We moved last year from a city of millions to another city 7 hours away that's under 100,000 in population. We hoped to "start over" as well...

The pros:

- Lower cost of living, especially land and homes

- Friendlier city

- Slower pace

- Perfect for retiring

The cons:

- Miss our families and friends

- Less economic opportunity

I still don't know if I am better off than when we were in the much larger city but so far so good. 

Yes! I have felt this exact way (multiple times), so I did it. I once sold everything except what fit in my car, quit my job, and moved across the country to CA. I had enough savings to live for 2 months. Luckily I found a great job just as the money ran out. It was an amazing experience!

Almost 5 years later, I did almost the same thing again (to Colorado, although this time I moved my furniture). I went to school to start a new career and used 401K to live until I found a new job. Another amazing experience.

I highly recommend that you do this! It is scary and exciting and requires taking a leap of faith, but it gets easier every time you take a chance like that. And, I will tell you that things always worked out for me, because I really believed they would. I think that's the scariest part about it, well what if I can't find a job, or what if I don't make friends, etc...the only way I could do it without chickening out was firmly believing that I would find the things I needed, and I did. I have lifelong friends from each place I lived. I got several seriously amazing jobs (careers). People helped me when I needed it and gave me chances, and I didn't let them down. It just worked.

One quick story- about 2 months after I moved to CA, I was pretty much out of money. I had gotten a job, but was still broke and catching up. I had something come up that I really needed to see a Dr. for, but I couldn't afford it and had no insurance. I called to ask how much it would cost, and they said $120. I explained I couldn't afford that and thanked them anyway. I ended up calling back and asking if I could make payments if I came in, and the woman that I had spoken to before said, "I'm glad you called back, yes we can do that, just come in". I went in to see them, and they gave me envelopes to pay the bill. As I was out picking up the medicine they recommended, they called me back and told me to throw away the envelopes they had given me, they were going to cover the bill for me because "sometimes you just have to help someone out". This is a DR., in CA. Wtf?? I was in tears I was so grateful. Anyway, stuff like that happened. That's how I knew I was in the right place and had done the right thing.

Sorry to ramble on, this kind of thing just really makes me excited for people

Being a military spouse for 10 years and doing it again now I have done this many times. I love moving and begining again. 

I have always had a "family" when I move somewhere new though, military moves are a little different becasue you have support. We have been living where we are now for 7 years and I am dying to go somewhere new!

From the Midwest to the East Coast for work.  I moved knowing very little but stereotypes of my new city.

One of the worst days of my life was sitting in my apartment after my father, brother and now ex husband (who couldn’t move right away as we had to sell our house, and he had to find a job in New City.  In hindsight, I wish he hadn’t moved!) left.  I was sitting in a small apartment with only my cat (I couldn’t bring my dog right away) surrounded by boxes.  I cried for hours.  

But every day got easier.  The house eventually sold, and we were able to buy a house in new city, most importantly my dog finally came to live with me again, I started making friends, etc.

Being away from family was and by far is the hardest part.  But I’ve had so many more great job opportunities here that I wouldn’t have had there.  I love my city now, and couldn’t imagine moving back to the Midwest.  

Plus, I gained a lot of confidence in my own abilities.  

If you can, try moving once in your life.  Get a job, try something new and give it a year.  You might surprise yourself.

I've done this, with similar experiences of things "falling into place" as confirmation as others have posted above.. One warning, though, is that if you're moving to get away from YOURSELF... if so, you'll still need to address your own issues with yourself. I had to move a few times before I got clear about the ways I was sabotaging myself, and finally sought help to address my issues. Early childhood issues from family of origin stuff. So this may not apply to you, but it is a consideration.

Before I met DH, I had done that 4 or 5 times. In fact, I met him after moving to a new city and working to get to know people. I find it incredibly fulfilling to go off somewhere and make a new life for yourself. Also, I'm a bit of a wanderer, so I need to change up my environment every now and then. Other than where I grew up, I've lived for the longest period of time where I live now and if DH didn't have children, I would have convinced him to move someplace else at this point. Now, I just have to wait five years before we can move away. We might move from the town we live in though...we moved to be closer to SKids, but BM decided she would convince the kids that we were doing that to "take them away from her", so we didn't end up getting any more time with them. They don't hate DH, but they are totally PA'd into thinking that he's mean to them or he's trying to hurt BM. We've already starting planning for when we're going to sell our suburban house and move back to the city (where we both lived when we met). That will have to be enough for me until they're adults. 

I say do it !!!!

I had a chance to move to Europe with my husband's job. I had to give up my job to go. When we moved back to the US, my industry had disappeared because of the internet. My career never recovered and every day is painful because I miss working so much.

On top of that, I suffered two catastrophic experiences in Europe that affected my life forever, but I'd still do it all over again. Most people's jobs are no replacement for really living life.

Instead of chucking it all right away, why not work up to that major life change by taking the trip of a lifetime? Go see the real gorillas in the mist or an Indonesian cremation ceremony!

When you travel, you meet others who routinely chuck it all and start over. They make you realize the ties that bind are easily unknotted so it's not so scary. You'll also see parts of the world (or country) where you might want to relocate. And once you have a taste of exotic travel, you're never the same! You're always planning the next adventure.

After traveling all over the world, my husband and I are pinpointing where we might want to retire. It's exciting to think we might replace our boring old coffee with UK tea time or English for Spanish in Ecuador or pizza for cous cous in Morocco! We might even rent a place for a year, then move on to another country the next.

If you watch "House Hunters International," you'll see people do this all the time and most don't have any safety net in place. They pick up and move with kids and dogs, often without jobs...what's the worst that can happen?

I don't know if I will do it again, but eight years ago, I basically packed up my life from a very large city, good career and a large group of friends, and family close by and moved to a small town where I knew no one - except that the area was exceptionally beautiful and there were very good schools in the surrounding areas  which  my son could attend. My closest family member lives about  a 2 and half hour drive away.

I don't regret choosing to do this as it was really freeing. I could start over with every thing and recreate my life in the way that I wanted. What I have learned is that the slowed down pace of life, friendly people in my small community and beauty of nature around me was just what I needed. Of course it meant starting over with EVERYTHING, but it is the best environment in which to raise my 13 year old son. 

Getting away from a life I knew and starting over with no defined script is the best thing I did for me

Growing up, my family never went ANYWHERE. My parents were older, had done their share of adventuring, and didn't really like each other very much so there were no camping trips, visits to Disneyland, etc. I grew up in one house, attended one elementary and one high school. Very stable, but oh so boring. So in my early twenties, I was thrilled to get a job that required travel. I spent several years bouncing around and living in hotels. At one point I even gave up my apartment and put my stuff in storage because I was gone so much. I still love to travel and am handling all the details of our upcoming move across the country. Finances aside, I could be happy moving house every few years.

I had to get away from my family, yes, I missed them but getting away from the crazy and constant use and abuse from them was by far the best decison I have ever made. I moved far enough away that people can visit by use of car but not far enough away that anyone can "just stop by."

I will admit that making new friends was harder then I expected because I am a private person but nowadays there is an app for that! lol

Moving allowed me to look at myself to chnage the things I needed to change and move forward with a clean slate.  Moving is scary but you know what!? You only live once so enjoy it as much as possible, be the change you want to be.

I've done it quite a few times but the destinations were always somewhere that had either purpose ( assistantship for Grad school ) or a support system, moving to be with now DW and last move to be be where the majority of her family had or was moving to.

DH and I talk about this frequently.

We both agree that once SD12 is 18 and out of high school, we move.  Or, if worst case, she stops coming to our house like SD14 (although we doubt this will happen with her).

Not sure where, but we have a plan.  So long as the economy/US doesn't implode, he becomes the full time wage earner (his job type is portable, mine is not), and he does most of the research into locations since he's more into the change than I am (I don't object, he's just more exited about it and I'm more practical).

I moved countries! That was then. But now - no. 

I moved countries (and continents), different language, start from scratch, once. If I had to I’d immigrate again but no need now. I find it funny how people are afraid to move cities.

My DD moved countries/continents several times. From country X to country Y (with me) then from country Y to country Z alone, lived there 10 years and briefly moved back to country Y, but that didn’t work out, so she is back to country Y and will be staying there, no plans to move. She has three citizenships lol I don’t know anyone who has that (all three countries allow that), I just have dual. That’s enough 

moving could be a pain but the world is small now, not as big of a deal 

Take me with you LOL!!! I love your idea and you should. If my life goes into a different direction, that is my plan as well. Fresh start, new people and plenty to explore.