How can I settle in and feel at home after moving?

[BastetBaby]

We moved to a new town a couple of months ago and I'm still feeling really homesick for our old place!

How can I feel more at home in our new house?

How can I bond with our new town?

How can I make friends with the neighbours? (This is a tricky one for me because I am incredibly shy!)

Any tips welcome!

I can sympathise with this, we moved area in 2020 and it took a while for me to settle although I did love my new area. I found even small things like popping for a pint of milk was harder it was something I did without thinking and suddenly I had to remember the way to the shops 😆 we also moved to somewhere more rural which was a jump having been fairly close to Manchester City centre to being in the middle of the country a couple of hours away. I joined a few classes at night and that has really helped me meet people though I still do mmt feel like they are friends I don’t see them outside of classes but it gets me out a few times a week and I talk to people at the class… I’m also very shy. That helped with just having something to look forward to in the week, then getting out every weekend for walks in different places and trying different cafes and things to try and find new local places x

We need more info to be able to help!
Who exactly moved? You, husband? Kids? How old if so!
Have You moved far?
why did you relocate?
Whats your new area liked compared to your old one etc!
I have relocated many times so may be able to help x

One thing that really helped me was getting out and wandering the streets. I moved to a new town due to being priced out of the city I loved, so I wasn’t delighted to move there. Forcing myself to walk every evening for a hour or so helped me find lots of lovely cafes, galleries and interesting places to visit. I also joined local Facebook groups to find out about events and shows. I love it here now, and wouldn’t move back if you paid me.

Use your corner shop if you have one (for a pint of milk or packet of biscuits or ice cream, not your weekly shop) and try to strike up conversation with people there - a comment about the weather will start things off if people are ready to chat.

If you get to recognise people who live in the street, smile if you see them.

If you have a front garden, you might find people stop for a word when you're working out there.

If it interests you, find out about the history of the place and walk around looking for old buildings, churches, war memorials etc.

We - husband, daughter and I - moved from London. Wanted a house (and couldn't afford that in London), a bit more countryside, a slightly slower pace, and good schools.

The town we moved to is lovely, and we are central so there's still a city feel even though nice countryside is close by. I just can't seem to bond with it! I feel very much like a Londoner!

Buy the local paper to learn more about the new place and start going to advertise local events. If nothing else you'll get out of the house and get familiar with the town.
Also get all your pictures up and unpack everything, dont leave any boxes hanging round. Get some nice smells to make the new house feel like yours. Bake. All these things will help you feel more at home in the new house.

I relocated to the Dorset coast post Covid, from the north west but there was a mass exodus from London. A good mate of mine has really struggled and still feels the pull of London even though she knows it was the correct decision for her family. It may just take time!
Try and get involved in your child’s school where possible (not sure how old, obviously if high school this is trickier) but consider getting involved in the PTA (not necessarily joining but just helping at events etc - they are mostly always very grateful of the help, despite what some people say about pta types!)
I used to just go for drives all the time to familiarise myself with the area (or walks!). Try and remember that no one you come across knows you are new! Unless you tell them. So try not to feel self conscious!
join all the local events/parents groups (delete the ones from your old area!)