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Entity explains how you can thrive as a rolling stone.

What do you think of when you hear the word “home?” The house you grew up in as a child? Mom meeting you at the bus stop after school? Weekends spent shopping with friends at the nearby mall? For the 35.9 million Americans who moved in 2013, “home” probably has more than one meaning. In my case, as a Marine brat who grew up moving every two years, “home” evokes eight to nine different places.

How can you thrive if your home address frequently changes? Here are ten ways I learned to love being a rolling stone.

1 Research like it’s your job.

Before your first day of work, you probably Googled your office, learned about your boss and maybe even Facebook stalked your coworkers. Give your new town the same treatment. Some good facts to look up?

  • The town’s size and population.
  • Town history.
  • What are its main, if any, tourist attractions?
  • Any natural attractions? (Hiking paths, lakes, mountains, parks, etc).
  • Does it offer any weekly, monthly or annual town events? These could include farmer’s markets, festivals or movie nights.
  • Public goods and services near your house/apartment. (Rolling into town hangry + clueless of the nearest grocery store = disaster).
  • The best places to eat, hang out, shop, etc.

When you’re trying to find the best places to eat or shop, Life Hacker suggests using sites like Google Maps, Yelp or Citysearch. These not only let you see the location of each business, but also read reviews left by customers. Don’t feel trapped by the rating system, though. Someone’s three star restaurant may your five star dream.

Instead of only relying on the Internet, try researching through real people too! If you’re moving for work, reach out to your future co-workers and ask for recommendations. As Life Hacker points out, you can also crowd-source recommendations and local tips using your social media. You’ll be amazed by how many people reply! Combining the facts you learn online and advice from social media connections can help you feel “at home” before you even move into town. Not to mention, the more you know, the less strange and scary your new town seems!

2 Make Instagram-worthy plans.

When you are finally standing in your new apartment surrounded by unpacked boxes, you have two choices: hide inside and bond with Netflix or go on an adventure that will make everyone at your old home jealous! To help prevent the initial loneliness and anxiety of moving, use your research to schedule some fun, exciting activities soon after move-in. If you’re exploring California after living in Iowa your whole life, take surfing lessons! If you’re in New York City for the first time, book tickets to a Broadway Show. The key is to find an activity – preferably one unique to your new town – that will make you excited to live there.

3 Get basic.

Moving virgins often forget that, when you leave your old home, you leave your favorite businesses behind too. For instance, when your family moves, immediately search for a new doctor’s office, dentist, optometrist, hair salon, gym, library, favorite grocery store and other common necessities. If you need help finding businesses that are the right fit (and price!) for you, try asking for recommendations from neighbors, online friends and other locals. While you may not find places you like right away, it’s better to have a list on-hand in case of emergencies than to wait until you’re desperate!

4 Lean on old friends …

A wise toy cowboy once sang, “Lean on me!” – and that’s exactly what you should do to old friends when moving to a new place. With the chaos of unpacking, learning a new town and (most likely) adjusting to a new school or workplace, it’s easy to forget to keep up with old friends. But as Thought Catalog says, maintaining relationships gives you a support system when you need it. Thanks to technology, talking with friends who live hours away is easier than ever. Even if you’re only exchanging goofy memes, random emojis or a few messages a week, your friends will appreciate being involved in your new life – and you’ll love having a best friend only a phone call away.

5 … but say Yes to new ones.

When you do throw yourself into the social scene of your new town, don’t stay glued to your cell phone texting an old friend about the cute guy at the bar. Friends from old homes often act as safety blankets – they may help you feel less anxious but they also bar your ability to grow. If neighbors invite you to a potluck, go to it! If you read about a club or community event that sounds interesting, try it out! You don’t have to limit yourself to social events, either. Thought Catalog suggests going to a coffee shop and talking to strangers, walking around a nearby park or volunteering. Getting involved in your community can make a new place feel more at home.

6 Create or find a “safe place.”

When everything around you is changing, try to create a “safe place” in your new home. If you don’t have time to unpack all of your belongings right away, this could mean at least unpacking all the boxes for your living room, main office or bedroom – wherever you spend the most time. Being able to come home to one nicely decorated, completely furnished corner makes it easier to enjoy your new house instead of missing your old one. If loneliness is your main issue, try following XoJane’s advice and find a place outside of your apartment to unwind and reflect. This could mean enjoying a cup of coffee – and the anonymous company of strangers – at a local café or watching the sunset from a nearby beach. Whether at or outside of your apartment, finding somewhere you feel comfortable can turn a strange new town into the beginning of a home.

7 Rock a new routine.

Most likely, in your last home, you had a routine that worked for you. It could have been walking around the block each morning before work, getting coffee from your favorite café on Saturdays or even doing crossword puzzles on the front porch. Try a similar attack strategy in your new home. Knowing you have a place to be or something to do each day can make you feel less lost in your new surroundings. Not to mention you never know what eye candy you’ll meet while exploring your neighborhood or local gym!

8 Accept negative feelings.

If you’ve ever seen “Mean Girls,” you know that moving ain’t easy. Moving Reviews reports that some people even experience relocation depression, which, from the excessive fatigue to the antisocial behavior, mirrors PMS on steroids. On days when you wake up missing your old bed or craving donuts from your old favorite bakery, don’t fight these feelings. Instead, acknowledge them by posting a throwback on Facebook with a sad emoji, crying into your pillow or even refusing to leave your bed for the day. Once you purge these feelings, kicking butt as the town newbie will be even easier the next day.

9 Embrace the adventure.

As someone who grew up moving every two years, adjusting to new places became a regular part of life. Still, my parents stressed that every move was an adventure – and I’m glad they did. When you focus on the adventure rather than the change:

  • Setbacks are mere speed bumps – which heroes in every adventure story must endure.
  • Even the smallest surprises are blessings. (A Chipotle only 0.5 miles from our new house? Score!)
  • Places aren’t better or worse – instead, they each offer different kinds of opportunities and experiences.
  • You can never “ace” moving. You just learn different lessons each time.
  • All the hard work to create a home is worth it in the end.

10 Know that you won t be the “new kid” much longer!

While adjusting to a new place often feels like it takes forever, ironically enough, you’ll soon meet someone who is even newer to town than you are! As you develop new routines, find new favorite places and build new friendships, you’ll forget your initial anxieties and uncertainty. In fact, you may even discover that this town feels more like home than your old one ever did.

One tip to remember? When it’s your turn to give someone else advice on local activities, the best restaurant nearby or fun clubs to join, remember how you felt when you first rolled into town. No one gives better advice to a newbie than a newbie-turned-local!

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