Have you ever planned a big move with your FI/DH? What sorts of things did you consider when weighing the pros and cons of relocating over a great distance?
After FI graduates from culinary school (Nov. 2010), we are seriously thinking about moving to Texas -- Dallas/Ft. Worth area -- where he grew up and his parents still live. Most of my close family is in Michigan, and his are split between MI and TX. So, as is, we must travel from MD to be with anyone in either place. Cost of living is lower in TX. The weather is nicer in TX. The market for the kind of restaurant he wants to open is better in TX. If we moved there I don't think we'd leave, whereas here I don't feel any great sense of permanency.
I fell in love with the DC area when I was a college intern, living the sweet life in a penthouse apartment with no bills and no responsibilities other than acting like I was the shiit all the time. Now that I am a working adult with bills and real life to deal with, the enchantment has dimmed considerably. I will forever love DC for the experiences I've had, but I no longer feel that I need to be here for the rest of my life. The job market for my field is admittedly smaller, but there is a joint military base and a very large company (where both FI's parents work) where I would be able to find something applicable to my interests and goals.
So...help me be realistic. What am I not thinking of? What else should I weigh? At the moment we are both getting really excited thinking about this possibility, so in the interest of not getting too carried away, bring me back down to Earth.
Oh, and FWIW, we're getting married in MI so that is already long distance planning and not really a factor.