Deciding where to live is an important decision. Don't take it lightly; however, remember also that your choice does not have to be final. Take a little time to think about what is most important to you. Weigh your ideals against your realities. When the time comes, make the choice that you feel is the right one and take the leap.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Explore Your Options
Step 1. Make a list
Write down the cities, states, nations or regions that float to your mind when you think about where you might want to live. Your list could be very short or very long. If you don't already have a few places in mind, then you will need to do more research to better understand what you are looking for.
Step 2. Do your research
Do an online search, talk to people, and read tourist guides to learn more about each place that makes it to your list. Read about the history, culture, landscape, and economy. Try to determine what exactly draws you to that place.
Ask your friends. If you are considering moving to a city and you know someone who has lived there before, be sure to ask that person for their perspective. Keep in mind that what works for one person does not always work for another
Step 3. Recognize trends
Look for the common factors between the places you consider living. Then use these patterns to help you understand what type of place you are generally looking for (urban, rural, or suburban; mountainous or coastal; east coast or west coast). Once you've identified a few similar options, try to analyze the more subtle differences between those locations.
- If you listed San Francisco, Portland, and Seattle, consider that these are relatively young, prosperous, and high-tech cities along the west coast of the United States. You may be looking for a certain type of energy that you identify in these particular urban centers. To narrow down your options, analyze the differences between these cities.
- If you listed Montana, Alaska, and Colorado, then you probably want to live in a mountainous, open-air location that is relatively unpopulated. There are many similarities between these three states; however, there are also many differences. Research each state to better understand the differences.
Step 4. Visit
If you are intrigued by the idea of a place, try to go yourself before making any serious decisions. Take advantage of any opportunity you have to visit the area, talk to the people and imagine that you live there. Try to stay there on holidays if you can, so that you rent temporary accommodation to get a real feel for life in your desired location.
If you plan on moving somewhere relatively close, you can visit it for a weekend or on a day off. If you plan to live in a distant place, make sure you have the time and resources to come and go
Method 2 of 3: Assess aesthetics
Step 1. Consider the culture
Learn about the music scene, the nightlife, the culinary scene, or anything you think will improve your quality of life. Try to understand the cultural idiosyncrasies that make each place unique. Read about the ratio of young to old and try to see trends in why people are moving to a particular place.
- Maybe your favorite band or a beloved author comes from a certain city. You may have heard that a city has a notoriously active population that prefers outdoor activities.
- Living close to other people who are on the same socioeconomic level can be more comfortable than living among people who earn much more or less than you. If you are renting or purchasing a home in your new area, try consulting with a real estate agent to get a better idea of your neighborhood.
Step 2. Look at the romance in a place
It is important to make an informed and practical decision; however, you must also find a reason to be excited about where you are going to live. Create a mental picture of what life would be like there and then evaluate if that life is something you want.
Step 3. Understand what the weather is like
Determine if you want to live in a warm, cold, humid or dry place, near the coast or in the mountains. A basic investigation of a city or region should give you a good idea of weather patterns. Consider the effects that a different climate (for example, a very rainy place or one that freezes in the winter) will have on your lifestyle and goals. Consider temperature, average rainfall, air pollution, and seasonal flow.
- Some people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), which is a cyclical pattern of depression that is related to the changing of the seasons. People are often most depressed in winter or in the rainy season, when the sky is cold and cloudy.
- If you are unsure about the weather in a particular location, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or NOAA has excellent data on a variety of topics ranging from temperature to air pollution.
Step 4. Learn about the risk of natural disasters
This can also help you change your decision, although it may not be the most important concern. Some places face a high risk of hurricanes and tornadoes, while others experience many earthquakes. Some places are prone to droughts, while others are prone to severe storms. Learn about the danger so you can make a conscious decision.
Method 3 of 3: Be practical
Step 1. Put money in an account
Move to a place that you can afford, but also gives you the opportunities you want. Your money will be worth more in some regions and less in others. On the other hand, they will also generally pay you more for jobs that you will find in a more expensive place. Here's the dilemma: the places with the most opportunities are often the most expensive to live in, and the most affordable places are often the least conducive to developing a career.
Avoid making money the only deciding factor. Yes, you should move to a place where you can support yourself and your family. However, first of all you should feel excited about where you are going
Step 2. Think about work
Factor your current and future career into the equation. Consider looking for jobs in potential new cities just to get a feel for what's out there. Look for places that have many jobs in a field that interests you.
If you plan to keep your current job, it may not be feasible to move to a place that involves a long trip
Step 3. Make the right decision for your children
If you are moving with children or are hoping to have children, find out which places have the best opportunities for education. Imagine how the culture and opportunities of a certain place will impact the way you raise a child. Choose a place that provides an enriching and stimulating environment for your children to call "home."
- Think about the type of support system that will be available. It can be much easier to raise children, both financially and logistically, if you live close to a network of close family and friends.
- If you are homeschooling your child, be sure to look for homeschooling groups in a certain location. Some regions are much friendlier than others for homeschoolers.
Advice
- Research according to priorities. However, the idea here is to narrow your options from a wide variety to a small set of realistic options.
- Make a list of what is most important to you. In this article there are not many factors that could influence someone.
- The links in this article are intended for those who live in the United States; however, the ideas can probably be applied no matter where in the world someone is.
Warnings
- Plan ahead. If you move unexpectedly, you could lose money, property, or a job when you could have been transferred to the new place. For more information on moving, see related wikiHow articles.
- Moving can be expensive, so consider whether you really have to move.