Explaining Moving Locations To Roommate

I want to explain to my future room mate that the city she (and her moms wishes) wants to live in is not where I want to be.

She’s my best friend and I don’t want to hurt her by telling her no, but I don’t want to sound selfish either. I want her to be happy, but I have to be happy too.

She’ll be going to college in this new city, and I’m taking a break from school for a year or so. I don’t want to make her commute all that way, It’s a good 30 miles from where I’d rather live… But if I live up there with her, I’ll have to commute that far to see all the rest of the people I care for, not to mention gatherings with my “religious” group.

I’ve brought the idea up to her several times before, and she always has a reason why this city of hers is better. She won’t have to commute to school, her mom wants this, better job oppertunities, new people to meet. But my arguement is it’s more expensive, we won’t know anyone, those we DO know live 30 miles away, I’d have to find a new job, after spending all this summer finding the one I have already… being that’s it’s a college town, jobs won’t really be that much easier to find…

I don’t know what else to do. I won’t live with anyone but her, I trust her above all else. And she trusts me above all others.

I’m afraid to set my foot down and scare her away as a friend…