Five Things to Consider Before Moving to a City

1. Urban?: The bright city lights may be summoning you like a moth to a flame, but do you really want to live in an urban environment? If you’re a country mouse, visit your city mouse friend for a weekend. Can you tolerate the noise, the people, and the unique scents of a city?

2. Employment: A few friends of mine have boldly gone to live in New York City and they didn’t even have jobs! They decided they would move and just see what happens. If you’re moving to a new place, you should consider your employment prospects. Do you already have a job lined up? If not, is the industry in which you are qualified to work hiring a lot of people right now? Do you have enough in savings to live for several months in case you don’t land your dream job right away?

3. Housing: Rent can be exorbitant in some cities. Case in point: A friend of mine who lives in New York City was paying the same amount in rent per month as me, except her entire apartment was the size of my sardine-can living room. Can you afford to live in a safe, secure apartment in your intended destination? Will it be relatively close to your place of employment? Do you mind having several roommates?

4. Things to Do: Ever since you were five years old, Aikido, a Japanese martial art, has been your passion. You absolutely must train 3 times a week, or your chi feels out of whack. Is Aikido (or whatever your passion may be) available in your city of choice? Or, perhaps you don’t know what your passions are, but you’re always game for trying new things. Are there lots of exciting and fun things to do where you plan to move?

5. Lifestyle: Are you a liberal, crunchy-granola, political activist? Are you a politically-apathetic rocker dude-cum-culinary genius? Are you a straight-laced, no-funny-business-but-all-business gay man working his way up the corporate ladder? In other words, think of who you are; think of how you want to live your life. Will the city you have in mind enable you to follow your lifestyle choices and help you to achieve your goals?