Relocation

[€uroMeinke]

Seeking advice and shared experiences of those who have ever pulled up their roots and moved to another part of the world.

As some of you know the company I work for is getting ready to emerge from bankruptcy by being acquired by another company. By the end of January I should either get a job offer from the new company, or will begin a job search for something else. If the new company makes me an offer, it will be contingent on my willingness to relocate. Right now that seems to mean Carlsbad, Houston, or Princeton – though other places are possible.

If I decline or don’t get an offer, but want to stick with something in the utility industry, I will also be entertaining a possible change in location in my future.

I know many of you have faced such decisions, and plenty have picked up and moved across the country. I hope those of you did will respond to this and let me know what that was like for you, what made it easier, what difficulties didn’t you expect. What was it like to build a new social network in your new location? Any thought or wisdom would be welcome.

One of my biggest fears as an introvert over 50, is that I will be lonely in my new environment, that it will be hard for me to find those I can connect to and do the things that will make that happen. Anything you can say about that would be most appreciated.

As things progress and I have a better idea of my options of where I may be heading I’ll likely come back with more questions. I just want to be prepared if my decision needs to be quick and my commitments binding.

Thanks everyone

[Strangler Lewis]

I haven't made any such moves as a mature person. However, I have thought about such things from time to time. Before I worried about how to build a flesh and blood social network, I would start thinking about what I could hope to sell my house for and how quickly and what areas in the vicinity of my new potential workplaces I could afford to buy into.

Good luck with it all. Keep us posted.

[RStar]

Oh, my. As one who prefers to settle in and stay (I've lived in the same housing tract for the last 18 years, had the same job for 33 years, and married my first real girlfriend and we are still together after 35 years) I cannot imagine what this may put you through. So I can't be of much help there.

If you do leave the area you will be missed! Keep in mind, that you will have a digital network of friends with you where ever you go! I wish you the best of luck which ever way it goes!

[alphabassettgrrl]

Moved from MN to MT. Difficulties? It was a college town and made socializing difficult if you weren't on campus. Also it was a very small town; not much of anything going on. Helped? Work relationships got me through.

Moved from MT to CA. Helped? Lots of social stuff available, groups and whatnot. The internet helped. Just getting out and being there. Living in an apartment we met a lot of people; living in a single-family house is isolating in a way that the apartment wasn't. There were communal spaces at the barbecues and the hot tub/pool, which was handy.

[Alex]

My stories of complete relocation as a solo youth aren't really of relevance unfortunately (moved to Hawaii for grad school with about $200 and one backpack), moved from Hawaii to the Bay Area because that is where Lani got a job).

In neither case did I ever naturally develop a new local social circle. In Hawaii the first 6 months were extremely lonely, but I think I"m more ok with that than most. Eventually got on the fringes of a school clique but wasn't ever in the heart of it. Lani came around in year 2.

In the Bay Area I've still never really made a friend that came about naturally due to me living here. I have two social groups physically located here:

1) Local people from the Straight Dope message board. This group isn't as active for me as it once was.

2) Local people from MousePlanet.

But I don't seem to have a strong urge towards in person interaction with others. It is no fluke that nobody really knew about my surgery in September, only once in the last three months had I seen anybody locally who might have noticed.

But I'd avoid Houston if that is within your power.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Maybe you should start a message board.

[DreadPirateRoberts]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Maybe you should start a message board.

VGDM

[RStar]

Originally Posted by Ghoulish Delight

Maybe you should start a message board.

[€uroMeinke]

Believe you me, I will try not to move to Houston - though every so often I think I would be okay living there. Come February I should have some more concrete decisions to make. The economic calculations will be relatively easy to make - the social ones less so.

Sadly as this thread has demonstrated to me, despite my love for the message board format it has been given a death blow by facebook. At least till an alternative rises.

[Ghoulish Delight]

Positives of Houston...it's close to Austin.