People talk about the area like it is one lifestyle. It is not. The exact neighborhood, commute, and school circle change everything. In New Jersey, town choice matters more than outsiders realize. Two towns ten miles apart can feel like different lives. The move became better when we stopped comparing the new place to the old one and started building repeatable routines. I would still make the move, but I would prepare with more cash cushion, more patience, and fewer fantasies.