hottest summer on record. It got up to 112* a couple times this summer with 1% humidity. We know from living in PA for many years that it will be an adjustment as far as the weather is concerned, but we're prepared for it. I'm also looking forward to the change of seasons. There are none here. You may think that hot, dry weather would be ideal, but, believe me, it gets boring. We have 360* views of mountains, which is nice but blowing dust and no greenery to look at is not our cup of tea.

Someone mentioned the COL. Yes, we know living in PA/OH will be a little more expensive than living here but it's not going to break the bank. We know what it will cost and we're willing to pay for being somewhere we want to be. Everything is a tradeoff. Ohio is cheaper for property taxes then PA so we're looking around Brookfield area and across the state line into PA (Hermitage area). We know all this area very well and feel "at home" whenever we go back there.

I have contacted Silverfox a while back just to see where she lives but she hasn't ever answered me. :(

Someone asked about buying a home so far away from us. That's where a good realtor comes in. We've been in contact with several in several areas and have found that most realtor's these days know how to do everything virtually and over the internet. When we moved from PA to come to AZ 7 years ago, we finalized all the paperwork on the phone with the finance company as we were on the road driving here. Then when we sold that house, the couple that bought it was from MS and never actually stepped foot in the house until they moved in. Their realtor came to the house and she did a virtual walkthrough with the buyer on the phone. My husband is "old-school" and hopes it will be OK to buy a house this way. We're not hopping on a plane like we use to to go look at houses. Besides, homes are selling so quickly that by the time you'd get on a plane to look at a house you'd be interested in, it would already be gone. It's a different way of buying a house, but that's the way it is now.

Speaking of packing....I want to do most of it myself and there's a lot I can do this winter. I can get my sewing room packed (UGH!) and empty the closets. I can pack up my china cabinet and while I'm doing those things I can donate things that have accumulated in closets that we don't use or wear any more. As it is, it's going to cost about $14,000 for the van and it might be more since we had an estimate this summer. It's a job but we'll do a little at a time and it won't be so bad. :) We're looking forward to next summer and being able to take the boat out and go fishing and hubby is looking forward to getting back to trap shooting with friends. Can't wait.
 
officerripley said:
I agree about considering climate change: I've heard more than once that, if possible, to move north of the 45th parallel if you live in the northern hemisphere or south of the 45th if you live in the southern parallel, i.e. get as close to either pole as you can since the poles will become the only temperate zones.
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We will all be long dead by the time that happens.
 
Leaving Arizona is a Wise Choice...before Climate Change and severe droughts make that area...especially Phoenix...almost unbearable. My Sister and Brother-in-Law had a really nice 2nd home in Scottsdale, where they used to spend their Winters. However, they sold it for a nice profit about 3 years ago....said that it wasn't worth spending much time there anymore.

If Mother Nature continues to bombard the SW, it won't be many more decades before that area is almost uninhabitable.
 
Having lived in both NE Ohio (growing up), and Phoenix for several years, I can sorta relate to both areas of the country.

I loved both places while I was living them... But to me, unless you can take into account the changes of what they have become since you left .... and not just think of life back then as you remember living it.
That would set you up for disappointment, even with relatives around, etc. JMO
 
Don M. said:
Leaving Arizona is a Wise Choice...before Climate Change and severe droughts make that area...especially Phoenix...almost unbearable. My Sister and Brother-in-Law had a really nice 2nd home in Scottsdale, where they used to spend their Winters. However, they sold it for a nice profit about 3 years ago....said that it wasn't worth spending much time there anymore.

If Mother Nature continues to bombard the SW, it won't be many more decades before that area is almost uninhabitable.
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Sad, but true :( The whole SW is going to suffer in the coming years and one of the contributing factors, besides climate change, with the water shortage, is the continuous building. Phoenix keeps jamming as many people in as they can but water will be a real problem in a very short time. The developers have nothing on their agenda but making money and they don't care how it's impacting the environment. Money and greed....not to mention the pollution levels are already off the charts. Thankfully we live 200 miles NW of Phoenix and no pollution here.

Even in our small town, the home building is unstoppable. There are so many people moving here from CA, OR, and WA that builders can't keep up with the demand. The good thing about it is...our home is worth 2X what we bought it for 4 years ago :)
 
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Bonnie said:
Having lived in both NE Ohio (growing up), and Phoenix for several years, I can sorta relate to both areas of the country.

I loved both places while I was living them... But to me, unless you can take into account the changes of what they have become since you left .... and not just think of life back then as you remember living it.
That would set you up for disappointment, even with relatives around, etc. JMO
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No relatives around any more in the area but we do have friends. The thing with the area in PA that we're considering is...nothing ever changes. It's like stepping back in time and that suits us just fine. We love the Amish clip clopping down the road, the summer roadside stands where you can get fresh veggies and corn on the cob, etc. It's a slower pace and you can breathe fresh air and we can go fishing any time.
 
Colleen said:
No relatives around any more in the area but we do have friends. The thing with the area in PA that we're considering is...nothing ever changes. It's like stepping back in time and that suits us just fine. We love the Amish clip clopping down the road, the summer roadside stands where you can get fresh veggies and corn on the cob, etc. It's a slower pace and you can breathe fresh air and we can go fishing any time.
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I fully understand what you are saying, and why you long for it again ... Definitely not going to find that lifestyle in Arizona.

The Amish .. don't know if you know Geauga County, small towns in the country, east of Cleveland. That was home for me until I was almost 30. Amish buggys everywhere!
... I had an accident once, because I came over a hill and didn't see a buggy right in front of me ... into the ditch I went! lol
 

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