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Family in US considers moving to Pune for slower life and better work-life balance: ‘Most stuff feels like noise’

A Mumbai-born man wrote on Reddit that his family in New York is considering returning to India.

Published on: Mar 17, 2026 10:36 AM IST
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A family living in the United States is considering moving to Pune in search of a slower lifestyle and a better environment to raise their young child.

The man said he has spent about 17 years away from home, living in different parts of the world, including around 10 years in the US. (Unsplash/Representational Image)
The man said he has spent about 17 years away from home, living in different parts of the world, including around 10 years in the US. (Unsplash/Representational Image)

In a post on Reddit, a man originally from Mumbai shared that he and his family have been living in New York state for several years but are now thinking about returning to India.

According to the post, the couple and their three-year-old son currently live in New York. The man said he has spent about 17 years away from home, living in different parts of the world, including around 10 years in the United States.

He wrote that while life abroad has been going well, he has begun to question whether continuing to work there for the long term is truly worth it.

I have been working for a while and getting to a point where I don't see the upside of working here forever,” he wrote in the post.

He explained that, for their child, the most important things are a good school, places to play, sports activities, and a healthy community and culture to grow up in. Many other aspects of maintaining a high-end lifestyle abroad now feel less important to him.

“Most of other stuff feels like noise. Keeping up with work just to maintain a high-quality lifestyle here isn't quite worth it, even though things are going fine,” he adds.

Also Read: After 13 years in US, family tries Mumbai for 5 years and returns to America: ‘Reality started hitting us hard’

Family plans return to India:

The man said he believes moving to India could also allow him to take a break from work for some time before deciding what kind of work he wants to pursue next.

He is considering relocating to Pune, ideally to an area on the outskirts where the family could enjoy a quieter and slower pace of life. However, he is still weighing different neighbourhoods.

In the post, he mentioned areas such as Koregaon Park and Kalyani Nagar as possible options because they may offer a more cosmopolitan and international environment, which could make the transition easier for his wife, who is from New York and speaks only English.

The family plans to spend about 3-4 crore on a flat, possibly more if it means living in a greener and quieter place.

Check out the post here:

Screengrab of the Reddit post. (Reddit)
Screengrab of the Reddit post. (Reddit)

Here's how people reacted to the post:

Reddit users shared a mix of advice and personal experiences in response to the post.

Some said the family should carefully think about the lifestyle change that comes with moving from the United States to India.

Others pointed out that while a slower pace of life can be appealing, factors such as reliable infrastructure, daily conveniences, and community support can make a big difference in the long run.

One of the users commented, “Don’t. Grass looks greener on the other side, but trust me, there is no grass here either.”

Also Read: NRI family in US with $6.8mn net worth eyes return to India after 25 yrs, netizens express shock, ‘Weren’t you annoyed…’

A second user commented, “I'm puzzled at your decision to come to India with a kid. The opportunities for your kid can't be comparable here.”

A third user commented, “Living here might be easier for you since you are from Mumbai, but for your wife it might be a culture shock.

“I came back to Pune from Europe because of my parents' health issues. I regret my decision,” another user commented.

(Disclaimer: This report is based on user-generated content from social media. HT.com has not independently verified the claims and does not endorse them.)

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