How I did it: I've done this twice- from Michigan to Tennessee, from Tennessee from Oregon

• I pretty much just said I'll do it.
• My manager mentioned a job that opened down in Nahville then laughed incredulously when he said you should take it and I was like ok he was shocked but it worked out and I got it so luckily a job was waiting for me when I got there.
• Supportive family who threw a going away party to help put some change in my pocket for my first move down to Nashville and kept telling me if anyone of could do it it would be me and reminded me to always keep enough money for a bus ticket back to Michigan cuz no matter what happens I'd have a home to get back to
• Lotsa gumption and self determination to keep me going through the tough uber lonely times (I moved down the week before Black Friday in the newly appointed position of manager for my first time at he age of 20 and knew absolutely no one prior to moving there and pretty much anything that could go wrong did over the course of that uber stresful holiday season...not to mention I had to spend my 21st b.day with strangers)

Lessons & tips:

• Utilize a hostel or a couchsurfing network for a week or two when for long distant moves rather than diving into a lease with a stranger.
• Make time to live- it was cool to have a "good job" but it made the first several months of the move super stressful and left me with no time to explore.
• Be prepared for everything and anything because it will probably happen: my 1st car died (Nashville has horrible public transport & all hiway), my 2nd car exploded while I was driving, I had my wisdom teeth removed because they kept getting infected & now I can't taste/feel on the left side of my mouth, RIP Linda Marie (my cousin of 18 unexpectedly passed away in Michigan while I was stuck in Nashville), got sued thanks to my CL roommate(watch out when it comes to cosigning leases), & many other crazy/traumatizing events.

Resources:

• Craigslist.org
• roommates.com
• State, County, City & Visitors Convention Bureau Official website for laws, moving tips, etc.

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Jul 06, 11:16PM PDT | 0 comments