Hi there smudge. I have moved away from home. I live about 4 hours away from my parents. My hubby was offered a good promotion, but this meant working in Liverpool. We were living just outside Glasgow. My son was 8 at the time. His dad had moved to Derby, so spending time time with his dad meant a long drive to meet half way. More time with his dad was a good idea according to my son. As for my parents, they didn't really want us to move away, but were of the opinion that as long as we were happy and healthy, they were happy for us. My brother lives in Wales, so my parents don't have any of their children living nearby. That can sometimes be hard, not seeing their 3 grandchildren as often as they would like. At the end of the day, it's your life and you have to do what is right for you and your family. Of course your mum will miss you all, that's natural, but don't let that influence your decision. Good luck.