Decisions, Decisions...

[Hath]

I found out today my job is moving from Boston to Raleigh, NC. I have 60 days to decide whether to uproot my family and move halfway down the coast.

I may be scarce(r) for a while in emails and the blogosphere while I sort this out with my family over the next two months.

Prayers for strength are welcome.

[mbwl]

That's one hell of a decision to make Hath.
Well at least they have given you 2 months to decide.
All I can say is that I'll offer up a few prayers to help you & your family to come to right decision for you.
Take care.

[fivefivegenie]

Oh, Hath, I'm sorry to hear that! I hope that things go well for you whichever choice you decide to make... and prayers for strength are being said.

[Hath]

Thanks girls.

We talked to my son about it last night; he's thinking it would be a fun adventure. We're going to take a trip out there next month (company paid) to scope out the area, see the schools, etc.

My tummy's still in knots though. Telling my mother will be much harder.

[mysterytrain]

Big decisions to make, my friend, but I know you will make the right one for your family.

As always, you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Love you, my friend.

[fivefivegenie]

Mar 29, 2012 6:13:15 GMT -6 Hath said:

Thanks girls.

We talked to my son about it last night; he's thinking it would be a fun adventure. We're going to take a trip out there next month (company paid) to scope out the area, see the schools, etc.

My tummy's still in knots though. Telling my mother will be much harder.

Well, your son looking at it that way will make it a lot easier if you do decide to go.

And as for your mother - at least we're in the day of free long distance plans, cell phones, email, video chats, etc. which make the distance seem a little less. It's not quite the same, but it's definitely a lot better than it used to be before all those things.

[nyyankees5]

It is big decision to make. One I had to make myself 7 years ago. Though I miss my family it was the best decision for kids & Hubby. I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

[carolina]

Hey!
I'm right next door in Durham so if you have any questions, let me know. Here are some pluses: 3 major universities (NC State, Duke, UNC), a hockey team (Hurricanes), 2 baseball teams (Mudcats and Durham Bulls), the RBC center which attracts lots of major entertainment acts, schools could be better but lots of good private ones, charter schools, 2 hours from the beach, 4 hours from the mountains. Spring and Fall are so beautiful here. Lots of little theaters! I love Theater in the Park in Raleigh. Durham gets a bad rap sometimes reputation wise but it's not really worse than anywhere else in the area. It's downtown has been revitalized. Tons of great restaurants in the area. I love it here and plan to stay forever! Renee

[Rike]

whow, thats not an easy decision. but when your family is ok with that, then is a bit easier.

[Hath]

Thanks everyone.

Renee, we're looking in the Cary area (it's closer to Research Triangle Park, where my office will be). For the schools, is it that the level of education isn't necessarily as high as you'd like? Or are there issues in the schools with disinterested administration, bullying, etc.?

We're still trying to sort out if it's really a maybe or not. Trying to explain to Hathlet about what he won't have at his disposal any longer is tough. He gets sad and says he doesn't want to go, then when he thinks about it, he says it won't be so bad, and wants to again.

He's 11, he doesn't grasp the "this is a forever change" concept quite so well yet. There are no do-overs on this. We couldn't afford to move back to Boston

[Hath]

OK, so now we're sold on Hillsboro/Chapel Hill area. Hub and I are flying down Thursday morning for the weekend. Lots of real estate to see...

Hathlet and I will go down in two weeks to give him a look-see.

Getting closer to decision time!

[fivefivegenie]

Have a safe trip, Hath! And I hope, if this is meant to be, that you really enjoy it!

[alicefayenjbj]

Wish I had known you were down here this past weekend. I was at the Southern Women's Show at the fairgrounds. Some of the things Renee forgot to tell you, the weather this past weekend was wild mid 70s on Friday and then in the mid to low 60's Saturday. But that's one thing about North Carolina, the weather is like that in the spring. The Summers are hot mid 90's to the 100's. Winter, ha we hardly get snow.

I live in Charlotte, 2 to 3 hours depending on how you drive. Renee you forgot Wake Forest in your colleges.

I don't have kids, so I can't tell you about them. Diane used to live in Durham and moved to Mebane and drives into Durham for work. She's a grant specialist at Duke University. I have a friend Anita that lives in Apex and Mrs B's best friend used to live in Cary. I sent you a listing in Wake County which isn't far from RTP.

Welcome to North Carolina. I hope you will enjoy moving here.

Alice Faye

[Hath]

OK, so we're about 90% sure we're moving. One last family pow-wow this weekend, then the list-making starts 0_o

[Hath]

SO much has happened since May

We decided to go forward with the move, and closed on our NC home on August 17th. It's a lovely 5-bed/3.5 batch house in a nice sub-division with a pool that's 15 minutes from the airport, and matches to the middle school my son wanted to attend.

We listed our MA home for sale at the end of July, and just yesterday accepted an offer. We close in October, and are now in the process of trying to find a short-term (9 month) rental to take us to the end of the school year.

EEEP!!!

[nyyankees5]

That's great news. Best of luck to you & yours in the next chapter of your life.

[fivefivegenie]

Wonderful, Hath! Hope you're able to find a rental with no problem!

[LJ]

hope this makes you and your family happy. good luck to you!

[jovifann]

Congrats Hath, I am glad everything is working out. Best of luck

[Kris]

Congrats. I hope everything will go smoothly with the moving. ...Wow...It's weird I'm still a little bit in shock that you are leaving Boston area. I mean you mentioned it, but now it really hits me.

Btw...mail me your new address for x-cards. Don't wanna break a tradition, right?

Question: As the football season is right around the corner (....coughGoGiantscough...) how do you stay sane, knowing there will be no more games in the stadium for you?

[Hath]

So, another update. Thanks everyone, for the well wishes! And Kris, this means no more Patriots Football -- until they Pats come down to play the Panthers!!

So after a ZILLION things happening, we are nearing the end of this journey.

We found a condo in our town, and can move in October 1. Our stuff is moving from MA to NC that first week of October, and I'm traveling to NC to take possession (and put up curtains lol). We close with the relo company on October 8, then we're DONE.

I'm driving down to NC the last weekend of March 2013, and my hub/son will come down the day after school gets out in June.

It has been an exhausting process. I've been hospitalized with chest pains (turns out to be gallbladder attacks), had my blood pressure go through the roof, and haven't slept through the night in about seventeen weeks.

On the plus size, I've lost 40 pounds since January, and it's staying off.

I highly do NOT recommend selling a house, buying a house, and renting a condo all within a two-month period, unless you absolutely have to. Hella-stressful.