Anyone ever just picked up and moved far away

by Cabin in the woods 35 Replies latest jw friends

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  looking_glass

  Has anyone here ever just gotten so sick of it all that they just packed up their belongings and pets and left?

  I slowed worked my way away from my home town. In three years I moved three times, with each move a little further away

  How did you do it? Did you know people in the place that you went to? How did you find work?

  I found work first. I took the train back and forth first and then worked my way closer and closer to the big city.

  Was it a big social shock like from country to large city?

  I was not really from a small town. But I could not go anywhere where I did not run into someone I knew and who was a JW. So moving to the city was great, because I loved the fact that no one knew me and I knew no one. Also, a big city allows you to be seen, but go around unseen. I could stand on the corner at midnight on a busy street in downtown Chicago, with a low cut shirt and a banana sticking between my chest and not a soul stopped to inquire what the deal was, because no one cared (I won 500 bucks out of that one ... the boyz I was with insisted that men would stop to ask what the deal was with regard to the banana in the shirt, but no one did). No one cares. It is beautiful!!!

  Was it worth it in the end?

  I travel a lot for work, so living in the city is best for me because I have to get to the airport a lot. I also love being in the city because my mom and other jws will never just pop by to see me. I live in a secured building. You have to get buzzed in, sign in with security, then get buzzed into another building. Security is pretty tight (thus, the reason for assessments). You give up one thing to get another. However, I do not miss what I gave up. So it was worth it to me.

  [sounds of women's hearts breaking all over JWD at the news of B-man's current squeeze ]
• 

  serendipity

  [sounds of women's hearts breaking all over JWD at the news of B-man's current squeeze ]

  Ladies, it's not over until there's wedding bells. So go for it, if you're so inclined!

  Regarding the runaway act: We did this 20 times while I was growing up. I viewed it as an adventure.

  Sometimes I wish I could just sell everything and move. But I have to be responsible - at least until my daughter graduates from HS next year. After that, California, here I come. Maybe.
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  Carmel

  Many years ago I was offered a job in Alaska so without consulting with anyone I signed on. Went home that evening and announced to my wife that we were moving, that I'd be leaving the following Monday, (it was Friday night) and she would be packing up and coming the following week.

  We were to be there for a two year tour but left Ak 19 years later! We both loved it and wouldn't have miss the chance for anything!

  carmel
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  Satans little helper

  
  I have had a life long pattern of packing up and moving away -

  at 18 when I left school I packed up and moved in with a friend so that I could leave home and leave the JW's

  at 27 I left Plymouth to move 200 miles away to find work and live with my girlfriend

  at 33 I left the UK and moved to Australia for a bit of adventure and to find a better place to raise a family.

  The move to Oz took a bit of planning because of the hassle getting a permenant residency visa but every other move has been by the seat of my pants and relatively unplanned - mainly following job offers.

  It is tough to start again in new places but I was lucky that this time I made some online friends through an expat website and through here before I left. Those friends have made up the foundation of my life now and helped us through some really tough times since we moved to Oz.

  Finding work is easy if you are prepared to do anything to put a roof over your head, I came here with the view that I would drive trucks or clean pools if I had to, as it happened I landed a good contract within 2 weeks of landing here.

  Was it worth it in the end? hmm.... well we certainly aren't as financially well of as we were in the UK but we have a nicer house and I have the opportunity to do a job I will really enjoy. I think it is worth it for the quality of life and the good friends I have made here.
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  MissBehave

  Alright, ballistic, well I guess it's okay. After all the only thing I've ever wanted is for you to be happy. But if she treats you badly I'll kick her ass!!!!
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  White Waves

  
  Ballistic - it sounds like you yearn for long distant relationships - non-committal, at best. Poor man! And why the children, if you are not looking for children? Desperation? You, in actuality, are missing out on those that meet your real criteria. Hold out for those that actually are a better “fit”. Fit as in other than physically. When you grow up and want to settle down you'll be able.
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  Poodles

  When i moved from MO to CA i just packed up and took a bus! I have lived in small towns in the midwest most of my life except when moving to AZ and living in the "big city" was more then i could handle! People sure are different in the city, not very nice i have to say!! I was raised to be helpful and friendly and was shocked to have to adjust to city living!

  I was in culture shock for the first five years i lived here in CA!!
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  sass_my_frass

  Twice; moved from Perth to Canberra in Australia; about 2000 miles. Canberra is Australia's capital but it's just a big country town with lovely architecture. I got a job there before I moved, and knew nobody. It was pretty lonely for a while and I moved mostly to get out of The Truth, but for a few crazy reasons joined a congregation when I got there. It sucked there so after two years, three months and seventeen days I moved to Melbourne a few years ago. Much bigger city, lots more to do, far more distraction, and a soul a buzz that doesn't exist in a public service town. I knew a couple of old JW friends so shared a place with them for a while. Life got a lot better when I moved out of that pyjama party of a place and got myself disfellowshipped and a hubbie and all.

  I'm a bit bummed that we're moving back up to Canberra at the end of the year; we'll be developing Mr Frass' property in the mountains on the weekends and living in Canberra during the working week, but we're going up there mostly to be near his family. We'll be able to move our jobs up there, we're lucky like that.

  I kind of like that I've seen a lot of the country, and hope that we can keep moving over the years.
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  Wolfgirl

  When my father admitted to sexually abusing me, and was told he could remain an elder, I had enough. I moved from Ohio to Hong Kong. LOL!
  It was a huge culture shock for me, but it was definitely worth it. I got to travel all around the world, live in various countries, and really LIVE life. I wouldn't change it for anything in the world.
  I decided back then that I would live life with the motto, "No regrets." If a decision had to be made about something, I would think, "In 5 years, will I be saying, 'I wish I had...' if I don't do this?" Now my only regret is that my eyes weren't opened earlier.
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  coffee_black

  I did. About 5 years ago. Haven't regretted it for a moment. I left Florida, where I had lived for over 20 years. I moved back to Massachusetts, where I grew up. I have relatives here, and that helped. I found a great career, and am dating an x jw who I dated when I was a teenager....He's a wonderful man. Life is sooooooo great!

  My kids benefited too....they are grown, (30 &24) and have become much more independant. I miss them & they miss me, but we appreciate eachother more.

  Coffee