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Moving abroad hesitations
Hubs and I are considering a move from the U.S. to Costa Rica. We're both in love with our families (and each other's) but live 10 and 13-hour drives away from our parents. We still manage to see them several times per year. Is being away from your immediate family super difficult? Please, only answer if you really, really like your family. 
And the idea of being pregnant and delivering babies there is causing me to hesitate a little, too. San Jose has cutting-edge medical treatment, but we're looking at moving to a more remote area on the Pacific coast which would be about a 4-hour drive to SJ. The local women have been giving birth to babies there forever, but I guess the idea of not being close to a major hospital has be concerned. My friends who are strong advocates of home birth tell me not to worry, but I'm still unsure.
Do I need to take a chill pill and just hop on board with this plan?
Re: Moving abroad hesitations
I live in London and my mom is in Albuquerque, dad in PA. I only get to see them once a year due to cost. We talk weekly, which really makes a difference. I love living here and my life. I moved for a job and met my husband here so I've become a lifer. While there can be challenges, I wouldn't give up my life for almost anything.
My husband is really close to his family (he'd never lived more than 30 minutes away from them until we moved to India), but we do okay. Skype is great, and email really breaks down that boundary. You'll also probably be able to find great airfare at certain points for you to see them - and them to visit you!
Home birth isn't on my to-do list; when I have my little parasite, we'll be doing it at the local community hospital (10 minutes by car or a 30 minute walk) unless the midwife/OB points me down to one of the hospitals down the mountain. It won't be classy, no vending machines to keep DH occupied, but it will do - and that's all that really matters. They deal with C-sections regularly, there are Western-trained doctors on staff, and I've got nothing but confidence in them.
I agree with UKyankee. You will get a lot more responses if you try the proboards. As you can see TN is pretty quiet.
I love my parents. I call them every day. I usually see them twice a year but I think it will be more difficult when LO is here. I might miss them more when I become a Mom but to be honest I dont miss miss them too much now. KWIM? Maybe, because we have a great relationship and I talk to them all the time. I miss doing things with them but I love my little family with DH.
My mother is my best friend, and I love my dad dearly.
I've had a really rough time since I've had my son, mostly because I haven't been home in nearly two years and I really, desperately want to go back- and Australia and America aren't exactly a 14 hour drive apart
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I think it really depends on you and how you would react to being away from your fam.
I've lived in Costa Rica for 4 years now. Travel to the US is easy and affordable (depending on where in the US of course) so that makes being away from family a bit easier just knowing you can hop on a plane and visit family anytime you get homesick. Like others have said, Skype is great too. We never use the phone anymore, especially now that smartphones exist on which you can use Skype and other messaging apps.
As for medical care, I live in the central valley so I don't really know much about care on the coasts. I've had great experiences with doctors here, and I have several friends who have delivered at local hospitals, all with great experiences. Also it depends where you would be going on the pacific coast. They just opened a new highway a couple years ago which gets you from the coast to SJ in about 1hour. Feel free to message me if you have any specific questions.
I would jump at the opportunity! Living abroad can be such an amazing experience. Left my home country about 11 years ago and not once I've regretted it!
I do miss my family from time to time but so far, I've managed to go home at least once, if not twice a year, and members of my family have visited me too. Plus, with Skype (chat with parents at least 3 times a week), emails, facebook, blogs...it make the distance so much smaller.
Wishing you all the best!