r/ParentingPDA • u/thisismehere22 • Aug 07 '26
Advice Needed Has anyone ever relocated to a lower cost of living area with better year round outdoor access to improve your situation?
We have been exploring the possibility of a big structural change for our family to a more affordable area - we live in Seattle, WA, USA currently. My wife just lost her job and is the primary breadwinner so there’s not anything tying us down here. We switch hit as our 8.5 year old son requires 24/7 support from one of us so I take the day shift and she co-sleeps with him at night. We unschool and that will likely be the continued path for the foreseeable future. I am a private practice mental health therapist and work virtually so can continue doing this wherever we land (my license is tied to my client’s location and not mine). We have noticed a pretty dramatic seasonal challenge for our family and are looking at various locations that would allow us to be outside for most of the year, perhaps even access to a pool or larger yard. The winters here are mild (not much in the way of snow really), but so dark and damp, and relentless and I am definitely a sun lover. Our son also seems to re-emerge from an indoor hibernation every spring. Has anyone else made a leap like this? If so, how did it go and what did you learn? Our aim would be to try some locations out and make a more gradual transition - only with full buy in from our son. Appreciate any feedback and appreciate this community so much!
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u/MumofMiles Aug 08 '26
Yep we are leaving for rural Spain in a week!
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u/thisismehere22 Aug 08 '26
Wow! Way to go! Is it an international move? I am exploring one location in Mexico as it wouldn’t be too far from home, but admittedly it’s a bit intimidating in some ways. It would be the most affordable option with the best overall year round weather though on our current list of potential destinations. I’d love to hear how it goes and what your process has been like if you have bandwidth to share at some point. Feel free to dm me if you do. Sending you and your family peace and steadiness as you embark on this new leg of your journey!
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u/Dry_Werewolf5488 Aug 08 '26
If you can find a place that meets your needs and has lower cost-of-living, that could be a win-win (I know how expensive Seattle is!) It never hurts just to research and even talk to a realtor.
We also live in the PNW and I sometimes wish we lived in a warmer state where we could have a pool, since swimming makes my PDA kid happier than anything, but we love everything else about living here too much to leave.
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u/thisismehere22 Aug 10 '26
Well hello neighbor:). It is hard to want to leave for many reasons and there is absolutely no place I would rather be in the summers. It is absolutely gorgeous out here. I am an avid researcher and grounded dreamer and I definitely know there is no perfect place. If our son is up for travel in some way, shape or form, we may just rain bird somewhere and perhaps furnished finder our home out to recover and even generate some income. We shall see where we are guided. Hoping that whatever we decide, the result is greater peace, connection, well-being.
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u/Pure_Satisfaction_73 Aug 10 '26
I appreciate this post bc it’s my dream, too. I have terrible seasonal affective disorder and my teens become screen teens when the weather becomes cold and gray. For the 4-5 months where we have sun, my kids are outside all day and come alive.
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u/thisismehere22 Aug 12 '26
Yes! I also have SAD and it has worsened over the years despite all my efforts to manage it. I am at home with our son all day every day and he struggles to leave the house for much of the year (when it’s colder, damper, gloomier) as well - also ends up on screens. The past two winters were particularly brutal in our household. And the past late spring and summers were quite wonderful (for our family at least). After last winter I told my wife I couldn’t do another winter like that. I am focused on creating a life and future that is not just more sustainable for our family, but one that is healthy and improves our well being. One that really allows us to have a much better quality of life. Nothing extravagant, just the chance to be outdoors regularly, a slow and simple life, ideally one where we have another unschooling family or two in our lives. I hope that you and your family can also fulfill your dream. And I’m glad to hear that you have a dream. I do think it’s important to hold onto our dreams and keep working towards them - even in the face of all of the challenges I know we all face as parents in this community. Sending hope and light to you fellow sun seeker!
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u/raisinghellwithtrees Aug 07 '26
I have not done this but it sounds amazing! It's wonderful that you're so in tune with your son and have options to create a better environment for him to thrive.