When Mr. L and I were deciding whether to make the move from Chicago to NYC, we had to think about a lot of things. I’ll narrow the long list down to the three most important for the efficiency of this post. I figured some of you would probably benefit from asking yourselves the same:
1. Why would you move?
It could be for professional reasons, personal reasons, or a mix of the two. When I got my job offer in June, this was the most important question for us. We loved Chicago and we hadn’t planned on moving until the end of the year. Whenever I’d think of a reason to stay (I loved my job and we loved our city life), I thought about whether the reasons to go trumped it. And they did. My family, professional network, our friends–they were primarily all back in NYC or on the East Coast. Mr. L said the tipping point came while I was speaking to my dad on the phone and he suggested we stay in Chicago a little longer since I did have a reputable job I enjoyed. I started crying. Because I hated having to choose whether I wanted to see family for Christmas OR New Year; Easter OR one of the parent days (Mothers/ Fathers Day). We were missing quality time with my loved ones and my husband was missing potential career opportunities. Though we (and family) were a bit surprised by our new circumstances, we knew we had our answer.
2. Are you ready to leave where you’re living?
This was a tricky question for us. Assuming you like the city you’re in, it could for you, as well. Packing up and leaving a place you’ve called home is never easy. As for us, we loved Chicago and when the time came to move, I really didn’t feel like we had explored enough of the city. I also was not sure if it was the wiser choice for my career. (Mr. L was in school so it’d be a relatively easy transition for him professionally). Of course, this was my fear of leaving kicking in. As Mr. L would often remind me, Chicago was never in our “forever” plans. We always planned on moving back to NYC closer to my family. When I got offered the job I applied for, the decision wasn’t easy. I’d fallen in love with my job and with the city. But after much discussion, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to start life in our “forever” city. Plus, the timing gave us most of the summer in Chicago to do whatever exploring we’d like to before the move.
3. Are you financially prepared to move at this exact time in your life?
As I mentioned, Mr. L and I weren’t necessarily planning to move at the time. But when I got the job offer, we went right to planning. One of the first things I did was re-read our apartment contract regarding breaking the contract and what our responsibility for remaining months’ rent would be. Fortunately, there was a clause regarding moving for a new job more than certain number of miles away. We spoke to our building manager, who was great to work with, and were able to work out an agreement. If he was able to rent out the apartment quickly (he did), we wouldn’t have to pay anything!
A move, especially one cross country, can also be pricey. Up to or more than $1,000 pricey. Time between jobs without a paycheck can be stressful, as well. Luckily, our finances were also in order but even luckier, my job would pay out my leftover vacation and sick time so I’d still be getting a paycheck even after resigning. Look into your job policy to find out whether it’s possible for you.
I’d like to tell you the process has gone perfectly. But it hasn’t. Like most things in life, it’s been an adjustment for us both. In time, though, we have found our rhythm. Most importantly, at the end of every day, we know we made the right decision. After all, home is wherever we’re together.
Love the new design!
This is SO true! We are figuring all of this out now 🙂