Moving Far, Far Away By Someone Totally Unprepared

All the stages to moving somewhere you've never been before. Shit happens. I complain and give advice. You'll see.

Well shit.

Here I am, almost a full month into a new city and everything I thought that'd go well didn't. On the other hand, I really shouldn't be so pessimistic, because everything that I thought would go wrong, went really well. But that is besides the point. So, here is what I think people ought to know about moving far, far away into a strange place is really like.

1. "The Decision"

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Alright. Let's first go back to when I made "The Decision" of a lifetime to move from Southern California –where I have lived my entire life– to Seattle, Washington, a city that I have never stepped foot on. Crazy. I know. I think the weirdest part is that I had NO idea why I was doing it. At least, no ONE reason. I just graduated college, single, only 21, had a (underpaid) full-time job, and a killer resume from many internships. I had everything going for me. But I was so unsatisfied with my life, I felt too comfortable with my routine. I happened to go on a family vacation right after graduation when I realized something. I hated LA. Please, don't get me wrong, the food is AWESOME, and there are lots of perks living there… It just didn't do anything for me. Unfortunately, one doesn't have many options for cities to live in being in a career of fashion… On the family trip, I met a couple from the same area I'm from and in the same place in their lives, moving to Seattle. I knew that Nordstrom's headquarters, the epitome of great fashion companies (in my opinion), was located there. By the time I returned from my trip, I had decided… I was moving to Seattle.

2. Soooo Uh... Bye

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Here what was strange: the people I thought wouldn’t be supportive of me, completely were. My parents, my best friends, my coworkers all urged me to follow my heart… I think only my boss wanted me to stay! I gave myself a direction to move towards, which made me exhilarated and euphoric. (Embarrassingly, I even cried I was so excited) I felt like everything was working out in my favor to leave, which seemed like a sign that this was the right choice. Despite knowing no one except the couple I barely met, I was confident that things were going to go smoothly. Then things got difficult…

3. F*** Apartment Hunting!

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Apartment hunting. Is. The. Worst. How anyone could work in real estate is beyond me. It's like new aged mental torture (#FirstWorldProblems)… I sincerely hope you have someone in the city that can help you, otherwise you need to give yourself well over a month to search… or maybe just good luck. Of course being that procrastinator that I am, I waited until only 2 weeks from moving day to start looking. Mistake number 1. I was about to be homeless until I found a temporary place to stay through Facebook. Which honestly, worked out really, really well. I almost recommend this because it helps you get settled before making a huge commitment to a place you never saw before.

4. Packing All Your Crap

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You'll never know how much shit you own until you have to box it up. Unless you are a pro packer like me -flips hair over shoulder- you should definitely give yourself a full month. It's much easier spreading it out. I think this is the ONE thing I did really well during my move. Not only did I have to box everything up, I also could ONLY bring what could fit in my small little Versa. I have moved many times to know that I have about 10 boxes of stuff, excluding furniture, because I am sentimental AND a hoarder. I sorted through my stuff little by little, cause even more time consuming than packing. This was really difficult because I gave away about three fourths of my belongings to charity. However, still to this day I do not regret it. I feel like a freer person without all of that. I will say though, I should have given myself more time to sell my furniture, because that takes a lot of time.

5. Checkin' Out The City

Okay, so I wasn't 100% out of my mind. I did make a weekend trip to Seattle to check it out a week before I was going to move. I hadn't quit my job at Cali yet, so I could back out if I hated it. Granted I was doing a lot of google searching about Seattle, but obviously pictures and words aren't the same as the personal experience. The couple I met was amazing and let me stay the two nights I was there. Even drove me to the airport, bless their souls. This, thankfully made me realize I was making the right choice. I LOVED Seattle!!! Was a little different from I expected, but was everything I wanted it to be. I even made friends! *gasp* The one thing I was completely worried I wasn't going to be able to make.

6. Road Trip!

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Another thing I did really well was plan out my drive up to Seattle. My mother and I decided to drive up together so I could see things of California that I had never seen before. We took a five day trip up, stopping at places I wanted to see. We stayed at friends houses and one airbnb, so we saved our asses on rooming expenses. Planning the whole drive up with someone made it way more fun than it would have ever been alone, my mom and I had a blast. I know some people may prefer to fly there and ship all their crap, but I recommend taking the long route. It's WAY cheaper!!!

7. I'm Here… Now What…

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So after I got into the place I was going to live for the next month, and purchased only necessities, I was really, REALLY bored. I did not have a job yet –which I will get into soon– and the friends I had recently made have lives, so obviously couldn't hang out with me 24/7. Pretty much the first two weeks I was mainly on my computer applying to job, after job, after job. I honestly forgot all the jobs I applied to… However, I did hang out with friends every once and a while. Even went on a date! Although, every moment in between I was really bored…

8. Job?!?! Where?!?!

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I can happily say that I got offered a position at every job I interviewed with. Thing is, I only was interviewed at one. After over 3 weeks of living in Seattle… Everyone I met in Seattle said that getting a job would be easy… Well where the fuck is everyone applying, cause I'd like to know!?!? Okay, well I did get a job recently – BUT it's only part time, and not even the position I wanted. I guess it's better than nothing. I do not know why I thought that I could wait to apply to a job until I moved here. Could someone with the ability of time-travel slap me back in August? Companies can take weeks, even months before calling you in for an interview. Even then, there might be four interviews before they hire you! AND once you sign your life away after they hire you, the papers can take another week to process before you can start working. At this point I feel like I'm going to faint when I look at my bank account, or my hair is going to fall out from the stress. So yes. Now I have a job. Just do not wait to apply to places like I did.

9. Um… What Happened to My Money?

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Money does not mean everything, but it might as well if you are moving far away from everyone to a city where you know no one. Think how much you'd need to save in order to move. Now add a lot more. And then double it. That's about how much you should have in order to live comfortably, for maybe a month. I had more than a few of thousands in savings, which I didn't even think I would need, and it's halfway gone which I have cried over because, fuck, I worked hard for it! Either way, just be prepared… especially if you don't have a job like me. Have I mentioned being unemployed sucks?

10. Would I Do It Again?

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I suppose that is the big question. Was all my trouble, leaving all my friends and family, moving to a strange city, and going broke worth all of it? FUCK YES! Sometimes I do wonder if it was the wrong choice… Then I remember I how much more I love this city, how many new wonderful friends I've made, and how much happier I am here. I know it was worth it. And I would do it all again… just maybe a little differently! Haha!

Happy living everyone.