Leave Job or Not

woolyhat

I am in a job but time have been reduced to 5 hours per week this could come up again. I.m a single parent with 2 teens in 3rd level education. want to move to a city have friends here but no family. I feel scared a bit in case it do not work out. I own my home and do not owe any money. I would like to find a place to stay for a few weeks in Galway to see what its like, any sugestions. also what do you think would be the best thing to do I hate where I live but have friends here. Thanks

Mrs OBumble

Why do you hate where you live?

What do you hope to achieve by moving to a city where (presumably, since you're posting here) you know no one.

How much per week would you get from renting out your house? Would it be enough for you to live on while you find a job here? (Hint: look at the other threads about the job situation in Galway, and at Daft.ie for some typical rental prices).

What do your children think about your moving away?

woolyhat

Hi Thank you for reply. I grew up here and do not have very happy memories also lost my onely remaining relative in tragic circumstances here. All vacant houses around me wit elderly neighbours dieing each year.
There is a glut of houses here for rent, no takers.

blond45

woolyhat wrote: »

I am in a job but time have been reduced to 5 hours per week this could come up again. I.m a single parent with 2 teens in 3rd level education. want to move to a city have friends here but no family. I feel scared a bit in case it do not work out. I own my home and do not owe any money. I would like to find a place to stay for a few weeks in Galway to see what its like, any sugestions. also what do you think would be the best thing to do I hate where I live but have friends here. Thanks

you sound very lonely, how about joining some club, im sure you,l find something on the internet. but dont move from your house. rent now is crazy. wow its great that you owe no money. if you move away you will end up owe,n on rent . .

woolyhat

Where I live there realy is not anything for my age group. a buss to bingo once a week mostely older people than me that would be ok but hard to break into ther company. I visited Galway and tought it is lovely could I make a new start there?

Mike...

you seem to have posted this type of thread in a few regional forums, killkenny and kildare..
I really don't know what to say apart from faraway hills often seem greener

Diabhal Beag

woolyhat wrote: »

I am in a job but time have been reduced to 5 hours per week this could come up again. I.m a single parent with 2 teens in 3rd level education. want to move to a city have friends here but no family. I feel scared a bit in case it do not work out. I own my home and do not owe any money. I would like to find a place to stay for a few weeks in Galway to see what its like, any sugestions. also what do you think would be the best thing to do I hate where I live but have friends here. Thanks

Honestly you are better off finding out then wondering what could have been. I have been in this situation before (Different to yours) and I'm delighted I made the jump.

Hope whatever you decide works out for ya.

woolyhat

Yes this have been in my mind for a long time (to move) the location is realy not importaint just to go where there are people. I would like to do a course art or write anything just to have a life walk around be with people

Mrs OBumble

Do you have an hobbies? Could they give you any hints about where to move to?

How do you get to work, why can't you build some social life around that?

You say that you have kids in 3rd level education: seems to me that they are your relatives, and may well be relying on YOU to be around their home place. What do they think about your moving?

And I hate to break it to ya, but making new friends is harder after your 20s, no matter where you live. This is because lots of people in their 30's, 40s, 50s have partners, kids, demanding jobs, etc etc: they simply don't have that much time for socialising, and also often want the security of older friends rather than to make new ones. So I'm not sure that moving will be the fix-up that you hope it is.

I can't help but wonder if you need to see a counsellor etc to help you work out options for your life.

And I have to say that if you can wait another few years 'til the job market is better (even just 2-3 years), you'll probably be a lot better off financially.

fend

Well if you do decide to move, sell your house and find somewhere in Galway. You say your kids are in 3rd level education? you could purchase a smaller, cheaper but perfectly nicer house in Galway giving you some money to live off until you settle and find some work.

Galway is a great place to live, I moved from Dublin 6 years ago and to be perfectly honest I dont think i'll ever leave Galway again.

woolyhat

Thanks for the replies to Mary I want to say I have talked to my kids about the move they dont mind but I;m not ready just yet to sell My ex husband also live here another reason I want to make afresh start.
The nearest councillor would be 30 mikes away I've alreagy tried that spent alot of money going for ages not much hrlp.
fend I like youranswer just a bit afraid to just go and do it.

fend

You'd be surprised how fast things happens once you take the first step. Its all well and good talking it out for weeks and weeks on end but you'll find that action is the best remedy. Plan your steps for the new year. A new year a new start.

It's your life. Best start living it soon!

po0k

Distance Learning course in something you think you'd enjoy, two examples taht come to mind are pottery (or something else creative with your hands) and a literature course (broaden the mind).

Not knowing anything about you or where you live makes it hard not to sound patronising so please take your time. If you afford to move to another city for a few weeks (as you seem to be saying), then try it, but myself - I wouldn't do it unless I could flush the rent money down the toilet and not be any worse off.

I'm guessing you're living somewhere fairly rural with low population density?
Do you drive? Are you active? Hillwalking group? Get out, fresh air, see some scenery, meet folk, have pints or hot soup and sandwiches with a nice view after a long hike?

All the best, have fun etc

woolyhat

Fend again I find your post very posative and it helps to get others openions. I agree the time to start living is now. Would you say to go and live there for a few weeks would be a good idea? How did you make the move? Thanks again

PoOk I did think about a home study course but feel it would be better to be among people. I was thinking of night classes. I work as a home carer look after elderly people and enjoy the work would this be possable to do privately in Galway? Yes I have a car Thanks again

fend

I moved with my parents at a time when moving was the LAST thing on my mind, as I was still in school, didn't want to leave friends, family, life and routine. We moved down in August right after the summer and just before school started back so as a hormonal 17 year old, the last thing I wanted to do was go and start a new life and make new friends. But Christmas that same year I never wanted to leave Galway again.

I can honestly say that Galway people are the most genuinely nice people in the world. And have an extremely lax attitude to life. To be honest I don't think moving here for a few weeks is a great idea. I think either move indefinitely or don't. By testing the waters in a rented address, you will find yourself very idle for the number of weeks with no specific tasks to accomplish and living somewhere which may not necessarily be to your taste and therefore will clutter your mind and make you uncomfortable and make things difficult to explore.

However, I would recommend coming for a number of days to get your feet wet and test the areas. Get to know what areas are good/bad and do some research on what areas you would perhaps be interested in moving to.

Stay positive. Over Christmas make it your goal to research the areas and perhaps find out what sort of work or education courses are available. This will keep you busy and positive over the Christmas period which some people find a difficult time to bear. Start a folder on what you've found. Make some contacts in the Galway area [ie. Estate agents, activity groups etc]

If you do decide to take the plunge, purchasing your home and redecorating to your taste will keep you busy and occupied for a number of weeks and can be a positive experience, especially if you are care and string free as it can act as a brand new start in life. You can meet new neighbours, join some groups or start a new course and begin to socialise and start your life again. I know for a fact that Galway are ALWAYS looking for carers as all the local papers are always advertising for this position. Also jobs.ie in the Galway section have a range of positions readily available.

My mother was also in the same frame of mind as you are now before we left Dublin. Stuck in a rut, in the same routine day in day out. After 6 years of Galway life, I have never seen someone happier.

woolyhat

Hi Fend Thank you for your post it certainely lifted my spirits. I suppose I want someone to say go for it,I'm a bit afraid of my own judment. My kids do love their home but they also think Galway is good.It do seem a good place for ypung people from what I saw of it on my visit everyone looked happy buskers on the street etc. a buzz there.It was lovely.
Hope you don't mind me asking did your mother move on her own with kids? also which areas would be nice? Thanks again for all

fend

No my parents moved together with my brother and myself. However their social lives are very different so they were both starting a fresh. And both had to almost "reinvent" themselves if you could call it that, and start all over again, just as we all did. Feel free to PM me.

The areas are totally personal preference and it all depends if you want to live in the city or outside in the country.

inisboffin

Woolyhat, it sounds to me like you've already decided to move, just need a little encouragement

Just make sure that financially you won't be completely strapped for cash.
What about renting shared accommodation in the City? I know a lot of shared houses are students, but there are also plenty of older people sharing too that I know of. It isn't all just nuclear families!

It's a big risk. I have always tended to follow my gut in these matters. I've made mistakes, but honestly, would have probably done the same things given another chance. You will never know unless you try. Trust your own instincts.

Perhaps you can become involved in a group here before you move? That way you can have some reference online for people. Book club, food co-op, womens' group? Then when you move it is slightly easier.

Think about where you want to live too price/community/proximity to City.

Some 'nice' areas can be a little impersonal and no social community. Other 'less well off' areas may have their drawbacks but a great community spirit.

Places like Claddagh are lovely but can be very pricey. Some of the Estates on both the East and West of the City are less pricey and have community events too, and residents associations etc.

Best of luck with it!

Mrs OBumble

woolyhat wrote: »

I work as a home carer look after elderly people and enjoy the work would this be possable to do privately in Galway? Yes I have a car Thanks again

Ahh, this open a lot of options. You'll definitely get work here.

Housing could be more of a challenge. Prices in Galway are crazy-high, so even if you sell where you are, you may not have enough for a decent-enough deposit on a house here (unless your current house is a mansion).

Would you consider a live-in job with an elderly person? They're advertised sometimes, and would give you an option for living here without the initial financial committment.

Keep an eye on our favourite local newspaper for a while ( you can read it on-line, see the "digital edition" bit on the lower right hand side).

woolyhat

Hi Inisboffin Thanks for reply. I would not mind shareing with students if they did'nt mind. All I want is a place conveniant to shops etc. friendly neighbours would be good in area I would like to live.
just Mary Thank you for reply. The job was a concern to me it would be great to get work when I move there. I don't think I would like to live in if it did'nt work out would be out of a job and a place to stay.
Thanks again everyone keep all sujestions comming