Relocation, Relocation, Relocation

If you're thinking of moving 100 miles or more from where you currently reside, you are one of a growing number in the 50-plus age group contemplating this dramatic life change. We North Americans may be the most mobile people in modern times. The reasons are many, but one reason probably outweighs the rest: we move so frequently because we CAN. The sheer size of our continental landmass is for many an irresistible call to exploration and discovery. Picking up stakes and heading down the road is coupled with our appetite for reinvention and makeovers, a belief that life can be better - somewhere else.

What makes relocation different this time around is that it is likely to be motivated by reasons other than the demands of career. If the nest is empty, we may want to combine downsizing with a change of venue. We may be seeking a warmer climate (the siren song of the Sun Belt), a beach if we've been landlocked, the slower place of a small town and more house for the money if we've been lifelong urbanites, closer family ties (or perhaps not), and so on. This time, chances are the choice is ours to make. To put it another way, for perhaps the first time in our adult lives, we can carefully weigh the factors that are important to us: climate, culture, cost of living, crime rates, to name a few offered by http://www.bestplaces.net and other sites with assessment tools, and let the other pieces fall into place.

Needless to say, unless you are smitten by wanderlust, relocation is fraught with anxiety that no amount of cheerful 'successful moves' tips, to-do lists and moving count-downs can allay. The details of packing and scheduling and hauling and settling in are pretty straightforward -- there's a huge industry dedicated to helping us master this, after all. (Just type the word 'move' into your browser and stand back.) So what makes relocation rank in the top 10 of life's most stressful events? In a nutshell, it replaces a world we know for one about which we can only make an educated guess.

Here are some suggestions that may help make the process smoother.

1. Give yourself plenty of time to think about what you want in a location and prioritize your desires -- a year ahead or more is not too much. Have many discussions with your life partner so you can get on the same page, or as nearly as possible. Trade-offs are inevitable, so be sure you identify what is most important. Use head and heart.

2. Before you start researching your ideal location, make lists about what you like/dislike about where you live now. With these in hand, have a dialogue with your life partner and see where you agree and disagree. This is probably as important as anything else you can do. You may even decide not to move at all, or choose a nearby location that will enable you to maintain your friendships and other connections.

3. Consider taking up temporary residence in a location you are considering. One way you can do this through home exchange, a favorite of independent travelers that enables you to live in another's home while they occupy yours. There are several organizations that set this up. Popular http://www.digsville.com offers membership at a nominal fee and a property ratings system (like Zagat's for home exchangers). Another option is care-taking, a form of house-sitting or property management in exchange for lodgings and sometimes a small stipend. See http://www.caretaker.org. Of course, short-term rentals are a good way to try on a new location for size. Check out http://www.craigslist.com, the San Francisco area resource now in major cities, will give you a feel for local housing costs. http://www.realtor.com is excellent for this also.

4. Rent or borrow an RV and sample a lot of places over a period of time, if you have it. Fifty-somethings, Jim and Kendra Golden went about this in an even more radical way. They quit their jobs, sold their house and put their possessions into storage before they hit the road. Read more their adventure on 2young2retire.com (www.2young2retire.com/jimkendra.html). For more about the RV lifestyle, check http://www.rvclub.com, http://www.escapees.com.

5. Don't leave your current home for another without appreciating what it has meant to you. Farewell parties are great, but you also need some time to feel and process the loss. After the de-cluttering and the garage sales are over, plan some kind of closure ceremony. Consider making lists of what you most liked about your home, including memories of favorite people and events. We held a ceremonial burning of ours. Make up your own ritual

6. Finally, remind yourself that - as in the title of Jon- Kabat-Zinn's classic book - wherever you go, there you are. Your environment may be different, but you remain the same. Do your homework as best you can, then make peace with yourself - and your partner, if you have one -- about the decision. You're likely to feel at home in your new place that much sooner.

© Marika Stone, 2young2retire.com

Marika Stone is co-founder of http://www.2young2retire.com, Retirement Planning for People Who Aren't Calling it Quits, and co-author of Too Young to Retire: 101 Ways to Start the Rest of Your Life (Plume 2004). She believes the longevity revolution is only as good as the choices people make. She is dedicated to helping people 50 and older make wise choices in the post-career phase of life.

Using Moving or Relocation Specialists

And if you want to minimize the hassle of uprooting yourself and your family and transplanting all of you in some strange location, then you could try hiring moving specialists.

What are Moving and Relocation Specialists?

If your job provides you with a so-called mobility clause, you may have automatic use of their services. A relocation specialist facilitates the processes that transfer an employee (and often the family too, or an entire division) to a new location. They usually are found in a company's human resources department or its equivalent.

Some companies use internal assets (i.e., own airline, own relocation trucks or cars, own money) for the transfer, but the most usual recourse for them is to outsource the job to relocation professionals. For one thing, it's sometimes not cost-efficient for a company to have its own moving department that gets used only some of the time. They may face problems with regulations in overseas destinations, too. Corporate financial systems are also not usually designed to track relocation cost data, which can span areas like transportation, payroll, human resources, and management.

Why Companies Relocate Employees

A company typically sends an employee to another location for one of three reasons:

To groom you for a higher position
To fulfill a need at that location
To spread the corporate culture

The type of company you work for will dictate what your role will be. Some want subsidiaries to remain subordinate to the parent company, so they send out people to enforce corporate law and procedure. Others want their employees to develop relations within that unit, to let it develop more commonality with other corporate units. Still others want their employees to fix communications at the location.

Relocation costs increase with time and distance. You may receive a cost-of-living allowance to compensate for the different living conditions you will encounter. If the location is near, all you might need are a couple of moving trucks and men to help you transfer your goods.

If you don't have a mobility clause, you might wish to undertake the move yourself. This means you can go to the same companies that specialize in relocation which get the outsourced business of particular firms. There are many different firms specializing in different aspects of moving. Some will just provide vehicle movers and storage space, while others will include such services as coordinating with utility companies at the destination so you arrive to a home with the electricity, gas and water already functioning.

Of course, as the more services your relocation consultant offers, the more expensive their services will be. The hefty fee involved in hiring these specialists, however, may well be worth it. Moving consultants can make certain that your journey and relocation goes well.

For more information on moving and relocation, please visit our site: Relocator Guide [http://www.relocatorguide.info]. To read more articles on this subject, you can also visit: Relocation Specialists & Experts [http://specialists.relocatorguide.info].

Relocating to San Francisco and the Bay Area: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go - and Once You Get There!

The Gold Rush is history. People are no longer moving to California to mine for gold. However, nearly one hundred and fifty years later, people are still relocating to Northern California in droves. Each year, more than 50,000 people move to San Francisco, and tens of thousands more relocate to the surrounding areas. Today, relocating to the City by the Bay is an opportunity to find riches in business, trade, and technology.
Once you?ve decided to make San Francisco your new home, you?ll need to find out how to make the move as easily as possible. Cristina Guinot has compiled all the information you need to do it smoothly and affordably. Based on personal experience and years of research, Relocating to San Francisco and the Bay Area is a comprehensive guide to establishing a home and lifestyle in the Bay Area. Guinot details how to plan and execute the big move, how to find a place to live, how to get involved in the city, and how to get settled in your new neighborhood. This book covers everything you need to be familiar with, such as:
Maps of neighborhoods, including public transportation
Temporary employment agencies and career resources
Parks, beaches, and other places to have fun
Social and cultural organizations
Phone numbers for community resources
Each San Francisco neighborhood is detailed in the chapter titled "Where to Find a Place to Live." The description includes a map as well as a list of local businesses, restaurants, post office locations, and community services. The neighborhood statistics detail average rents, racial distribution, crime rate and parking availability.
Relocating to San Francisco and the Bay Area will help you feel at home from your very first day.
About the Author
Cristina Guinot has relocated to San Francisco twice in the past ten years. She has written on numerous subjects, her articles have appeared in Glamour, L.A. Parent, San Francisco Chronicle, and elsewhere

Price: $15.00

Click here to buy from Amazon

Quit Your Job And Move To Key West : The Complete Guide

Tired of working? Sick of the Rat Race? Feel like leaving it all behind? Your are one step closer just by picking up this book. Quit Your Job And Move To Key West is your complete guide on how to do it by people who have made it happen.

Price: $12.95

Click here to buy from Amazon

Unraveling The Mysteries Of Moving To Costa Rica

This 250p Ebook Is A Great Blend Of Personal Story Of The Author, Her Husband And Parents, Who Moved From Maine To Costa Rica Mixed With Incredibly Helpful Practical Advice. A Super Resource For Anyone Considering Moving To Costa Rica. First In A Series.

Check it out!

Moving And Living In Spain

Everything You Need To Know About Moving And Living In Spain. From Property Buying, Health Care, Immigration,permits,tax,language,finding Work. Expats Guide For Your Life Under The Spanish Sun.
Check it out!