Should I Date Someone Who Might Move Away? (Answered)

You fall for someone who might move away for work, school, family, or travel. I’ve been there. Knowing what to do next can be one of the hardest decisions you ever make.

I remember asking myself, Should I date someone who might move away?

You should date someone who might move away if you want to date them and if you can enjoy your time with them without obsessing over the future. Dating them can prevent regret and provide happy memories. You should not date someone who might move away if you want to protect yourself from being hurt.

In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about whether you should date someone who might move away.

6 Reasons You Should Date Someone Who Might Move Away

(This post may have affiliate links. Please see my disclosure)
Moving boxes—Should I Date Someone Who Might Move Away
Image by the author via Canva—Should I Date Someone Who Might Move Away

While it might sound crazy, there are six good reasons you should consider dating someone who might move away.

Here are those six reasons:

  • You want to date them
  • You can stay in the moment
  • A long-distance relationship might be good for you
  • You don’t obsess over the future
  • You avoid regret
  • They might not move away

1) You Want To Date Them

We all know the old saying, “You can’t help who you fall in love with.” And that’s true, to an extent.

We can’t control our emotions or who we develop feelings for. But what we can control is who we choose to date and with whom we chose to enter into a relationship.

Yet, for some reason, society has this idea that we should all be dating someone because they meet certain criteria or because it’s “appropriate” for our situation.

But why? Who decided that? And why do we have to listen to them?

The truth is, we should all be dating who we want to date just because we want to. If we find someone attractive and we’re drawn to them, then we should go for it.

Life is too short to miss out on potential happiness just because someone else doesn’t approve.

2) You Can Stay In The Moment

One of the best pieces of advice I ever received was to “live in the moment.”

At first, it sounded like a clichéd bit of wisdom that didn’t really mean anything. However, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that it contains a great deal of truth.

Life is always moving forward, and if we’re not careful, we can find ourselves always living in the past or worrying about the future.

And while it’s important to learn from our mistakes and plan for the future, dwelling on either can prevent us from fully enjoying the present. That’s why, when it comes to relationships, it’s so important to live in the moment.

When you’re in a relationship with someone, there’s always the potential for heartbreak.

No matter how much you love someone, there’s no guarantee that they’ll be in your life forever. People change, circumstances change, and sometimes relationships just don’t work out.

3) You Don’t Obsess Over the Future

It’s easy to get caught up in anxiety about the future.

Will this person be the one I’m with forever? What if they move away and I never see them again? What if this is all just a waste of time?

But if you’re not careful, that anxiety can prevent you from enjoying the present moment.

Sure, there’s a chance that things might not work out. They might move away and you might never see them again. But there’s also a chance that you’ll find a way to make it work.

That you’ll find a way to stay together despite the distance.

And even if you don’t, you’ll have had some amazing experiences along the way.

Therefore, if you can stop yourself from obsessing over the future, you should date someone who might move away.

4) A Long Distance Relationship Might Be Good For You

Believe it or not, a long-distance relationship can actually be really good for you.

While they may not be everyone’s cup of tea, long-distance relationships can actually teach you a lot about yourself and your partner.

You’ll learn how to communicate effectively, set boundaries, and trust each other.

Plus, when you finally get to see each other again, it will feel even sweeter.

5) You Avoid Regret

Life is unpredictable. You never know what’s going to happen tomorrow, let alone a year from now.

So, when you meet someone special, it can be tempting to play it safe and only date people who live close by. After all, why set yourself up for heartache by dating someone who might move away?

However, I would argue that dating someone who might move away can actually be a good idea.

Yes, there’s a chance that things won’t work out and you’ll end up with a broken heart. But there’s also a chance that you’ll end up with some of the best memories of your life.

Think about it this way: if you don’t date the person, you’ll never know what could have been.

Yes, it might be painful if they do move away and you’re left behind. But at least you’ll have the comforting knowledge that you gave it your best shot.

6) They Might Not Move Away

Plans change.

Just because someone is considering moving away doesn’t mean that they will actually end up doing it. Life has a funny way of working out, and you never know what might happen.

The person you’re crushing on might end up getting a job in your city, or they might decide that they don’t want to move after all.

If you immediately write them off, you could be missing out on something great.

3 Reasons Not To Date Someone Who Might Move Away

On the other side, you might not want to date someone who could vanish from your life forever.

I can see three good reasons:

  • You Might Get Hurt
  • You Won’t Be Able To Enjoy The Relationship
  • You Don’t Want a Long Distance Relationship

You Might Get Hurt

Sometimes it’s simply not worth getting your heart broken—especially if there’s a good chance that the relationship won’t last.

If you’re already afraid of getting hurt, then dating someone who could potentially move away is just setting yourself up for more pain.

It might be better to play it safe and focus on finding someone who lives closer to you.

Even if the person you’re interested in doesn’t end up moving away, there’s still a risk that things won’t work out between you two.

Long-distance relationships are notoriously difficult.

If you really want to date someone who might move away, be prepared for a lot of challenges. You’ll need to be incredibly patient and understanding, and you’ll need to be okay with spending a lot of time apart

You Won’t Be Able To Enjoy The Relationship

There are plenty of reasons why you might choose not to date someone if you can’t enjoy the moment and will only always be anxiously worrying about the future.

For one, it’s simply not fair to the other person.

They’re deserving of someone who can focus on them and be present in the relationship, not someone who is always looking ahead to what comes next.

Additionally, this lack of ability to enjoy the moment and live in the present is likely a sign of some underlying issues that need to be addressed.

Whether it’s anxiety, depression, or something else, it’s important to get help for those issues before attempting to enter into a relationship.

Otherwise, you’re just setting yourself and your partner up for disappointment and heartache.

Finally, your focus on the future will prevent you from truly savoring and enjoying all the good moments along the way.

You Don’t Want a Long Distance Relationship

If you’re considering dating someone who might move away, it’s important to ask yourself whether you’re prepared for a long-distance relationship.

You can ask yourself:

  • Do you have the emotional maturity to handle the distance?
  • Can you trust your partner to be faithful?
  • Are you both on the same page when it comes to your future plans?

If not, then you might want to think twice about starting a relationship with someone who might move away.

Long-distance relationships are hard enough when both parties are fully committed; if you’re not both on the same page from the start, the odds of making it work are slim.

How To Handle It If You Fall For Someone Who Might Move Away

Dating someone who might move away can be a difficult decision.

On the one hand, you don’t want to get attached to someone who is only going to be in your life for a short time. On the other hand, you might miss out on some wonderful experiences if you don’t give the relationship a chance.

You have two basic choices: date them or not date them.

Here are some things to consider if you’re thinking about dating someone who might move away:

  • First, ask yourself how much you really like this person. If you’re only casually interested, it might not be worth getting emotionally attached. However, if you have strong feelings for this person, you might want to take the risk.
  • Second, think about how long the relationship might last. If the person is moving far away, the relationship may not continue long-term. However, if they’re only moving for a year or two, there’s a better chance that you can maintain a long-distance relationship.
  • Third, consider your own willingness to move (eventually). If you’re not willing to relocate, then dating someone who is moving away is probably not a good idea. However, if you’re open to the idea of moving, then it could work out well.

Here is a good video about what to do if your girlfriend or boyfriend might move away:

YouTube video by Coach Corey Wayne—Should I Date Someone Who Might Move Away?

Should You Tell Your Crush You Like Them If They Are Moving Away?

Yes, you should absolutely tell your crush that you like them.

Crushes are a funny thing. They can make you feel giddy and lightheaded, like you’re floating on air.

But they can also be frustrating, especially if you’re not sure if they feel the same way about you. If your crush is moving away, you may be tempted to keep your feelings to yourself.

After all, what’s the point of getting your heart broken?

But there are good reasons to take the risk and tell your crush how you feel. For one thing, it’s possible that your crush feels the same way about you.

By telling them how you feel, you could end up starting a beautiful relationship.

Even if they don’t feel the same way, though, it’s important to communicate your feelings. Repressing your feelings is not healthy and it’s not needed in this situation.

The upside of taking the emotional leap far outweighs the downside.

Take advantage of the time and opportunity to let them know that you have a crush on them.

Should You Keep Dating Someone Who Is Moving Away?

What if you’re already dating someone who might move away?

In this case, you probably want to consider:

  • The likelihood/probability of them actually moving away
  • How invested you are in the relationship
  • How much time do you have with them before they move away

If you’ve been dating someone for three years and are open to something long-distance, then keep dating them.

That’s a no-brainer.

Should You Date Someone Who Is Moving Away In a Week?

You meet someone and you feel the sparks fly.

You exchange numbers and agree to go on a date. But then they drop the bombshell: in a week, they’re moving to another city.

Should you continue to date them?

Most of the time, the answer is “no.” Dating them is probably a waste of your time.

If you’re not looking for anything serious, then maybe give it a go. But, otherwise, invest your time and energy into a relationship with a fighting chance to last.

An exception could be if you meet your twin flame and soul mate.

Who’s to say that won’t happen? If it does, then (by all means), date the person. Maybe you’ll experience a whirlwind romance that ends with a proposal, a fairytale wedding, and a great love story to tell the grandchildren one day.

Should You Date Someone Who Is Moving Away In a Month?

If the person you want to date is leaving in a month, I’d suggest that you casually date them.

I wouldn’t get too involved or invested.

Personally, my suggestion is to just have fun and don’t take the relationship too seriously.

Enjoy the time you have with them before they go, then move on to other dating pastures once they move.

Should You Date Someone Who Is Moving Away In a Year?

A year is a long time.

So, I’d say go ahead the date the person who plans to move in a year. A lot can change in 12 months and that’s enough time to build a foundation that might survive long-distance.

Still, I’d go into it with your eyes wide open.

Know what you want and talk to the other person about future expectations for the relationship if and when they move.

Should You Date Someone Who Is Moving Away Temporarily?

It can be tough when your significant other gets an opportunity to move away for a little while, whether it’s for work or school.

On the one hand, you’re happy for them and their exciting new adventure.

On the other hand, you’re worried about what it will mean for your relationship. While there’s no easy answer, I believe that you should absolutely date someone who is moving away temporarily.

Here’s why:

  • I see no reason to end a good relationship because of a temporary challenge.
  • The distance can help your relationship grow by facing a challenge together.
  • When you see your partner again, you will be in another “honeymoon” phase of love.

Sometimes a short time apart triggers the relationship to deepen into something more serious and long-term.

Final Thoughts: Should I Date Someone Who Might Move Away?

The bottom line is that it’s almost always in your interest to date someone who might move away.

You might date them casually or seriously but dating them is often the right choice in the long run. And don’t forget, sometimes people bring up the possibility of moving just to “move” the relationship into marriage territory.

Related posts:

Sources

PubMed Central (Research Article)
Tandfonline (Research Article)