Have you ever moved away alone for a job? Would you?

dimestorediamond

For the record, this is not something I am planning on doing in the immediate future, but once I have my qualifications it's something that I will very likely need to do to get the job I would like. There is simply nothing around here.

So, have you moved away for work? On your own, somewhere where you didn't know a soul? Did it work out? How old were you?

I'd love to hear some honest experiences.

thorsoak

Not exactly a job ....but in a way it was - when we married 51 years ago, we moved to an area that we didn't know, where no-one knew us, to a new house, to embark on married life. My OH continued in his job and commuted, but I had to restart my career. I was 20.

Did I regret it? No. Was it hard? Yes. I missed my family, my friends, but we had each other. And this was before everybody had a phone - had to use the phone box half a mile away on the main road!

Marmaduke123

Yes, moved 200 miles to a new job in a place where I knew no-one. I was 22. It was probably made easier because I'd gone to college in a different place where I knew no-one 4 years before.

It worked out fine, I met my husband there and we are still in the area. Like thorsoak, it was 50 or so years ago - no mobile phones, internet etc to keep in touch with family or friends and I didn't have a phone at first.

You do have to make an effort to join things, even if like me you are not naturally a joiner. Work was helpful too, there were compatible single people to go out with and I soon moved into a flat share with one.

Probably you need to be the type of person who is OK with their own company to be happy doing it, but I should think it must be much easier now.

Brighton_belle

Yes, I did it at 36 and single which I think is very different than being in a couple - there is no one there at the end of the day or plan things with. It was also pre the internet/mass mobile phone use, as we know it now.


I chose to move somewhere far more interesting that the dullsville I was living, so I knew there would be activities and things I would enjoy doing and have a chance to make friends.
Took a couple of years to really put roots down, but I'm quite fussy friendship-wise though (pays off in the end though )


Never regretted it: it probably helped that I wasn't massively happy living where I left, so I had less to lose.

Patchwork_Girl

Yes, aged 27 and single. I moved into a shared house so had an instant start to a social life - I'm not naturally very sociable so would recommend this

dimestorediamond

Some interesting responses!

If I did do it, I would probably be going alone. (Unless of course, I met someone in the meantime)

And no, I am not naturally a joiner. Once, I am a bit more confident with people, I am more outgoing. But I do love my own company. It would be miserable to never have any friends or do anything though.

I've not been to traditional uni at 18, so I wouldn't have that as an experience.

Morglin

I did try moving away, out of London, but hated it so much I came home as soon as we could.

Lin

freebiequennie

We did as a couple I was 22 when we moved n husband(then boyfriend) was 28 we knew no one was 200miles away been here 12yrs now n up until 6yrs ago would have moved back again def wouldn't now. First 2yrs are the hardest but I found after 2yrs I visited "home" less often and now we go 2-3 Times a yr.

Hermia

I've done it a couple of times. I think in quite a few careers now the only way to get promotions is to move. It didn't scare me too much as friends were also doing it so the town I came from was already changing in that respect. It is a very scary and very hard thing to do, but it is also awesome because you get to experience different places. The place I want to settle in is a place I didn't know anything about before. TBH, when I visit home and see old friends living in the same place and hanging around with the same people I feel sorry for them. Good luck to them if they like it, but my home town has nothing going for it and they have had no chance to try living somewhere interesting.

I think you do need to be resilient person to uproot yourself. Sometimes you have to join a lot of things to find friends that suit you. If you are the sort of person who really struggles when things don't go to plan, uprooting yourself may be a difficult task.

whodathunkit

Several times as a single in my twenties. It's very liberating to realise that you can move wherever you want and that you're in control of your life.

Gloomendoom

Away from what?

Excluding going away to university, starting in my early twenties I've moved on my own several times for new job opportunities.

I didn't think it was that unusual.