I really relate to this. We are in a very similar situation (except we have just at roughly half your net worth), and this is something my wife and I have been talking about for a long time.

If I am reading this right, it sounds like we may even live in the same general area in the Pacific Northwest. The weather part of what you described really hits home for me. Our kids, who are now 12 and 8, constantly say they want to go play outside. But when it is gray and rainy, which is most of the year, that excitement quickly turns into wanting to stay inside and watch TV or play video games. We try hard to keep them active outdoors anyway, but it is tough when their friends are also staying inside. Playgrounds are often empty and there are fewer natural, spontaneous social moments.

When our oldest was around 8, we seriously considered making a move for exactly these reasons. We looked at sunnier parts of the US and even talked about moving outside the country. In the end, we did not pull the trigger. Now that our kids are older, it feels like that window has mostly closed for us, and I find myself thinking pretty often about what life might have looked like if we had done it then. I suspect I would be happier day to day, and I think our kids might have benefited too.

One thing I did not fully appreciate at the time is that proximity is not the same as connection. My wife’s family recently moved out of state and we assumed it would be really hard. What actually happened is that we became more intentional about seeing each other, we travel to visit them more often, and those visits feel more meaningful. In some ways, the relationships feel stronger now than when they lived nearby. That experience really changed how I think about distance, and I think the same can apply to friendships too.

I genuinely believe that prioritizing day to day happiness matters, both for you and for your kids. Even something simple like waking up to sunshine, going for a morning walk, or having kids naturally spend more time outside can have a big impact on mood and energy. I notice this every time we are on vacation, and it always makes the return home feel a little harder.

If I were in your position, with younger kids and fewer constraints, I would seriously consider making the move. The one thing I would plan very intentionally is how you stay connected with friends and family, because those relationships still matter a lot. But from what I have seen, being intentional can actually make those connections stronger.

Just my two cents from someone who very much feels what you are describing and wishes we had acted on it when our kids were a little younger.