Should I Stay or should I go.....
 

My wife and I are native Texans, born & raised. My wife is now 6 weeks pregnant
with our first (& only) child. It is hard to survive here in Texas when our unemployment rate is so high and the pay rate is really low.... From what we hear there are more opportunities up north vs. the south..... With that in mind I am a little confused on what we should do, because all of our immediate family lives in Texas.......

You've got to go where you'll be able to support your family.

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What's the cost of living there?
Is it low enough to make the increase in pay rate worth moving?

From what my wife & her Uncle says, it is.

If that's the case, then I agree wtih sarge.
You have to do what's best for your family.

But if we move away on & we fall on our face than there will not be any family to help us out...

Also it's scary to move to unfamilar areas...

Well, I guess you could always stay in Texas
and wonder how things might have been
if you had moved.

Yieks... good one.... are you my dad?

Nope, but probably old enough ;)

Sounds like its time to grow up and move.

I'm sure if you stop being a pothead, things would be better for the child.

Colorado... ;)

Suddenly, I have a dejavú :p

go up there, get the job and stay in a shitty apartment for a month or so and see how it's going. if it's good then move up there, if not go back.

that, and go ahead and move. My family is very close to being forced to sell our house and move. We're looking at all the options, but were jsut flat running out of money. It will be sad, cause we built this house, and have lived the past 12 years here, but we'll do what we gotta.

Don't move to Washington state. Cost of living is getting higher and the job market is pretty flat. Unless you have a garuanteed job, it would be tough.

Another thing you may want to research is medical care in areas you are looking at. Another reason that Washington isn't such a great pick, is that we are losing OB/Gyns due to malpractice premuims being very, very costly.

Another thing to consider is that it may be easier to be closer to family while the Mrs is pregnant. Previously being a single mom, having family around is wonderful through those first years.

Make sure the cost of living makes it worth it, I have lived in many places and there are few in the US that can that match up to Houston. I seem to recall it being more expensive up in Austin etc tho. If you decide to move remember to exhaust your options at home.
Also consider the weather, the temp can drop really fast up thur in Colorado, personally I prefer the warm-cold mixes.

I thought Houston was just as bad as San Antonio...With the exception of more people...of course...

Pappy you always give such wonderful advice. Sometimes I think you are Dr. Phil in disguise.

Only you can make this decision for you and your family.

First of all having a baby is one of the most wonderful and stressful things that can happen in ones life. Nothing can replace how incredible it is to have a child and watch them grow up and to be able to love so unconditionally..... at the same time it is extremely stressful and demanding of all of your time and energy.

If you stay in TX you will be near family and friends and have them to lean on.

If you decide to move make sure that you have a job lined up and some security in place.

Whatever you decide good luck to you!
~ Missy

The essentials are more expensive in San Antonio than Houston.

Colorado would be the ticket. You hear about the states that are doing bad, Washington, Ohio, Texas but you don't hear about the states that are doing good. At least I don't. Since I haven't heard about Colorado it must be doing allright. I hear they have good schools there and you have to support your family and that seems the way to do it if you already can get a job once you move. Plus the recreation aint bad.

The true patriot isn't the one who was born and raised but choose the country (state) where they live in today.

Good schools would be a plus for me...

Well there was columbine. That was in Colorado right? Other than that... Still I would imagine that schools in Colorado are better than those in Texas. Some online statistics could probably verify that assumption.

Columbine....sounds respectable...dont they teach Navy Seal Skills there? Or at least drive a kid to learn Navy Seal Skills?

I had a friend who moved from Texas to Colorado. He and his father got a job the same place I work. At the end of the school year they both packed up and went back to Texas. I recently got an email from him telling me that he was thinking about coming back to Colorado.

Do what you think is best for your family.

My opinion is to move to Colorado. Albeit it might be away from family, it will be a new start for you and your wife. It will be nice to be in a new neighborhood, meet new people, and see your kid grow up in a different neighborhood. You can always visit family being that Texas is rather close by. But the main point is that it is always good to get a new view on life, meet new people, and start anew. I'm sure you'll like it. Congrats and good luck to you.

Starting anew sounds very tempting... now more than ever