I'm having a crisis.

"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
02/09/2016 at 10:20 • Filed to: None

Are you where you want to be? If not, why not?

I grew up in Colorado, and spent the first 30 years hiking, biking, off-roading, and camping. Moved to Indy, then to RVA, now back to Indy. I love the people here, but I’m just not happy. I miss the climate, scenery, and experiences that the American southwest affords. I’m definitely starting to have a crisis. My google image searches for Montero's and 100-series cruisers isn't helping.

DISCUSSION (45)

BeaterGT > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:22

The places I want to be is a similar list to cars I want to drive, way too long.

Party-vi > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:23

I am not where I want to be because I’m in Maryland.

OPPOsaurus WRX > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:23

i just shoveled a foot off my driveway and I think there is more coming tomorrow. I could go somewhere warmer.

Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras > Party-vi
02/09/2016 at 10:24

I’m sorry for you

EL_ULY > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:27

You and 99% of us. I’d love to be in these rad places like the image above. Heck, even just visiting a place like that on a weekend but.... broke working class, yo! Paycheck to paycheck since forever and there is not hope in sight for a good long ass while lol. I’m working on it though :] Owl SOON.jpg

Aaron M - MasoFiST > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:29

Probably as a symptom of getting old, I’m starting to feel an urge to move out of the city. That said, there are so many things I take for granted when it comes to being so close to where I work and a big downtown...I don’t know. It’s a tough decision to make.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:31

No joke. I grew up in northern Indiana, and it’s flatter than week-old Coke. I keep telling myself that someday I’ll move to the mountains, but I can’t seem to make it happen.

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:32

I’m where I want to be geographically (Seattle), but that doesn’t mean everything else is peachy.

911e46z06 > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:35

For all the weird and scary shit going on in my life, at least I can say that physically speaking, I’m right where I want to be. Great weather, great fishing, 200 craft breweries. Can’t do much better than San Diego.

Milky > OPPOsaurus WRX
02/09/2016 at 10:35

There was a severed foot in your driveway and you just shoveled it off?! Someone needs that!

Kinja'd!!!

CalzoneGolem > Party-vi
02/09/2016 at 10:37

RIP in peace Party-vi

OPPOsaurus WRX > Milky
02/09/2016 at 10:37

i made sure it was nice and frozen in the snow bank so it would stay fresh for the owner

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:37

I’d much rather be on the west coast.

E92M3 > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:39

Just remember it’s only warm enough to do that stuff half of the year. The other 6 months are not just cold but windy. The sun exposure, wind, and dryness age everyone in Colorado 10-15 years faster. People in their 30's look like they are in their 40's. The altitude does strange things to people. There’s a lot of crazies out there. As beautiful as Colorado can be, there are many downsides. The suicide rates further prove that. I miss a lot of things about Colorado, but there’s things I don’t miss.

V12 Jake- Hittin' Switches > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 10:51

I've gotta say, apart from the salt in the winter, I can't think of a place I'd rather live than Minnesota. Except maybe further north in Minnesota.

iSureWilll > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:02

Wow. Someone that likes Indianapolis? I grew up in the area and now live in South Jersey after a short stint in Charlotte, NC. South Jersey is way better than Indy. You have Philly, NYC, D.C., and the Ocean all within a couple of hours. Surprisingly nice people here too.

Just don’t go to Tiki Bob’s!

Rock Bottom > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:04

Kinja'd!!!

I’m 100% with ya, but kinda the opposite. I grew up in the Detroit area, but spent several years living in Northern California. I cycled mountain roads around my home in Menlo Park, mountain biked the Sierras, and camped and hiked in Yosemite about once a month for over half a decade. It was an outdoor paradise! The driving roads were the finest I’ve ever seen, too ( wayyyy better than the Tail of The Dragon). Now I’m back in Michigan and am constantly planning my return to the Land of Milk and Honey!

iSureWilll > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig
02/09/2016 at 11:04

If you dont mind me asking... where did you grow up?

Goshen? Angola? Or even worse... FORT WAYNE?!?!?! :)

Moves-Like-Senna > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:05

I’ve been trying to relocate to a nearby city (300 miles away) for the past 6 months without any luck. I’m done with the city I live in to the point where I may spend one weekend a month within the city and the rest at the city I’m trying to relocate to or abroad.

I’m trying to land a job in the other city but nothing’s really stuck and it’s getting frustrating :(

Gone > Aaron M - MasoFiST
02/09/2016 at 11:13

I am the opposite (but still old). We are looking at moving much closer into the city. Our commutes are about 2-3hrs total a day (each). Our house and location is beautiful but we never see each other and don’t have quality time for our kiddo except on the weekends. It’s a struggle because we like being away from everything - it’s relaxing and quiet out here - but it’s too long a drive. Our jobs are actually tele-commute friendly, but our companies aren’t... And housing costs will be a lot higher. Quality of life from a family standpoint should greatly improve though. It’s a really tough decision to make.

HammerheadFistpunch > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:13

will it make you sad if I say I love where I live? I wish my job had more up room but so far so good.

TheRealBicycleBuck > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:20

We moved away from Texas many years ago and have always wanted to return. Unfortunately, we’re stuck in Louisiana.

The worst part about it is a lack of family support. Where locals can call the grandma to babysit for the evening, we had to shell out the money for a sitter. Date nights were expensive. Where locals are making trips to Disney, we use all our vacation to go visit our family, all who live 9+ hours away. We can’t even go to one place to see them all since my family lives in one state, hers live in another.

Keep that in mind when you are pining away about living in a different state.

Master Cylinder > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:21

I live in southeast Michigan. So, no. I would love to live out West in maybe Idaho or western Montana. But I would have a hard time finding work out there and all of my family is here, so that’s why I keep living in this crappy flat swamp.

deprecated account > Party-vi
02/09/2016 at 11:21

Eh, could be worse. You could be in Virginia. Or even worse *shudder*- West Virginia.

Party-vi > deprecated account
02/09/2016 at 11:23

I actually like Virginia more :|

Aaron M - MasoFiST > Gone
02/09/2016 at 11:24

Yeah, I realize in comparison I meant getting old somewhat in jest...I’m nearly 30, which is just the point where space and quiet start to outweigh easy access to downtown. I feel like if my girlfriend and I were going to consider kids (we 97% won’t) then moving out to the suburbs or at least to a good school district would be less optional.

for Michigan > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:31

No, I’m where I need to be.

If circumstances were different, I’d go back to Michigan in a heartbeat. Or go live somewhere new for a while.

But my family is here and they need me right now, so here I’ll stay until that need has been met.

smobgirl > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:32

I like the pretty aspect of Colorado, but it’s crowded and expensive. Maybe the southwest corner of the state would suit me better - or I wouldn’t mind Bozeman or Spokane, either.

I was thinking about Indy the other day though. It seems quite stupid, long term, to stay in Colorado on my salary when I could live like a king in so many other places (midwest being more preferable than the south). I mean, how much am I going to regret staying here when it means I can’t ever afford to retire?

deprecated account > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:33

Geographically speaking, pretty much. Growing up in Tennessee has been pretty good. I go to an awesome school and I see the occasional interesting car. I’d rather be in Nashville than Memphis (less crime, more to do, much better cars, etc.), but I can’t complain. I’m only three hours away from there anyway. Memphis is a good place to travel from because it’s close to a lot of places (3 hrs. to Nashville; 6 hrs. to Chattanooga, Atlanta, or the Smokies; 4 hrs. to STL; etc.), but it’s got advantages for those not living on someone else’s money as well. There’s no state income tax, and there’s a few big companies to get a job at (or plenty or startup/small business-encouraging places as well if that’s your thing). We’re a pretty friendly bunch down here, too. Having been out West (NM, UT (Lake Powell), and AZ (Flagstaff/Tuba City area, Grand Canyon)), I can’t say we have views quite as majestic, but places like the Smokies will do me just fine. Anyway, best of luck working all this out.

cazzyodo > OPPOsaurus WRX
02/09/2016 at 11:33

I walked a couple blocks to my car last night prepared to shovel a snowbank from a plow away and clear off all the snow but was pleasantly surprised.

No snowbank and most of the snow had blown off my car because I apparently parked in a wind tunnel.

deprecated account > Party-vi
02/09/2016 at 11:35

I bet Virginia doesn’t like you going fast more though ;)

OPPOsaurus WRX > cazzyodo
02/09/2016 at 11:37

it gets pretty windy where I park at work. There was almost no snow on my car (i’m under a building) but about 3' between the my car and the jeep behind me

Future next gen S2000 owner > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:56

Denver is nice. I’d swap it for Miami/Fort Lauderdale or Honolulu. That is where I would be if I could swing it.

Burn-Spaz1966-Burn > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:57

Maybe it’s time to look for Job where you want to live.

Burn-Spaz1966-Burn > Burn-Spaz1966-Burn
02/09/2016 at 11:59

Life doesn’t have a Reverse. So don’t build up regrets.

wiffleballtony > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 11:59

I’m pretty happy with my physical location in the greater Phoenix metro. As far as where I am at in the rest of life, there are areas that need improving.

Gone > Aaron M - MasoFiST
02/09/2016 at 12:04

Child! Nah, I’m closer to 40 than not. To get closer to work and get good schools is going to cause us to get a house that’s twice as much. So exciting!... We love where we are but the commute. If you can deal that part, it’s amazing to have space, peace and quiet, wildlife around us, and we even have a damn good school system. Just a that commute really hurts the other positives in our case.

Dru > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 12:20

I can drive to the beach (South Carolina) in about 10 minutes. But I really miss hills and winding roads from where I grew up.

Chargingstar - E92 M3 pilot > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 12:48

Could be worse, you could live in Colorado (like me) and kept away from the mountains and rivers you love so much by the ever increasing responsibility at work.

Still not sure if this is how life is supposed to work or if I need to unfuck myself.

RallyWrench > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 14:42

Sounds like it’s time to go West.

I am not, because I am at work, doing a job I hate. I like the area I live in though, despite the fact that it is rapidly becoming too expensive to live in. That said, I would happily live in the Sierras or Rockies if I could get my family to go for it. I grew up and still live in coastal California, and I love it here for many reasons (surf to snow, desert to mountains & forest in the same day, climate) but the mountains beckon and I want rivers in my life.

CaptDale - is secretly British > mkbruin, Atlas VP
02/09/2016 at 17:58

Yeah, I am in the same boat. After staying in the same area for my now ex, I have lost reason for being here. I have a great job and good friends, but I don’t make good money and I need to move again. I have been struggling with finding a place here, or a new job back home where I could move to, or something else all together. To be honest I love it here, but rent is very expensive because people are crazy around here. I want to finish CC too so I can return to a 4 year and finish my field of study. But these are all things that are eating me away and all I want to do I be able to be an adult and buy a house and be happy...

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 911e46z06
02/10/2016 at 12:03

Weird and scary? Not good to hear - hope things are looking up going forward.

911e46z06 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
02/10/2016 at 12:32

Thanks man. It’s all good. I’ll figure it out.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > 911e46z06
02/10/2016 at 14:17

I’m sure you will. If you need a sounding board, let me know.

911e46z06 > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
02/10/2016 at 15:49

Appreciate it