Relocation Factors- 4 Signs a City Isn't Right for You

Relocation Factors- 4 Signs a City Isn't Right for You

Moving or relocating to a new place involves making important decisions. A move generally happens for better jobs and financial prospects. It can also be for educational opportunities, to be closer to family and friends, or simply because one needs a change of place. There are many factors one should consider before moving. It is important to do your research and prioritize what matters to you and your family the most personally and arrive at a final decision.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And you are the one who’ll decide where to go.” -Dr. Seuss

The most important factor that one usually considers is the job opportunities in the new place, the cost of living and affordability. Cities like New York and San Francisco can be very expensive. On the other hand, there are many job opportunities in these big cities. Folks may move to pursue education from the school and college of their dreams or for their children. The safety and crime rate is also another important factor to consider before moving to a new place.

Researching will help narrow down the pros and cons and give a better idea of the new place and if it fulfills all your expectations. It may be difficult to get a perfect place in all aspects. Some folks may be on the lookout for conveniences like many shopping and dining options, a good lifestyle, nightlife, easy commute to the workplace, or public transportation options. It finally all depends on an individual's choice.

Moving comes with many stresses, and it doesn’t always stop once you’ve settled down. Sometimes, you might move to a new area and not realize until you’re already moved in that it’s not the right place for you. If you’re trying to see whether or not you should move away from your current city or stay away from places you’re considering moving to, you need to know how to tell if it’s not the right place for you. 

“Move to a new country and you quickly see that visiting a place as a tourist, and actually moving there for good, are two very different things.”
— Tahir Shah

Here are a few signs that a city isn’t right for you. 

1. Noise

Cities can be loud. Some folks don’t mind the noise of city living, while others really need peace and quiet. If you prefer to hear birds chirping rather than horns blowing - you may be better suited in the suburbs. 

"Not by human dwellings – not in crowded cities alone, are the sights and sounds of life. The wildest places of the earth are full of them." – Solomon Northup

After moving to a new place like a noisy city, a person who is not used to the sounds may find it overwhelming. But do keep in mind the suburbs which may seem vast, empty, and quiet have their own kind of noises if you hear them carefully. Weigh the cons and pros to see if the noise factor is truly an obstruction for living in the new place.

2. Weather

A lack of sunlight has always been linked to sad emotions. Lack of sunlight prompts the body to produce melatonin, the hormone that induces sleep. One study found that if you’re in a good mood, the weather won’t have much effect on your mood, but if you’re in a bad mood, the weather can make it worse.

“One thing that feeds into the way you experience the social world is your mood – and one thing that affects your mood is the weather.” - Leonard Mlodinow

Weather can be a factor to decide if a city is right for you. Some places for example like Seattle have rainy and gloomy weather throughout the year. Other cities like Chicago is a windy city. So if you find the weather affects the way you feel and affects your overall wellbeing this might be a red flag as well.

3. Litter

Put a lot of people in one place, at one time, and you’re bound to have quite a mess. Just because you live in a city doesn’t mean it will be filthy all the time, but if litter, odor, and garbage are more than you can handle, you may want to consider a different area to reside. 

“Water and air, the two essential fluids on which all life depends, have become global garbage cans.” — Jacques Yves Cousteau, naval officer & marine conservationist

4. Mood

Long lines at the coffee shop? Traffic on the roads? If these things didn’t annoy you before and do now, in your new city - it’s time to go. When you live in a place you love, a bad moment doesn’t ruin your entire day. You feel bored in general, and even when engaged in some of your favorite activities, you don’t feel like you once did.

"What does not satisfy when we find it, was not the thing we were desiring. " - Author: C.S. Lewis

How to find the right city

If any of the above irks you a bit too much, maybe you just haven’t found the right city to live in. If you are looking to move, do your research, list your pros and cons and make a change. Don’t cross out city living for good, though. Calgary, for example, is a fairly big city, and it is ranked one of the best cities to live and work in, and it’s extremely clean. 

Calgary homes for sale tend to be more affordable than homes in other cities, and the market is very welcoming to those who are looking to purchase a property. So if becoming a homeowner is a plan of yours, you can turn it into reality sooner rather than later.

Another perk of Calgary is public transportation. Calgary’s C-Trains are powered by electricity coming from wind farms. It is the first place ever to use wind-powered systems for public transportation in North America. This has contributed significantly to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. And what is even better, in Calgary’s downtown, C-Train rides are free along 7th Avenue, known as the free fare zone.

Relocation and moving factors are dependent on each individual, their goals, what they want to achieve in life, and what makes them happy and contended. Nothing is right or wrong and is purely based on each one's interests, what makes them comfortable and which place they choose to call home. Doing thorough research can help and if it does not work as expected one always has a choice to move again.

Here's wishing good luck to new beginnings, moving to new places, and all the adventures that come with it!