5 Things I Learned Moving Away from My Hometown
Five years ago, I called my dad SOBBING.
I had recently made the decision to move halfway across the good ole USA from my native Texas to Alabama. My boyfriend had recently secured his dream job at Auburn University, and we had already been doing long distance (like Texas to Florida long) for 2.5 years. My heart knew it was time to take a risk, make a move, and give our relationship a real shot in the same town.
But damn.
Alabama?
I NEVER. IN MY LIFE. WOULD HAVE EVER. Imagined moving to Alabama. If I every moved from Texas, I wanted it to be a NYC romcom come to life. I digress. Part of me was excited to be in the same state as my boyfriend. The other was afraid of moving to place where I knew ZERO people (other than the boyfriend), acclimate to a more true “southern” way of life and be a solid plane flight from any family or close friends.
“DAD. WHAT AM I DOING?! WHAT AM I THINKING?!”
*SOBS*
My father listened patiently. “It’s all going to be okay, pea pie.” The Lord has opened doors for you to make this happen. You’ve been waiting to be together. And. You can ALWAYS move back. “Your mom and I are here for you.”
*CUE MORE SOBS*
Thank God he calmed me down.
Because moving to Alabama has been one of the most terrifying and yet rewarding things I have ever done. I took a leap. God caught me. And I’ve learned a lot. I’ll list five of my biggest lessons - hopefully someone who is going through a similar experience will benefit from this list.
5 Things I Learned Moving Away from My Hometown
Lean in to the cringe. George was in the throws of baseball season (punny, I know) when I moved to Auburn, which meant I spent a lot of time on my own. Mainly on the weekends. Staying in my one bedroom apartment on a Friday night sounded absolutely SAD, but I didn’t have any friends to call up for a cocktail. Who wants to go out alone?! Well. I embraced the cringe of being perceived as a loner and made myself explore the local area. Strategically placing yourself next to a friendly looking lady at the bar or restaurant is key. I remember drinking a beer at a patio bar in downtown Auburn and chatting with a local realtor. She encouraged me to look into classes at the Auburn community center … and shared other local tips. It was really helpful for someone who knew nothing about the area. Which leads me to …
Be proactive about community involvement. Social opportunities don’t just land in your lap when you’re the new person. Well, they didn’t for me. I actively researched community groups I could participate in, hoping for the chance to meet new friends. I did end up taking a tango class at the Auburn community center! I was the youngest person in there by at least 45 years, but it was a fun experience and it made for a great story.
Build relationships whenever possible. I would actively eavesdrop on conversations at OrangeTheory to see if I had anything in common with my fellow OTF-goer. No shame. It’s actually how I met two of my good friends - one of whom is now my neighbor! Also, I had a sorority sister connect me with her co-worker’s friend who had recently moved to Auburn. It was literally a four degrees of separation situation to make it happen, but we met up for Mexican food and I was FINALLY able to meet some gal pals. The people you meet at first might not always be YOUR people. However, they can introduce you to your future besties. This didn’t happen to us until October. IT TOOK EIGHT MONTHS, Y’ALL.
Settling in takes time. It’s discouraging when you’re three months into a move and feel like you haven’t clicked with anyone or anything in the community yet. But don’t give up! Settling in takes a lot longer than you may expect.
There’s a great big wonderful world out there. I count my blessings every day that I’ve been able to experience life in a new place. The culture is different in the deep south than it is in Texas. You can also easily drive to a number of bucket-list destinations in less than 7 hours (30A, Charleston, Savannah, Nashville … need I say more?). Moving away from my hometown has encouraged me to explore more of the good ole USA.
The “boyfriend” mentioned above is now my HUSBAND and best friend. We’ve built a community of friends here that brings me to tears (making adult friends is freaking HARD, y’all). We’ve had SO many adventures (living in the southeast is beautiful and so much geographically easier to explore compared to the vast expanse of Texas). And I took a career leap that has been a refreshing change. To be honest, I miss some good ole TexMex and a Texas margarita. But goodness am I grateful for life in Alabama.
TLDR: Taking the leap is scary as hell. And worth it.
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