Relocating to a Small Town
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11 Tips for Successfully Relocating to a Small Town |
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If a less stressful lifestyle away from the hustle and bustle of big city lights beckons you, why can't you break free of the rat race? Today's technology has liberated us from the necessity of making a living in metropolitan areas. The trend in the late '90s is migration to rural America -- where crime is not an everyday occurrence, people have straight-forward values, a sense of community, and you can live on a lot less. What is there to consider when contemplating this giant step? Answer the questions below and find out which direction to point your moving van.
| 1) | Think through your motivation for leaving. Do you want a safer, more crime-free place? Less stress and traffic congestion to fight? More open space? A lower cost of living? Better environmental condition? Higher quality of life? |
| 2) | Determine what services are important to you. Is specialized health care a must? A good college or university? Senior citizen groups? Need to be near an airport? |
| 3) | Analyze what "fun" means to you. Cultural amenities are fewer than in the big city. Shopping is limited. On the other hand, opportunities to enjoy nature (fish, hike, bird watch, ski, etc.) abound -- as do friendly, supportive people and new kinds of amusements. |
| 4) | Realize you'll probably make less -- and spend less. Rural real estate is cheaper. Use bottom-line thinking: It's not what you earn, but what's at the end of the month that counts. |
| 5) | Consider how you will find a good job. Do your skills translate well to the needs of the community -- or can you telecommute? Job hunting in the country differs from strategies used in the city; don't price yourself out of a small town economy. |
| 6) | Examine the idea of going into business for yourself. In Country Bound!, we give advice on how to turn avocational interests into regular paychecks, tap into the Information Age, buy the right small-town business, find a profitable franchise, or become a home-based "countrypreneur." |
| 7) | Think about how the educational system will impact your children. Small-town schools typically have smaller classes, less drugs and crime, and the teachers know their students individually. Athletes play sports rather than just warming the bench. |
| 8) | Visit potential communities during different seasons. Climate that's ideal in winter may be terrible in summer. Consider all weather aspects. Beware if the area turns into a tourist trap. |
| 9) | Use your head, not just your heart. Plan. Investigate. Scrutinize. Don't just make a decision because you "fall in love" with a place. Some small towns welcome newcomers...others don't. Talk to people who moved there six months ago and ask if they would do it again. |
| 10) | Don't expect them to change to suit you. Be prepared to enter their world and make changes yourself. After all, that's why you moved! |
| 11) | Get the book, Country Bound! Trade Your Business Suit Blues for Blue Jean Dreams ($19.95 + $3 shipping), from Communication Creativity, P.O. Box 909-Tips, Buena Vista, CO 81211. Call credit card orders to (800) 331-8355. |
Copyright © 1998-2001 Tom and Marilyn Ross
Attention Media: To reprint the above, contact
MarilynRoss@MarilynRoss.com.
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Copyright © 2001-2005 Communication Creativity
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