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- I sold my house and moved my kid across the US to live with my parents. I’m not sure the benefits are worth all I gave up. (businessinsider.com)
Cross-Country Move Brings Financial Relief, But Leaves Behind a Piece of Heart in Washington
Emma Woodward and her family made a significant leap of faith, trading their independent life in Western Washington for the financial stability and family support offered by a move back to her childhood home in Maryland. While the decision has undeniably eased their financial burdens and enriched their daughter’s life with her grandparents, Woodward openly grapples with the emotional cost of leaving behind the community and sense of home she cultivated in Washington.
For years, Woodward and her partner faced the mounting pressures of Washington’s high cost of living, a challenge compounded by the familiar millennial struggle of balancing parenting, work, and a social life. The allure of reduced financial strain and increased familial support for their then two-year-old daughter ultimately led them to embark on a cross-country journey.
“I always knew selling our house in Washington and moving across the country to live with my parents in Maryland was not my dream,” Woodward shared, “However, the practical side of me thought it might at least be a good idea.”
After months of selling belongings and saying their goodbyes, the family packed their remaining possessions and drove a week to Maryland, settling into Woodward’s childhood home.
A Smart Financial Move, But a Loss of Community
Living with her parents has brought tangible benefits. Woodward’s daughter now enjoys daily interactions with her grandparents and other relatives, while she and her partner have shed the weight of a mortgage and other homeownership expenses. The shared living arrangement also fosters a community-style approach to household responsibilities and costs.
Despite these advantages, Woodward admits to a profound sense of loss. She speaks of Washington as an almost tangible entity, a “person” to mourn. She cherished their former life in a walkable city on Puget Sound, embracing the region’s diverse outdoor opportunities, its “moody weather moments,” and its vibrant coffee culture.
Leaving that behind meant starting anew, a process that, a year later, still presents challenges. “I’m still working to make deep connections, and I have many days when I feel lonely,” Woodward lamented, noting that her social circle in Maryland had largely dissipated since she last lived there over a decade ago.
Weighing the Trade-Offs: A Lingering Question
Even with the undeniable benefits of their current situation, the question of whether the trade-offs were truly worth it continues to resonate with Woodward. Though she grew up in Maryland, it doesn’t yet feel like home in the same way Washington did.
“I know we’re in the right place for us right now, but I can’t help but wonder about the life I left behind,” she pondered. “Were the higher costs of living worth it? Should I trade this newfound financial stability for a scrappier, penny-pinching life with a fuller heart?”
For now, Woodward is embracing the financial stability and family support her move has provided, even as she continues to miss her life in Washington. Her journey serves as a poignant reminder that while financial decisions often seem straightforward, the true cost can extend far beyond monetary value, sometimes encompassing the very essence of home and community.