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Joined 1 year ago
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Cake day: June 24th, 2023

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  • I have moved across the US multiple times, so I should be eminently qualified to answer this, yet somehow I’m not. I can tell you some things that have worked and some that haven’t.

    First, there are lots of moving checklists online to help with what order you should do things like contact movers or shut off electricity. I’m not going to get into those specifics. You should be able to find articles and calculators online that compare the cost of living and relative availability of jobs and housing in a given area. I’m not any help in that area but to say that you definitely need to have work secured before you move (learned that the hard way.)

    You also want to have housing secured, even if only temporarily. When I moved from North Carolina to Wisconsin, we were lucky to meet someone right away at church who had off-season cabins we could rent cheaply by the week. Otherwise we’d have been homeless for several weeks. Side note: know where the hospital is. My mom had a panic attack at this time and ended up paying hundreds of dollars for an ambulance when it turned out the hospital was straight up the road).

    When we moved to Virginia, we had reservations at a temporary stay hotel. Much less stressful to stay there until you find a more permanent situation.

    When I moved to Florida, it was to be with a guy I met online. I visited him first, scouted out the area, and found an apartment that worked for me. It helps to know someone in the area and visit it first.

    When we moved to Oregon, we had never been there before. Drove across the country 5 days with a Uhaul, two cars, and a little dog. More panic attacks ensued. We were lucky to get an apartment right away, but jobs were more difficult. I had 3 in my 10 months there. When mom and I found ourselves out of work at the same time, and we hadn’t built a supportive community there, we decided to head back to Virginia.

    So it helps to make friends and have people you can rely on. Join whatever groups you can to build a community. If you’re in a more rural area (lower COL) that will be harder. Decide what size city/town will best meet your needs. How far are you willing to drive for groceries? Are there enough people to support whatever activities you’re into?

    I regret some of my moves, but appreciate others. You can absolutely go to a new place and build a life there. People are key. Having a plan is important. If you can visit first, so much the better. I know a lot of people from New Jersey who have relocated happily to North Carolina. The Midwest has nice people, but the weather can make your situation more difficult. Also you’re looking at a two day drive or more, whereas you can visit the south in a day’s drive.