Mover or Stayer?!?

Movers - People who roam freely, and often, from their place of birth or the home base of their families.

Stayers - People who stay put.

Are you a Mover or a Stayer? Americans have often been thought of as a mobile country - no roots, no obligation to family, and no need to "stay". 

A few things have triggered this discussion in my brain the past few days; extended family being in town, my parents enjoying a visit from my older sister and her kiddos, my baby sister trying to find her place in the world, and my dad, who I am pretty sure believes I have abandoned him. I was always taught to chase your dreams, but does that mean only within the confines of the locale of your family? Where does one find, and determine, the balance of their lives versus the lives of their family? What delineates loyalty to your family versus to loyalty to yourself? How do you define yourself if you have never left the town where you were born? Is locale the only way to show love, loyalty, and respect for ones family or can it be done from a distance? 

In the quest to think through these questions, I began some research. Welcome to the Pew Survey! "It is noted that college graduates move more often and further distances than those with a high school diploma or less, and employment plays a greater role in their decisions to move." Hmm.. Perhaps this is a partial explanation to our moves; I am the first college graduate within my immediate family. On the other hand, "stayers most often cite the tug of family and connections." Is this truly the measure of family and love - the proximity to one another?!? What the hell, does this mean there is something wrong with me?!? 

I am not certain that I have this answer, nor am I sure that I ever will. What I do know is that no matter what I am classified as, I love my family. They are the most important people in my life - does proximity make it easier, sure, but the same can be used to explain cheating spouses and overbearing parents. I believe that there are pros and cons to both sides of this, and I know that I will continue to weigh this question as my own journey towards thirty continues. The question is: are you a mover or a stayer? What are your thoughts on either side?!?

My Sister's and her Kiddos

• The Pew Survey