Interesting Points about Housing Mobility

I had read the original article in The Atlantic about the housing crisis.  Gift Link: How Progressives Froze the American Dream 

It's a very lengthy article that hits upon many different ideas of things contributing to the fact that Americans are less mobile.  But what was interesting to me are the letters to the editor regarding the points made in this article because I think the author is really overlooking a huge contributor.  He touched on the fact that most households are two income, making it more difficult for people to uproot for the growth potential of one partner's career but he seemed dismissive of this reason.  And then there is also the joint custody argument.  Many divorced households just can't up and leave a community when there are minor children involved.  But he states it in one sentence and then blows right past these as an explanation and I think they are way more valid than a lot of other reasons.  

But here are two letters to the editor that I thought were interesting:

I read Yoni Appelbaum’s lament over decreasing American mobility with bemusement. Some people value establishing and maintaining deep bonds with family, friends, and community over chasing after money. Here in rural northeastern Kansas, I dwell among people who live on the same land that their forebears homesteaded in the mid-19th century. They possess a sense of rootedness and purpose as vital contributors to their local community that cannot be exchanged for cash. They also tend to be thrifty people who save, so other than them tipping off friends about the latest sale at the fabric store, I’ve never heard them mention or complain about money.



Because of the quest for upward mobility, I know many couples whose grown children choose to pursue lives in California or Florida or New York and then cram into airports during the holidays. They would have saved themselves considerable time, money, and stress if they’d never left home in the first place. FaceTime and texting cannot babysit for you, mow your lawn, rescue you if your car breaks down, or run errands for you if you are sick. Mindlessly moving from one place to another in pursuit of the next promotion is not only extremely expensive—it has contributed to the loneliness epidemic. Neighbors no longer know one another; newcomers find themselves surrounded by strangers. And if they are transients who will jump at the next opportunity to relocate, I doubt that they will try to establish any meaningful connections.



The pursuit of more money through mobility is a dominant theme in our culture, but not everyone buys into it. I’ve discovered meaning and fulfillment by staying in one place.



Margaret Kramar

Lecompton, Kan.

Here’s another reason fewer Americans are moving far from their hometowns: the increased economic and social power of women. Women do a disproportionate amount of unpaid work in the form of child care and elder care. Women know how difficult it is to raise kids far away from the support of extended family. For the men who were the breadwinners and decision makers of previous generations, caring for children (to say nothing of aging parents) was not their concern. To modern couples who earn money and make decisions more equitably, the demands of child care and elder care are powerful incentives to stay close to home.



Emily Murbarger

Philadelphia, Pa.

I will admit to you that this was a factor in my decision on where I was going to live.  At the end of my first marriage, we had lost our jobs in the recession, and so we moved about 4 hours south of here to Indianapolis.  My DH wasn't interested in any childcare or household tasks so all of that had been my domain and then suddenly, I was without my mom.  For all her faults, she was a good grandma and though she was working full time, she was always helping me on the weekends with my kids.  And now she was 4 hours away and I had a husband who did nothing and no friends either and it was a huge burden to bear without any kind of village.  As soon as I made the decision to divorce him, I moved the kids and I back to Michigan.  My family is not perfect, but they've always been willing to help with household stuff, pet care when we vacation, child care when we were in that stage, rides when cars break down, etc.  I don't live in the most perfect place, but having had my family close and then having had my family far away for a year and half really taught me how much I appreciated them closer.  

And then there is this comment:

There are times when moving house makes sense—say, a job change, or a significant change in the size of one’s family. But there is also much to be said for simply being satisfied with what one has. I do realize that it is not a typically American attitude, but it is an attitude that can bring about a fair degree of happiness. Perpetual striving leads only to more striving.



Allen Murray

Mebane, N.C.

And I have to say, that at least in my sphere of experience, this plays a part too.  And I think many of you have probably gotten this vibe from many of my posts here, but I have a real balance between striving and contentment.  For example, I wanted to live in a much more diverse area than I grew up in, so I do, but the size of my city is still very small comparatively.  Or like my job, I enjoy having a good career, but I don't need to make a huge amount of money and I was fine to take a step back to have less drama and stress at work.  Jeremy and I have what we call small "d" dreams (as opposed to what we refer to as big "D" Dreams).  And don't think I am judging, I'm not.  It doesn't matter to me what you choose/have chosen for yourself and your family.  I'm just saying this comment resonated with me because of my personality type.  I think I have the ability to be content with much less than a lot of people. With that said, the author makes the case that movement plays a huge part in the economy, I can't remember the statistic, so there's something to be said for the strivers. 

But any thoughts about this?