Based the questions I am often fielding about our move, I’ve written up a few parts of the moving process. You can start reading it wherever it is most helpful but if you’re particular about following the order, you can start with Part 1: Deciding to Move.
Part 2: Finding a Location
For some, this part of the process is dictated by outside factors. This may include a job offer, a family tie or something out of your control. If so, this part will look different. Finding a location will mean, finding a job or family tie or whatever it is that is calling you and then sorting out the details to make it a reality.
For me, I needed to sort through what I wanted in a place. Criteria can range from the size of the town to the weather in the winter.
The following contributed to our list of criteria:
- Near geographic interest (i.e. mountains or ocean)
- Warmer weather year-round
- Bigger city than current location or nearby one
- Within 20 minutes of a Target and within an hour of Trader Joe’s
- Music and arts culture
Having criteria helps, but it does not automatically give you the answer. There were several cities that fit this description. For some, several options is a positive thing and can lead to more opportunities in the job search. For others, it can be difficult to plan without a narrowed search or a clear direction. Moving can be a complicated process with a lot of planning involved, so it’s best to go with what you are more comfortable with.
The final push for Raleigh came because of these key factors:
- It showed up on similar “Best City for…” lists as Des Moines. Knowing we liked Des Moines helped us realize this would be something we would like.
- Family would be three hours away, which we knew would be helpful
- We had some familiarity with that region of the country, although limited knowledge of Raleigh itself