Reply #84: I guess that might sound more appealing if I didn't live in freaking Illinois.

[grace0418]

I love Chicago but we've already visited and camped at most of the state parks in the area- they're okay but not exactly awe-inspiring.

Actually you touched on a possible reason why am hesitating. I have wanted to move to the west coast for many, many years and my husband likes the idea but is too tied to his job and too worried about money and employment to ever want to do it. I feel like having a child will just be the nail in the coffin in terms of convincing him to move. First it will be "let's wait until the baby's out of diapers so it won't be so stressful" then it will be "he's/she's in a really good pre-school, let's wait" then "oh but he's/she's so attached to all his/her little friends, let's wait" and so on until that child is out of the house.

And now that you made all those suggestions about traveling locally you really made me realize how trapped that idea makes me feel. Because the thought of being around here and forcing myself and my kid to go to all of the places I had to go as a kid (I grew up around here) actually made my blood run cold. Thank you. I think this has been a breakthrough for me. Maybe if I can convince him to finally move the idea of exploring a new home with my child sounds much more appealing.

Wow. I hadn't considered that. Thanks xmas74!