With nothing more than our two feet to carry us, most folks were born, lived, worked and died all within a very small geographic area, perhaps no bigger than 20 miles. In short, take advantage of any and all opportunities to explore new places. The major factors to consider when moving to a new city have already been covered in a previous Lifehack post – things like cost of living, crime and climate. We assume readers are already taking these elements of relocation into account. This article is concerned with additional factors most people overlook, especially first-time long distance movers.
ISP Options
Few folks today can live without good internet access. Yet how many people think to check out the available home internet providers in a given city? The ISP available in one region may not be operating in another. Furthermore, some ISPs are better than others, so checking before moving is vital for getting the best service possible upon arrival.
Transit
Is there a comprehensive mass transit system in the new city? How easy or hard is it to drive an automobile there? Again, we have a situation where every urban core is going to be a little different. Folks used to a city with a vast array of commuter trains, may move to a new place only to discover, the so-called mass transit system has fewer stops than a disposable camera. It pays to know in advance. Who wants to show up late on their first day of work in a new city?
Pet Laws
Roughly one out of three Americans own a pet. Animal ownership laws and regulations vary greatly from city to city, state to state. California, for example, has relatively tight animal welfare laws and registration requirements compared to neighboring states. Nobody wants to move cross country only to discover their beloved pooch is an outlawed breed.
Culture Clash
Local cultures vary wildly. This is true even without leaving a country, as the various cultures within the US would indicate. While part of moving somewhere new is appreciating the subtle albeit noticeable differences in ways of life, not every city is for everyone. Doing some light research (usually not drifting far from Wikipedia) can reveal the prevailing cultural attitudes of a particular region and give clues as to whether or not it sounds like an enjoyable atmosphere from your point of view.
Corruption
Readers may think government corruption is ubiquitous and to some degree this is true. However, some governments are markedly more corrupt than others, especially certain cities. Considering “all politics is local ” the potential effect of corruption a city’s government can have on the average citizen is profound. Therefore it’s imperative to look into whether or not a particular city is known for public corruption, or whether its elected officials have a reputation for playing on the level.
Signs of Success
In addition to levels of corruption, there are other signs of a city’s potential. Recent reporting conducted by a traveling pair of writers for The Atlantic, concludes that there are 11 signs a city will succeed. Among them, high frequency of private-public partnerships, clearly identifiable “local patriots” and close proximity to one or more research universities. If a city calling to you is lacking in most of these elements, it might be worth looking for another place to move. Most of us know how to look into cost of living, crime, real estate prices and so forth, before moving to a new place. However, there are a few other things to consider before deciding to relocate. Whether it’s the quality of the local internet access, transportation logistics, laws, culture or civic integrity, these aspects of another city are worth considering prior to making it your new home. Featured photo credit: Wikipedia via upload.wikimedia.org
