How To Move To A New City - Like San Francisco

by Elissa - November 12, 2008

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I've moved here and there over the years, and while the process always holds its challenges, here are some of the techniques I've adopted to feel a little less pathetic when I'm home on a Friday night watching Cocktail.

Pretend You're A Plant

The human mind hates change, but thanks to metacognition, we are able to rise above! In the period after a move, I like to think of myself as a plant adjusting to new soils. It is nice to remind yourself that like most living things, some initial discomfort will be endured. But, (be it a blessing or a curse), we are much smarter than plants.

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Enjoy The Opportunity To Be Alone

One of the biggest bonuses of moving somewhere new, is not having too many compiled social obligations. No more will you be sought by your high school locker partner who needs help moving his furniture. No longer shall you be dragged to your 3-year-old neighbor’s Cookie The Clown birthday party. You don’t even have to feel guilty when your old boss calls you to see if you’ll work a shift at the old sushi restaurant on Thanksgiving.

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Go Deep Sea Fishing

…Or whatever else you’ve always wanted to try. Even if you end up getting seasick and spending the entire trip getting bossed around by a 10-year-old sailor named Peanutbutter (I kid you not), these are the experiences that you will always remember. (Incidentally, there’s no better bond than one formed among adults in fear of a 10-year-old sailor named Peanutbutter).

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Big Brothers & Sisters of the Bay Area

600 Townsend St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Use your free time to do something good.

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Clay Studio the

61 Bluxome St, San Francisco, CA 94107

Try taking a class where you can get in a lot of talking. Even if you don’t meet your new best friend, it will be refreshing to actually speak to a person other than a bus driver.

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Tell People You're New

As painful as it may be to admit you’re no more knowledgable than a tourist, this is the only way to find out the good stuff. Most of the time, people are happy to help out and offer you some good tips that won’t involve salt water taffy and those machines that turn your penny into a commemerative tokens.

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Don't Start Your Routine...yet

I find that when I move somewhere new, my initial instinct is to develop some type of orderly calendar of activities, perhaps to make up for social and occupational uncertainty. Before you trap yourself into a similar grind, keep in mind that you will have your whole life to establish your orange juice and Metamucil routine, so don’t start now.

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