This is a tough call for very family-oriented couples. Sometimes, however, you simply must do what is best for your own little family; it sounds as if you have just about made up your minds.
We moved 1500 miles from family in our early 20s for my husband’s career; his profession is one in which there are only a very few jobs in any given city, so moving far from home is quite common. We are still here nearly 40 years later. I won’t say that it’s always been easy, as we missed most family holidays, weddings, etc. We sometimes only got to visit once a year, as it was such a long, frequently expensive trip. I often felt badly that our girls were growing up with no other family around, but we stayed in touch, talking on the phone often and visiting whenever possible.
Australia is certainly much farther away, but you now have the benefit of Skype, FaceTime and similar technology, which makes a world of difference. Neither of our daughters’ families is currently in town with us, so we speak and Skype quite often. It’s so much better to be able to actually see each other when talking.
When our girls were little, we always took them with us when we traveled; seeing other parts of the world gave them a broader perspective on things, and they look back fondly on those trips. We would have LOVED the opportunity to live for a time in another country.
We’ve been to Australia, especially Sydney, Melbourne and southern Victoria, and simply loved it; I cannot wait until such time as we can take an extended visit. We found it quite expensive, but I imagine that everything is relative!
You’re young, and this is the time for adventures such as this, if you decide it’s best for your family. God bless, and enjoy the opportunity!
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