How to move alone

[rickpugh]

One thing I learned from similar experiences (like attending a school where I don't anybody, getting a new job and having to start again, moving somewhere new, etc.) is that our fears tend to be bigger than ourselves. We fear too much about being the new guy or the stranger or about not knowing anybody. But give it a month or two, you'll know a bunch of great new people, find your way around, and you'd tell yourself "Hey, I'm fine!"

[phonelady61]

Let me give you some advice here . I just moved away from my mom and my sister in Florida and moved to Ohio I made an agreement with my mom and sister that I would never move so far I could not get back home by car . just make sure that you can get back to a support system should something happen . Good luck and enjoy .

[graytabbie]

I grew up in the Springfield area...you'll do great! There are several colleges here (so lots of young people), outdoor activities, and Branson is close by (lakes, entertainment, recreation, etc.). Have fun exploring and then venture out and take some day trips. This area is really quite beautiful.

[kodaka]

These days it is so much easier to move alone! The internet is your friend. You can scope out the environs before you even arrive. Look at meetup.com to see if there are any groups that appeal to you. A lot of cities have 'new to this city' groups for anyone that's just arrived. And of course there are all sorts of other groups you can join too--sports fan groups, knitting groups, photography buffs, whatever. Every group is different, so join a few groups and hopefully one or two of them will suit you.

Find friends at work too. Maybe the company has a 'young professionals' group or has a buddy or mentor system where you can make a connection with someone else. It doesn't have to be someone who knows Springfield all that well either, someone else who's new to town could be a great partner for exploring the town and environs too.

Use google maps' street view to 'explore'--you can familiarize yourself with the lay of th eland before you get there, and then when you do arrive you'll know how to get around and what neighborhoods are like and where things are (like supermarkets and dry cleaners and the public library and so forth). Street view makes things so much clearer than maps.

Find out if there is an alumni group for your university there too. At least it will help you find other people who you have something in common with.

And keep a few hundred stashed away for a plane ticket so you can fly home for the weekend if you feel really homesick.

[MaggieZ]

Oh gosh, you're young, now is the time to go and do it! Don't look back and just go and live your life! There's so much to experience and as long as you keep your wits about you, you'll be fine. You'll meet new people everyday, some good some not so good...Up to you to weed out the not so good from the good...

[intelfan11315]

I did it and I'm doing it again. Trust me it makes life interesting , you'll meet a lot of new people and get to experience a new city. In my opinion there's nothing better than doing it. Keep your mind open and don't do anything stupid. Nothing worse than getting into money trouble without knowing anybody. It takes about a year to get aquainted fully with a city and have a group of friends. Enjoy your new experience, hopefully you love it as much as i do. I'm also 22 by the way.