The Pros and Cons of Moving Closer to Kids or Grandkids in Houston

The Pros and Cons of Moving Closer to Kids or Grandkids in Houston

Family is important, and when you live apart it's difficult to spend time with each other frequently. While telephones and video calls have helped to decrease that distance, it is not the same as being able to physically be with your loved ones. If you might be thinking about moving closer to your children, or to your grandchildren, you should scrupulously consider every part of that decision. While it is effortless to see only the positives, without truly thinking about the disadvantages. And for every up there is a down, which is why it's a good idea to compare and contrast what the future might hold if you decide to make that move to Houston.

The Pros and Cons of Moving Closer to Kids or Grandkids

Pro: You Get More Family Time

Even on-the-go families can find time to grab lunch or go to a weekend show, provided they live relatively close together. It also means you won't miss holidays, birthdays, and other valuable events like recitals, school field trips, etc. that grandkids tend to have regularly. That is a valid reason for many older parents to try to close the physical distance between themselves, and the rest of their families.

Con: You Have Limited Options

If the rest of your family previously resides in a particular location, then you will be required to take that city on its own terms. That means you have restricted selections when it comes to budgets, locations, and other options that are frequently available for you when thinking about moving. Depending on your resources and your personal needs, you might not locate a new abode that gives you everything you want.

Pro: You Have a Support Network in Houston

Even if you are unaccustomed to your new locale, you'll have a support system in the form of your family. They can help assimilate you, show you around, and get you up-to-speed on what your new city has to offer. That's a huge plus, especially for seniors who may have hesitations about asking for help, or starting a new social network in Houston from scratch.

Con: It Can Be Hard to Balance Everything

Just because you're a parent or a grandparent doesn't mean you don't have a life to live. You have interests and pastimes, and you may even still be working on your career. Just because your kids have grown up (and in some instances had kids of their own) doesn’t mean you don't have plenty to do, still. If you live near your family, though, you might feel obligated to put that aside so that you can spend more time with your loved ones.

Pro: New Opportunities

If the location you're moving to has things your current area doesn't, then that can be a gigantic advantage for you. Whether it is more robust social services to help you with your needs, a more engaging social scene, or just an economy where your money goes further than it does where you currently live. You need to carefully evaluate where you are going, and try to find positive aspects of it that will allow you to branch out.

Con: The Cost

Even if you have a modest house with stuff, and you're moving a somewhat short distance, it's going to cost you time, money and energy to move. Those costs should be calculated and their impact pondered, before you commit to move. Because even if you can afford your final destination; you want to be closer to your family; and there are opportunities there, the cost of moving might be enough to keep you in place.