Last month marked 4 years since I settled into my current home in Raleigh. This is the longest I ever lived in one place in my entire life. Which is ironic, because for the first time in my life, I could live absolutely anywhere I wanted to.
There are some practical explanations for why I haven’t moved.
- The Covid pandemic and its impact on the housing market and economy definitely had an impact.
- Since retiring, work relocations are no longer applicable.
- Making my wife happy is no longer relevant.
- Moving so my wife and her son can drive to see each other is a nonissue.
There are personal emotional explanations too:
- I’ve lived my “dream” of moving to Florida, going to the beach a lot and living with no winters.
- I’ve lived in major metro areas, small towns, suburbs and midsize cities. I have found what I like.
- I’ve spent some time exploring and living in places I idealized – the Rockies, the desert, the West and remote areas. Reality was quite different than my fantasies.
- I have no ties to anyone that are storing enough to complete to move near them.
Yesterday, my neighbor was marveling about how much our homes have increased in value over the past 5 years. He said, I could probably sell my home for 40% more than I paid for it four years ago.
My response was, “Yeah…but I don’t have anywhere I want to go.”
I like where I am.
At least for now.
There’s a part of me that still despises winter weather. Another part of me imagines living in Europe. Another part, wonders if I would be even more content in a small town. Another part, dreams of perfect Mediterranean weather in California.
So, I won’t I’ll never move again. Who knows what the future might bring?
But today, I ain’t going anywhere.