Whether you’re going back to school or just want some new scenery, you may want to move out of state. I’ve done so twice, and both have been great experiences.
Consider a few reasons why you may want to move away. And then, follow some of my top tips to make your move more enjoyable!
Why Move Out of State
Moving across town seems like enough of a hurdle, and moving out of state is even bigger. Still, there are a few reasons why you may want to take on the challenge.
Go to School
I went to undergrad in state, but I went out of state to graduate school. That involved me moving a few hours away to a new city and, of course, a new state.
Be sure to consider a variety of factors when deciding where to study. If your home state doesn’t have what you’re looking for, it’s normal to want to go elsewhere.
Accept a Job
A few months ago, I moved out of state yet again. But this time, I moved because I was offered a job in a new state.
Especially in the world of music, there are a lot of jobs that require you to move out of state. This is particularly common for orchestral positions or college teaching jobs.
But there are other jobs that you can’t do just anywhere. In my case, I moved because I got a job at a flute specialty shop, and there are only a few of those.
Explore a New Place
Maybe you want to move out of state without a plan necessarily. That’s totally okay because you can explore a new place to live.
The country and world are both massive. If you’ve only ever lived in your hometown, it can help to check out new cities to see where you feel at home.
Tips to Consider When You Move Out of State
If you want to move out of state, I have some tips to help you. These tips aren’t related to the moving, but they can help in other ways.
Figure Out Why
First, you want to figure out why you’re moving somewhere new. Maybe you want to go to school, and the best program for you is far away.
Or perhaps you got a job that requires you to live in a different state. Even if you’re just looking to explore a new place, that’s a great reason to move.
Knowing why you want to move can help with some of the following tips.
Decide Where to Move
Both times I’ve moved out of state, I haven’t had that much choice in where I moved. Sure, I had some choice with my graduate studies, but I knew I wanted to stay within driving distance to my hometown.
Of course, when I moved for my new job, I had to move to a specific city. I have no problems with that, but that was just my reality.
If you’re moving to move or to grow your career without a job in place, you have options. You’ll want to think about what opportunities will be like where you move.
Maybe you want to teach private lessons, so you look at moving to Texas. Every middle and high school hires a private teacher for every instrument.
Visit the Place First
My next biggest tip if you want to move out of state is to visit the area you’ll move to. I had been to Omaha before grad school, but I didn’t remember it.
Luckily, I got to visit a few times to explore the area and the campus of my school. I also got to tour a few apartments.
When I moved to Dallas, I had one chance to visit. I used that short visit to tour apartments, find stores in the area, and visit my now workplace.
Visiting can help you get a feel for things before you officially move. It can also help you make sure this is the place where you want to live.
Save Up a Little
Sometimes, you’ll have to move out of state pretty quickly. However, if you can, try to save up a bit of money to help cover your moving costs.
That can go a long way, especially since you’ll need to take time off from work. You’ll sacrifice some income before you get settled in your new place.
Consider Your Commute
Even if you’re moving for school or a job, you still have some choice in exactly where you’ll live. I’d suggest looking at what your commute would be before you choose a specific neighborhood.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like sitting in my car for long periods. And I’m not the biggest fan of stop and go traffic.
So living relatively close to school or work was important to me. Consider where you’ll have to go each day, and find a place with a decent commute for you.
Think About Your Support System
If you want to move out of state but not for school or work, you’ll be on your own. At least with school or a job, you’ll have a chance to meet people.
But without those things, it can be tough to live in a new city. Unless you’re really good at meeting people, I’d recommend moving somewhere with extended family or friends of friends.
They can then help you get the lay of the land. And they may be able to introduce you to people that you can get to know so that you have an even larger support system.
Final Thoughts
Deciding to move out of state is exciting but also stressful. Luckily, there are a few things you can do to help make the process a little easier.
Keep these tips in mind the next time you want to make a big move!
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