I stay where I am because for the first time, in a LONG time, I am needed.
I care for two small humans every day, after school. I get them off the bus, make
sure everyone has a snack, the big one does his homework, and keep them from
getting into too much trouble before their parents get home. During the summer, I
make sure no one drowns, or kills one another.
If you ask them what my 'job' is, they say, "to keep us safe".
Best job I've ever had.

Absolutely nothing. I'm hitch hiking to arizona this coming weekend to get out of the cold. I'm going to try to survive for a couple of months in the desert. It ought to be a great adventure. When I get back to civilization, I'll tell you guys all about it. Someone will probably have to tell me to shut up about it.

I like these kind of questions because it gives me a chance to brag. I have lived over the world and country. Seattle became the best place I had found and it became my home. Later I had a long distance relationship which turned into a marriage. My late partner, from Texas, fell in love with Seattle at first sight. She also had the jitters about moving someplace she didn't know until her boss reminded her of her adage one must sometimes get out of their comfort zone to progress. After a number of years she felt there was a lack of community in our neighborhood. We then met someone and discovered an island in what is known as the Salish Sea. We visited here for several years and then moved. The sense of community, natural beauty and energy is unmatched anywhere I have ever been. My smallish island is head and shoulders over all the other, much larger islands and even the state! (which is provable)

Being retired helps me but there are lots of others struggling to make a living but willing to do so just to stay here. I know a young woman (who is a space engineer) who was living an a tent on a beach front park with her blind dog who was determined to find a place here (she did). I have a good deal of self sustainability, lots of great volunteer opportunities, friends. The island is progressive and atheists are aplenty and vocal (at one time there were 4 couples that were members of FFRF).

You bet fear of the unknown is a big impediment especially for a woman. It really helps to have connections and a marketable career. Unfortunately, Seattle has become difficult because the growth has created a traffic and affordable housing nightmare.
[visitsanjuans.com]

I have a job that I love, plus my kids live here in the Houston area.

You’re very fortunate. It means so much to have a good relationship with your work, and in my experience, it’s not easy to find. I wouldn’t give that up except for the most extreme of circumstances.
I could probably move somewhere else now because I’m retired, and I wouldn’t mind better weather, but I have friends and family here, and moving is a lot of work and expense. I’ll say inertia is probably what’s keeping me here... and I like it well enough.

I did all my adventuring when I was in my twentys- hitchhiked all over Europe and Noorth Africa, mostly alone. Lived in a commune, occupied houses in Amsterdam, marched in countless anti-Vietnam War marches. Had my kids in the commune and then started thinking on how to raise them.
Bought this house from 1860 because the vibes in it were strong. College degrees, interesting work, many opportunities. A large city close enough to commute. My little hamlet with good neighbors. Planted things. Now I am here for good. My neighbors all know and love me ( or at least tolerate me) and I don't feel the itch to move anymore.

I am stuck here in the mean time because of college. My job is above average for my area and my experience. I'm only 21 after all. But as soon I get my associates I'm hitting the door to move to procure my bachelor's and then masters further down the road c: .

Gravity

I grew up an army brat so nothing keeps me wherever I am. So far post college I moved after 4 years in Corpus. Moved to El Paso to get to a bigger city. Now 2 years in El Paso, still looking to move to an even bigger city. St Paul MN is a high option and in the vicinity of San Francisco is a high option.

Ohhhh, hang onto those bosses! I worked at a law firm and had exactly the opposite experience. You HAD to take break at a certain time. If I had a doctor appointment and it went 15 minutes over the hour I was allotted for lunch, instead of being able to just stay 15 min later I had to either take it unpaid or use vacation time. The attorneys were super stuck up too. If I saw them in public they wouldn't even say hi!

But to answer your question, right now my daughter is the only think keeping me where I am. She graduates next year so I'm trying to determine where I'll go. If my parents are still healthy, I may move to South Carolina (I'm in MN now). Otherwise I'll just move to the Twin Cities. I like my job well enough but I'm an administrative assistant and I can do that anywhere. The company I work for is good but also has some annoying things so I don't feel super married to them.

I like where I am. The weather's great, sun almost always shines. I have a wonderful career that pays well with a fairly high standard of living and opportunities for time off with money to travel.

My son . His mother convinced me to move to the hellhole that is Burnley, England , and when he's old enough in gonna ask him to move somewhere else with me .

Only my children or I'd be gone like the wind

First of all read the blog AskAManager.org. Fascinating workplace discussions.

What keeps me in Omaha. 3 adult kids, one grandchild, one on the way. I've already moved 23 times, I really don't want to move again. Courtesy of the military I've lived in Europe and Japan, and all over the US. I could move again, but I'm pretty vested in being near the grandbabies as my kids rarely lived near grandparents. I could get a job almost anywhere but really I'm 60, I don't wanna change if I don't have to.

I live in Northern Ireland, now I am retired I don't think I'll be moving again. I moved with my children so many times in their lives my daughter gave me an ultimatum that she would never again move with me.

I'm too broke to move anywhere, and I'm in a mortgage for at least another year. Beyond that though, my mom lives in the same town I do, and she's getting up there in age. She's done so much for me that it would feel wrong to move out unless I had a damn good reason. Once my finances are in the black again, the possibility will pop up, but I've got a long way to go.

When I was younger I would move with a sense of adventure. Now I agree with the fear of the unknown. Plus I built my own house here from the ground up.I have to pay off the land but after that I will have no bills unless I buy a new vehicle. I am not sure I could recoup the cost if I moved and I sure couldnt redo what I have done here at this late date

I have a special needs child who will need help from family after I'm gone. I stay here so that she will have that security and a connection to her family.

Interesting read, @BlueWave. Ty. This site has so many interesting people and topics!

Finances are always an issue re locating, naturally, as is the family and friends issue. Yet, I would travel ANYWHERE, that was reasonably safe. I adore meeting new people, seeing new places, learning learning learning, expanding my horizons.

Actually, I crave all that! !!!

My kids, the food, the people, good fishing, great crawfish, got a decent job where I bounce from company to company where the moneys at. Oh and I do like the environment in Louisiana. People are a ok for the most here.

I am taking care of my elderly Mother in her home so we can avoid the nursing home. After she passes I'm really wanting to go to N.M.
I don't really like it here, this where I grew up and I don't care for the environment (8000 people, 20 churches) everyone is nice but being socially ostracised for being an atheist is for the birds.

I am always drawn back here to Massachusetts ( when I’m in the U.S.) for several reasons...No#1- for me, people of ‘like’ mind. Socialist Democrat, Liberal, open minded for the most part, educated, science is considered important, appreciation for history & the arts, no one cares what or if you have a religious affiliation. No#2- educated people. Whether formally educated or you self educate, all is encouraged and accepted...and information is easily available. No#3- Diversity of culture. Well traveled people. This is a big one. We have people here from every point on the planet. Love it. No#4- access to a very good mass transit system...the T (our underground system), commuter rail, buses, ferries...you name it, you can get “from here to there”. Having spent long stretches of my life in the U.K. and Europe, as well as several places lived in the US...and have visited every state, except Alaska ( and that’s on my ‘to-do’ list), Massachusetts offers the best mass transit systems in the country. No#5- We have history. And plenty of it. Native American, colonial, African American, Revolutionary War, Whaling Era history. And being a student of history, well this suits me down to the ground. No#6- Science & technology as well as a very healthy appreciation for the Arts. And yes, we have lovely museums.And then there is No#7- miles and miles of gorgeous coastline. Islands and beaches that are breath taking. Beautiful mountains in the western part of the state, lakes and trails and farm land. For the outdoorsy people, you can enjoy nature in every season. So for all these reasons, it keeps me where I am for now. But...now, is not always.

I was like that too, so I decided to take a chance with a woman I had so much in common with,we were close in age and values so I took a chance and moved to Montana, but I was realistic about it all,it didn't work out but I don't regret taking a chance in finding that one special woman for me, I'd do it again because life is short.

I LOVE my home town of Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is a great college town with an extremely well-educated (and liberal) population. There are tons of things to do - restaurants, museums, book stores etc. all of the benefits of a big city without the city! I grew up here. My parents are here, my son is here (for now). The university means lots of job opportunities.
I would not leave here just to live somewhere else - there would have to be a good compelling reason, like an educational/career or relationship reason.

Hi @Bluewave On first reading your post made me sad, so I read it a couple of times. I would say it is not the fear of the unknown that keeps your there, I would say you like your job, climate etc.
The reason I was sad it it reminded me of my youngest brother at first. He lives in the suburb adjoin the one we grew up in, his wife grew up 2 suburbs away. Their kids are almost finished university and are self funded anyway, my brother and his wife are reasonably well paid, but old enough to retire in 2 months and they certainly have enough wealth in retirement funds to see them through. Yet they plan to stay living where they are, and work another 12-15 years. They visit me often and say how much they wish they could live here, they could afford my house probably 10 times over.
They could move in an instant, but they fear change. What if there is an economic down turn and they don't have their income and so on. I have nothing in the bank, not enough in my retirement fund to repair my car should it breakdown, I work 2 days a week on very low pay, far less than welfare in this country, I get no perks such as health, superannuation any anything. I tossed in all he has, to live as i do on a day to day basis. I will be dead one day and i am glad I am not missing out on this enjoyment. If you won the lottery, where would you move to and why? Then, what is really stopping you from doing it now? I think from what you have said that you like your life which is great.
I am where I am now because I don't fear change, and that has cost me a lot financially and often.
I think you like your job, bosses and conditions and don't want to lose them, in which case, I think you are doing well and most likely reasonably happy?

I stay where I am and how I am because this is about the closest I have been to being happy.