How to realistically do a "trial run" when considering moving to a new city?
February 5, 2012 10:14 AM Subscribe
I've been playing around with the idea of moving to a new city across the country. I've been there once before and loved it, but would like to visit it again, perhaps for a month or two over the summer, to get a more in-depth feel for the area. This plan sounds wonderful in my head, but there seem to be a lot of small details that I can't figure out how to make work. How can I realistically do this without spending a ton of money? Also a bit torn on the idea of moving in general; how can I decide if it's something I should give a try or if it's just a meaningless thought floating around in my mind?
I'm 19 and have only lived in three different places within a one-hour radius of each other. Honestly, I'm getting a little tired of this area (Nevada) and have been toying with the idea of packing up and moving somewhere new for a while. I am currently attending college here, which I would probably like to finish, if only for the reason that it's much cheaper to stay in-state for that. Overall, there's nothing I particularly hate about where I live, but I have no real desire to stay here either, and no ties to the area besides family.
I visited a friend in the Midwest for a little more than a week last summer and absolutely fell in love with the area he lives in. Within a day of arriving there, I felt more "at home" than I ever have in the area I've lived in my entire life. Ever since I left, I can't stop thinking about the next time I can visit. If I were to pack up and move somewhere, I think I'd love to give Michigan a try, based on what I experienced last summer. But I do suffer from some anxiety issues and am unsure how I'd fare with actually following through on such a plan. I'm not sure how much of this just SOUNDS like a great idea, but in reality would be something I'd wouldn't deal with well. I also don't know how much of my love for the area was due to the fact that I was on vacation, spending time doing amazing things with a dear friend, versus how much I would actually love living there outside of a vacation/fun context.
So I'd like to visit the area again, spend maybe a month or two there, and explore it a little more in-depth to get a feel for what it would REALLY be like to live there. However, I'm not sure how to realistically go about this. For a variety of reasons, I don't think I'll be able to stay with the friend I visited last summer, so I'll need a place to stay. I'll also need transportation, as this is definitely an area that requires a car, and I'd like to explore some of the surrounding cities as well. Since I'm only 19, I don't believe I can rent a car, and even if I could it sounds like it would be ridiculously expensive. I'd like to do this whole thing as cheaply as possible. With regards to housing, a vehicle, and probably a million other little details I'm forgetting, what options do I have to actually be able to pull this off relatively easily/cheaply?
Also, any advice/input on my situation and considered move in general would be welcome as well. In some ways I feel like there are some things holding me back (family, anxiety issues, etc.) but on the other hand it seems like at this point in my life it might be a good thing to at least try.
I'm 19 and have only lived in three different places within a one-hour radius of each other. Honestly, I'm getting a little tired of this area (Nevada) and have been toying with the idea of packing up and moving somewhere new for a while. I am currently attending college here, which I would probably like to finish, if only for the reason that it's much cheaper to stay in-state for that. Overall, there's nothing I particularly hate about where I live, but I have no real desire to stay here either, and no ties to the area besides family.
I visited a friend in the Midwest for a little more than a week last summer and absolutely fell in love with the area he lives in. Within a day of arriving there, I felt more "at home" than I ever have in the area I've lived in my entire life. Ever since I left, I can't stop thinking about the next time I can visit. If I were to pack up and move somewhere, I think I'd love to give Michigan a try, based on what I experienced last summer. But I do suffer from some anxiety issues and am unsure how I'd fare with actually following through on such a plan. I'm not sure how much of this just SOUNDS like a great idea, but in reality would be something I'd wouldn't deal with well. I also don't know how much of my love for the area was due to the fact that I was on vacation, spending time doing amazing things with a dear friend, versus how much I would actually love living there outside of a vacation/fun context.
So I'd like to visit the area again, spend maybe a month or two there, and explore it a little more in-depth to get a feel for what it would REALLY be like to live there. However, I'm not sure how to realistically go about this. For a variety of reasons, I don't think I'll be able to stay with the friend I visited last summer, so I'll need a place to stay. I'll also need transportation, as this is definitely an area that requires a car, and I'd like to explore some of the surrounding cities as well. Since I'm only 19, I don't believe I can rent a car, and even if I could it sounds like it would be ridiculously expensive. I'd like to do this whole thing as cheaply as possible. With regards to housing, a vehicle, and probably a million other little details I'm forgetting, what options do I have to actually be able to pull this off relatively easily/cheaply?
Also, any advice/input on my situation and considered move in general would be welcome as well. In some ways I feel like there are some things holding me back (family, anxiety issues, etc.) but on the other hand it seems like at this point in my life it might be a good thing to at least try.
This may sound over-obvious, or maybe not, but how about getting a summer job there? Nothing glamorous - get a job at a fast food place, or at a quickie mart, or a Wal-Mart, something where they won't care if you're gone in two months.
That would give you a sense for what it's like to live in a place, a little money, and while it wouldn't solve your housing situation, it would at least open your eyes as to the reality of obtaining housing once you do move there permanently.
Whatever you decide to do, though, good luck - a move like this is a great thing to do and I hope you can find a way to make it work.
posted by pdb at 10:36 AM on February 5, 2012
That would give you a sense for what it's like to live in a place, a little money, and while it wouldn't solve your housing situation, it would at least open your eyes as to the reality of obtaining housing once you do move there permanently.
Whatever you decide to do, though, good luck - a move like this is a great thing to do and I hope you can find a way to make it work.
posted by pdb at 10:36 AM on February 5, 2012
Craigslist or equivalent for housing - lots of people go on vacation in the summer and might rent out their place for the duration. Ask your friend if he knows of anyone in this situation (or better yet, a housesitting gig). If your timing can be a little flexible, all the better.
Transportation: one option is buy a cheap bike when you arrive. If you can make it with a combination of cycling and transit, you'll find it much easier than the hassle of renting. Otherwise, there are smaller rental agencies that will sometimes rent to 19 year olds (e.g. Rent a Wreck), but this won't be a cheap option. Make some calls. Is there a car share in the city in question?
Otherwise, pack your clothes, hop on the plane (or consider Amtrak if you aren't in a rush). You can do this.
posted by ssg at 10:37 AM on February 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Transportation: one option is buy a cheap bike when you arrive. If you can make it with a combination of cycling and transit, you'll find it much easier than the hassle of renting. Otherwise, there are smaller rental agencies that will sometimes rent to 19 year olds (e.g. Rent a Wreck), but this won't be a cheap option. Make some calls. Is there a car share in the city in question?
Otherwise, pack your clothes, hop on the plane (or consider Amtrak if you aren't in a rush). You can do this.
posted by ssg at 10:37 AM on February 5, 2012 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I recommend heading over to the city-data forums and seeing what the folks there have to say about your chosen destination. They will tell you what you need to know about transportation, economy, housing situations, etc... Craigslist is also a great place to find a place to live if you're looking for temporary housing, but do hit the forums and ask the locals about the neighborhoods. Remember though, that one person's "bad" neighborhood is another person's home sweet home.
Also, see if the city you're looking at has an online newspaper and look it up. There's lots of information to be found in there, including classifieds for jobs/homes/transportation. Most of them are free now so it's worth a shot.
I've moved a lot in the past 18 years (about 24 times, 9 states, 14 cities...). I've lived on the shady side of poverty most of my life, which means that I never have a lot of money. And I never have a job lined up when I move. It's on of those things which (for me) you have to do on faith. Either you'll find a job/place to live/transportation when you get there or you won't. There's no guarantee you'll find or keep a all that stuff where you are now either, so why not take the chance? That's my philosophy anyway.
posted by patheral at 11:44 AM on February 5, 2012
Also, see if the city you're looking at has an online newspaper and look it up. There's lots of information to be found in there, including classifieds for jobs/homes/transportation. Most of them are free now so it's worth a shot.
I've moved a lot in the past 18 years (about 24 times, 9 states, 14 cities...). I've lived on the shady side of poverty most of my life, which means that I never have a lot of money. And I never have a job lined up when I move. It's on of those things which (for me) you have to do on faith. Either you'll find a job/place to live/transportation when you get there or you won't. There's no guarantee you'll find or keep a all that stuff where you are now either, so why not take the chance? That's my philosophy anyway.
posted by patheral at 11:44 AM on February 5, 2012
There are many summer camps and resorts that hire people your age for the summer. Why not get a summer job to see if you like it? You could bus or train out there and back pretty easily.
FWIW, moving to Michigan for a career might be a stretch nowadays. There are few jobs.
posted by k8t at 12:01 PM on February 5, 2012
FWIW, moving to Michigan for a career might be a stretch nowadays. There are few jobs.
posted by k8t at 12:01 PM on February 5, 2012
Best answer: Get a summer job on Mackinac Island, or register for a summer program at the local U.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:39 PM on February 5, 2012
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:39 PM on February 5, 2012
I second patheral's city-data recommendation.
Having lived in Michigan for several years, it is absolutely glorious in the summer. The winter is another matter entirely - it's punishingly cold and dark, the winter is long, and the snow piling up and up and up and not melting until well into the spring can be pretty oppressive. So I'd say consider that you saw the place at its absolute best, and think about how much weather tends to impact your happiness personally, because that's different for everyone. If you like winter outdoor activities, it's a pretty great place - if not, you'll probably be hitting the bar scene, which is another major winter activity in Michigan.
Also consider what your education is in, and whether that education means you personally theoretically have strong prospects there, and whether there are particular Michigan cities where the type of work you're interested in is centered. Unemployment in Michigan is currently 9.8% - it's one of those places that the downturn has hit hardest. Because of unemployment and other issues, four Michigan cities made the most recent Forbes "20 Most Miserable Cities" list, and you can bet that that means that nearby cities are likely to suffer from some of the same issues.
In terms of finding a place to stay in order to evaluate the place more fully, maybe look at Couchsurfing, airbnb to get a place from a distance and then switch to looking on Craigslist when you actually get into town and can check out places in person. Or consider whether you could find a way to piece together one or more house-sitting arrangements.
I grew up outside of D.C., and lived in Kalamazoo for three years - I didn't really know what to expect, but I found it surprisingly fun given that it was a small town and I was used to a big metropolitan area.
posted by jocelmeow at 10:48 AM on February 6, 2012
Having lived in Michigan for several years, it is absolutely glorious in the summer. The winter is another matter entirely - it's punishingly cold and dark, the winter is long, and the snow piling up and up and up and not melting until well into the spring can be pretty oppressive. So I'd say consider that you saw the place at its absolute best, and think about how much weather tends to impact your happiness personally, because that's different for everyone. If you like winter outdoor activities, it's a pretty great place - if not, you'll probably be hitting the bar scene, which is another major winter activity in Michigan.
Also consider what your education is in, and whether that education means you personally theoretically have strong prospects there, and whether there are particular Michigan cities where the type of work you're interested in is centered. Unemployment in Michigan is currently 9.8% - it's one of those places that the downturn has hit hardest. Because of unemployment and other issues, four Michigan cities made the most recent Forbes "20 Most Miserable Cities" list, and you can bet that that means that nearby cities are likely to suffer from some of the same issues.
In terms of finding a place to stay in order to evaluate the place more fully, maybe look at Couchsurfing, airbnb to get a place from a distance and then switch to looking on Craigslist when you actually get into town and can check out places in person. Or consider whether you could find a way to piece together one or more house-sitting arrangements.
I grew up outside of D.C., and lived in Kalamazoo for three years - I didn't really know what to expect, but I found it surprisingly fun given that it was a small town and I was used to a big metropolitan area.
posted by jocelmeow at 10:48 AM on February 6, 2012
Response by poster: Thanks to everyone who gave suggestions so far. The area I'd like to re-visit is Grand Rapids/Grand Haven, but I'd also like to be able to explore places such as Lansing and Ann Arbor. I took a look at some internships and research experiences at a couple of universities and applied for a few. Some include housing and even pay a stipend, so that sounds perfect for my situation, though I'm not sure of the chances of me getting accepted. It's a start, though, and something I hadn't considered.
I had thought of Craigslist for apartment/room hunting, but wasn't sure how that would work to secure a place without actually being there. It seems like people are hesitant to rent a place to someone they can't meet up with first, and I'd be hesitant to rent a place without seeing it first. I like the house-sitting idea, or Couchsurfing and then finding a place once I get there, so I'll be looking more into those options.
As far as jobs, I have a stable job currently that allows me to work from home and virtually any place with internet access. I'm not terribly worried about that since that type of work will pretty much always be an option for me to fall back on if I can't find a job in another field after college. I'm considering a degree in accounting, which sounds like it's a pretty stable field as well.
jocelmeow, I definitely hear what you're saying about the differences in seasons and was hoping to visit Michigan again this past December, but that didn't work out. As I said, I've got a good chunk of time in the summer that I'm hoping to devote to visiting, and I'm hoping that maybe next winter will work out for another visit. I've not noticed that weather affects my happiness much, but sometimes extreme cold has not so great effects on a couple other health issues I have. Michigan winters are definitely something I'll want to experience before packing up and moving there; I just haven't had the opportunity to do so yet.
I think the biggest obstacle I'm facing is transportation while I'm there. As far as I can tell, there's not a fantastic public transportation system in the Grand Rapids area, and especially not for being able to get around to surrounding areas.
posted by Malleable at 5:28 PM on February 6, 2012
I had thought of Craigslist for apartment/room hunting, but wasn't sure how that would work to secure a place without actually being there. It seems like people are hesitant to rent a place to someone they can't meet up with first, and I'd be hesitant to rent a place without seeing it first. I like the house-sitting idea, or Couchsurfing and then finding a place once I get there, so I'll be looking more into those options.
As far as jobs, I have a stable job currently that allows me to work from home and virtually any place with internet access. I'm not terribly worried about that since that type of work will pretty much always be an option for me to fall back on if I can't find a job in another field after college. I'm considering a degree in accounting, which sounds like it's a pretty stable field as well.
jocelmeow, I definitely hear what you're saying about the differences in seasons and was hoping to visit Michigan again this past December, but that didn't work out. As I said, I've got a good chunk of time in the summer that I'm hoping to devote to visiting, and I'm hoping that maybe next winter will work out for another visit. I've not noticed that weather affects my happiness much, but sometimes extreme cold has not so great effects on a couple other health issues I have. Michigan winters are definitely something I'll want to experience before packing up and moving there; I just haven't had the opportunity to do so yet.
I think the biggest obstacle I'm facing is transportation while I'm there. As far as I can tell, there's not a fantastic public transportation system in the Grand Rapids area, and especially not for being able to get around to surrounding areas.
posted by Malleable at 5:28 PM on February 6, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by libertypie at 10:19 AM on February 5, 2012