You might be comfortable in the location that you currently live in, whether this is because you’re passionate about it or have just gotten used to it. When you move, it can take you a while to feel settled again, especially if you’re constantly getting lost around the new town or missing the old haunts that you used to love visiting. If this is the case, and it’s making your homesickness worse and causing moving regret, here are some steps that you can take to get to know your new town and make it feel like home.
Get Out There
Even if you do thousands of hours of research, this is nothing compared to just getting out and about in your new town. To explore, you should simply start wandering around without any direct plan and see what you come across. You may soon be able to find out where the locals hang out, as well as hidden corners that may not be mentioned in the tourist guides. The more you explore, the more your town will start to become familiar, and the more you are likely to know exactly where you are and be able to navigate your way around.
Create New Hang-Out Spots
In the past, you may have spent hours lingering in a local café, so much so that the staff might even have known your order and started to make it before you reached the till. It can be hard to find another spot that you love just as much, especially if you’re looking for an independent option with delightful food and tasty drinks on the menu. However, by finding a new, cozy space to while away the hours, you’ll be encouraged to get out of the house and to spend more time getting to know the people and the goings-on where you are. By doing this, you might also be able to start new routines that can get you out of bed in the morning and looking forward to the day ahead.
Volunteer
Volunteering is rewarding, engaging, and a great way to fill your hours if you’re retired, work part-time, or haven’t been able to find a job yet amidst the chaos of your move. Volunteering will allow you to meet people in all age groups and from all backgrounds, learn new information and skills, and do your bit for the community. You could help to care for a historic building or you could visit an old people’s home for a coffee and a chat while hearing the residents’ stories. Volunteering is a way to become part of the fabric of your new locale and feel as if you’re just one element of a wonderful whole.
Go to Museums
To truly understand the town that you’ve moved to, though, you’ll need an understanding of its background and history. Although you might be able to glean a lot of social history from the residents, the best place to start for in-depth information is the local museums. These are often labors of love from a host of dedicated volunteers who might be able to guide you round and find items that can catch your interest. For instance, if you’re moving to England in the UK, you might check out the best museums in Bath before you go. This will give you something to look forward to when decorating is driving you up the wall. These museums might also cover niche subjects, such as the trade of the town. From these, you can start to work out what has given the town characteristics and elements of its culture that you might not otherwise have known about for a long time.
Get a Bike
Whether you invest in a bike or not might seem irrelevant to your happiness. However, a bike can allow you to explore further afield and see what’s out there beyond walking distance or the borders of your new neighborhood. A bike can be particularly useful if there are plenty of cycle lanes and cycle-friendly paths, places of natural beauty, and if there’s little public transport available. Getting a bike can also give you the chance to lead a more sustainable lifestyle, get more exercise, and see your city in a new light. To get started, you might join local cycling groups where you can connect with other cyclists and go on rides together. This can prevent your bicycle from simply rotting, forgotten, in your shed.
