Czaro Strategic Communications

Going on vacation is a wonderful opportunity to get away from the stress of work and other commitments. But for many people, it’s hard to return from vacation. Either they dread returning to work or they just don’t want to return home.

Think about it. Does your favorite vacation spot feel more like home than your actual home does? Is the 10 days spent in a different city or state the happiest and most content you are all year? If so, you might want to consider moving and make your dream vacation a permanent reality.

Before you pack up the moving van, you need to do some research to see if relocating is economically feasible. Here are five things to consider when debating whether or not to move.

• Job. What’s the job market look like? How long do you think it will take you to find a job? Does your current employer have branch offices in other cities? It might be possible to transfer and get someone else to foot the bill for your moving expenses. Regardless, you need to research the local job market. A professional recruiter could be a big asset in your move.
• Salary. The cost of living varies from city-to-city. So how much will you need to earn to be able to survive? You have to weigh the differences in housing, utilities, transportation and insurance. An annual salary of $50,000 in the Midwest could be comparable to $110,000 on the West Coast.
• Quality of Life. Are you willing to trade a 15-minute commute for one lasting nearly an hour? You might need to downsize from your 2,000 square-foot house to a small apartment or townhouse – at least temporarily. Trading tall buildings for mountains or corn fields for an ocean might be an easy choice, but you also have to consider uprooting your family, leaving behind friends and having your kids change schools.
• Contacts. Do you know anyone in your future destination? If not, you need to build a network of contacts. Contacts are vital in any job search. They are even more important when trying to establish yourself in a different market. Utilize LinkedIn, Twitter and FaceBook to identify people you already know. Get introduced to people your contacts know. You should plan on connecting with one new person a day who will provide you with three to five referrals.
• Plan. If you’re goal is to move first and find a job second, then you must have adequate cash reserves. Enough savings to be able to survive for three to six months might seem like a lot, but it’s not if you’re tapped out and still looking seven or eight months down the line.

Moving is never easy. If you have a family it might make sense for you to move first – for six months – and make sure things are going to work out. That gives you time to do the tedious things - sell your house, find a new house, pack, unpack, cut off services, re-establish service, etc. Since you’ve selected your favorite vacation location, your family could join you several times for some mini-breaks.

I challenge you to think about a move to your favorite vacation spot. Where would you move to? Why there? What would you do? Would the only suit you pack be a swim suit or a snow suit?