Ready for a move?
June 10, 2009 by Dave
Filed under Waterfront Life
The other day I ran into an old aquantice. He is a younger gentleman who used to show up for a breakfast group I’m in. I have not seen him for some time and thought maybe his schedule had changed.
After some chit chat, he explained he had been thinking of moving. My first thought was to ask him what state he was moving to. A place where the financial climate was better? Perhaps a place where the winters were warmer and sunnier?
No he explained he wasn’t leaving the state. After all, he had been born and raised in Michigan. He met his wife and started his family in Michigan. His family and friends are in Michigan and he has a good position in the financial services sector. He came to the conclusion that he and his wife could really live pretty much anywhere in the state. At least anywhere within a two hour drive of Grand Rapids. All they needed was a phone line and a high speed internet connection.
They had been considering a lake side community. They had been visiting as far south as South Haven, as far north as Traverse City and everywhere between. He is leaning a bit to the Ludington area.
He felt they were young enough to make a move, and why not live along the big lake.
Talking to him really got me to thinking, do I live where I really want to? How about you? Do you yearn to wake up in the morning and have your first cup of coffee looking out at a lake or river? Or, do you prefer the solitude of living up north in the woods? Are you in a small town and yearn for the excitement and culture in a big city? Or, are you tired of the noise and traffic of the city and would love to live in a small town?
Whatever your dream, now is the time to explore it and make it a reality.
If you are thinking about the country or the woods make sure you take you kids into consideration. I live in a rural area and around a lake so the population density is greater right where I live but we are 10 miles from anything. That makes it difficult when you need to get your kids to summer camps or after school activities if they are not of driving age yet. It also if tough on the kids if there aren’t a lot of other kids in the area to play with. I’ve been driving 17 miles through farm country on my way to work for past 20 years and slowly those farms are being split up into 2-1/2 and 5 acre parcels. I can’t tell you how many times I see a starter castle or even a modest ranch going up on one of those and then within three years they are on the market. Perhaps it was investment or perhaps their move to the country was not well thought out.
Ed,
Good points, I am not much for the small lots.
Dave
Right now, I live in the city of metro Detroit, but have almost 2 acres of land with a pond. So…my hubby and I are scouting out places for when he retires. Both of us have agreed we want some land…but are still negotiating the amount! Just went up to Indian River and both of us love the woodsy atmosphere and the area. Also drove around Mullet Lake but way too populated for my taste! Enjoyed the drive through the rich rural forest area but agreed too rural, especially when the snow flies! However, we have set our sites on staying in Michigan and relocating or moving to my hubby’s alma mater-the land of Purdue and finding a bit of property on the outskirts of the University.