Should I take the leap? Relocating advice!

fps01

Feel like I'm at a bit of a crossroads in my life and need to start making some decisions. I've lived in the same area from birth and I've been in my current dead end full time job for a few years. Due to the fact I've recently come out of a long term relationship and the majority of my close friends have now moved away with partners I'm feeling pretty lonely and bored with my life at the moment. I've been considering the idea of relocating to Brighton for a fresh start and to hopefully meet some new people and start enjoying life again.After applying for a few jobs in the area I've been offered 2 interviews for well paid full time jobs which I have coming up next week. The only thing I'm slightly struggling with is the thought of relocating alone is so daunting. I plan on doing a house share to keep rent costs down and as I wont know anyone I figured it'll be a good way to meet people and be sociable but there's still part of me that worries about not making friends in the area and feeling horribly lonely and regretting the whole decision! Can anyone else share their experiences of relocating and/or house sharing in a new area? Any advice would be appreciated!

desert_rose

Go for it!

I think you know when its time to move on and in some cases, move somewhere new too. Look on it as a fresh challenge and a means to clear the decks and get a new life whilst you're about it.

I moved away from home many years ago (for work initially), but found myself meeting new people and having new experiences and meeting someone very special too after a little while. Still with him fifteen years on as well!

I have friends who've never moved away from their home town and can't understand why anyone would want to and I respect that - the familiarity, the security of place, people and personal history is very powerful.

However, it can also be mind-bendingly dull, same old, same old, no real future to contemplate and the years stretching ahead wondering 'what if...'

I took the plunge. Never regretted it. Life is what you make it at the end of the day.

Good luck, whatever you decide to do.

kitrat

fps01 wrote: »

Feel like I'm at a bit of a crossroads in my life and need to start making some decisions. I've lived in the same area from birth and I've been in my current dead end full time job for a few years. Due to the fact I've recently come out of a long term relationship and the majority of my close friends have now moved away with partners I'm feeling pretty lonely and bored with my life at the moment. I've been considering the idea of relocating to Brighton for a fresh start and to hopefully meet some new people and start enjoying life again.After applying for a few jobs in the area I've been offered 2 interviews for well paid full time jobs which I have coming up next week. The only thing I'm slightly struggling with is the thought of relocating alone is so daunting. I plan on doing a house share to keep rent costs down and as I wont know anyone I figured it'll be a good way to meet people and be sociable but there's still part of me that worries about not making friends in the area and feeling horribly lonely and regretting the whole decision! Can anyone else share their experiences of relocating and/or house sharing in a new area? Any advice would be appreciated!

It sounds like you don't have too much tying you down, and it sounds like you're fairly lonely where you are anyway so what's to worry about? You will meet new people And Brighton's such a lovely place!!

Brighton_belle

Yup:D. I did this 10 years ago. Guess where I relocated to without knowing any one or having a job even:D
Best decision of my life: yes it took a while to make new friends (as opposed to acquaintances) but there is a complete melting pot of lifestyles and you can find the tribe where you fit. Lots of things to sign up for at this time of year too.

I would add that flat room hunting is very difficult - recent ad for our room we let got over 60 replies - last year over 90.

I would recommend spareroom.com. Rents are high, depending what part of the country you are from.

As soon as I arrived here, I looked for things to join that appealed to me as a starting point, gain this is a good time of year to do that.

Counting_Pennies_2

Go for it.

Sign up for book clubs, gyms, evening courses, whatever takes your fancy and you will slowly get to meet new people.

I am sure you will meet people at the new job too.

DigForVictory

Yes!
Do you really want to be wondering what it might have been like if you had in another 5 years?
All the best with the new job & new start!

fps01

Thanks everyone for the positive comments. Think I just needed a bit of encouragement as I know it's what I want to do but change is always a slightly scary thought! Definitely feeling a bit more excited now and have my fingers crossed for the interviews next week

double_mummy

just do it

FatVonD

I say go for it. I've always found a weekend job in a pub is the best way to meet people.

nicoc

I'd definitely say go for it. I relocated from Yorkshire to Devon several years ago and whilst it was daunting and at times I did worry about my decision it was absolutely the best move I made. I have subsequently relocated with my OH (who I met down there) to another part of the country again. He'd only ever lived in his home town and looking back now can't believe he hadn't moved before.

Flat sharing is a great idea as it definitely helps, just having to not go back to an empty place will help quash any worries about being lonely. When I first relocated I had to live in a hotel for 3 months, that was incredibly lonely to start with as I only knew people at work who I'd just met so found weekends quite tough early on. Then I realised I had to go out and make life for myself and never looked back.

Go for it

continualdiamond

Go for it...

I did, granted it was a long time ago now and I was only 21, but I did move from Australia.

Best thing I did as I moved for my at the time bf, who I ended up marrying and now we're eagerly awaiting the arrival of our 1st baby.

I didn't know anyone except him, but found once I got a job I made friends that way and then I started doing evening hobby courses run at the local high school, things like xmas craft courses and nail art etc.

It's scary, but also a lot of fun, especially if people don't expect you to up and do it. Everyone was shocked when I moved half way round the world.