We don't plan on having a forever home. Like the pp said, we're in the DC metro because that's where we could find work for now. We would both rather be elsewhere, though we disagree about where. Maybe we'll be able to have a forever home after retirement. For now we have to be willing to go where there is work.

DC is #3. Next move will be to forever place. Hoping to get there before son starts elementary school.

I feel like it's almost impossible to settle down anywhere permanently nowadays. There's no longer this culture of "Get a job, work there for 40 years and retire on a 90% pension." People's jobs get cut. Companies force you out before you can reach the point where it's impossible to get rid of you and you're going to draw a massive pension. Maybe it's the industry my DH is in but it feels like there's very limited mobility because all these companies will only let you advance like, one level at a time and blah blah blah, so to really advance, you have to company hop practically. It doesn't really feel like the job market is stable enough for people to really think they can settle somewhere permanently anymore.

DC area native who settled down here, after leaving the area for school with thoughts of staying in that area permanently. Yea, my first "grownup" job was here and I'm here for good.

I love it here now but did have to leave for a locale that seemed 'less boring' to my HS senior self, to realize this is where I want to stay for good.

I've moved around a lot - 19 times. I'm finally settled - unless we have to relocate for work, but I don't see that happening. I'm in my late 20's and we have 2 kids

PP here, I am 39

I just moved into my forever home two months ago. I've lived all over CA, overseas, and in the DC metro. I finally settled back near family. I have two little ones now, so it's perfect. It was quite lonely during the earliest years with my oldest with us being so far away from family, so this decision was the best for us.

We are a family of two professionals, early 30s, just had our first child. I feel like we should settle down already - we have lived in 4 geographical areas (three in the U.S., one international), I still lise my parent's address in the "permanent adress" field, but we keep discussing where we'd go next. When and at what age did you find your permanent home? Where did you live before? What made you settle down?