Anyone just upped and moved without knowing anyone?

[supercee]

Ok that's maybe a bit dramatic, my sister lives in London but we aren't close.

I'm 39, single, no kids, I earn ok money for what I do (admin) but I feel stagnant and claustrophobic. Though I live in a city I feel everyone knows everyone here, like a village. I want to meet someone but it seems impossible where I live (Scotland).

In these last couple of weird years friends have coupled up, had kids, my two closest friends have really shown themselves to be not nice people at all and so my social life has nose dived to the point where I would struggle to think of who I could phone if I needed to offload to someone.

I am seriously thinking of relocating to London, even to test it for a year. Loads of people I know have 'done' this and have moved back already. I feel it could be an exciting opportunity before I get properly ancient haha. What's concerning me though is going back to sharing with many other professionals as the cost of living is so high. And getting a job obviously. I absolutely love to travel (when we can) and it would be so much better from London.

Anyway, sorry for the waffle, just looking for those with stories who decided to just jack in their life, move solo to London and found their lives improved massively/are living the dream!!

I did! Although I got a job there first. Didn’t know a soul.

I did house share for ten years and only came back to buy a property in my home area because it was impossible on my salary in London.

It was very easy to make friends and find like-minded people although I was in my twenties then.

I still miss it though and often wonder if I should have stayed.

I've done this, but away from London so might not be the story you're looking for...!

Yes I did. Moved alone out of London to a very rural area. Survived to tell the tale.

I think you should have an adventure - whether London is the right place I don’t know as it can be quite lonely. Would you be able to stay with your sister in the first instance ?

I did a stint in Australia but I went with a friend.

That's my worry, you are more gung-ho in your 20's. I like going out for drinks etc but I also really like my own company and get quite socially anxious in group situations (stressing that I'm being interesting enough, that my chat is interesting, stuff like that), I might find it harder to make friends being late 30's?

Any stories of solo moving to other cities most welcome @BIoodyStupidJohnson

Moved from Cairo to London. Didn't know a soul; didn't have a job.

I did it by the way - I went at 29 intending to stay 2 years and have now been here 22 years.

Oh yes, do it. Don’t just stay in the same area your whole life if you have the opportunity to try new places. I can see why people come back to settle down/raise families but go for it. I love London - it’s one of the major cities of the world. It can be a pain in the arse sometimes and you have to put yourself out there a bit but go for it!

@Divebar2021 I don't think I'd stay with her, even initially. She lives with her boyfriend and they both work from home, I think I'd rather find a house share of professionals hopefully closer my age. It is reassuring that she's would be there though at least.

@NaturalBlondeYeahRight

Oh yes, do it. Don’t just stay in the same area your whole life if you have the opportunity to try new places. I can see why people come back to settle down/raise families but go for it. I love London - it’s one of the major cities of the world. It can be a pain in the arse sometimes and you have to put yourself out there a bit but go for it!

Yes this is the attitude I keep coming back to!

I did. Moved for a job. However I found socialising quite hard in London, although if you’re in a house share it may be easier. I did move into a share, one had a boyfriend and workmates, the other two were from abroad so had their cultural social groups. My own workmates were from all over London, so work things were the rare christmas and odd occasions.

So I felt quite isolated for a long time. It’s not like a small town or city where you go to a nightclub or pub and bump into the same people.

It got better when a friend from Uni moved to London- better to go to a pub or club with two rather than walk in on your own.

Yes, multiple times. When we went to university, Our first, second, third fifth and seventh houses all involved moves to a place where we had no family, knew nobody, new jobs with strangers.

I did but I was young (20s). I had a great time in London and loved it there. However many people leave when they want to start a family and / or buy a property because housing costs are crazy. So it depends if that is on your horizon. I would probably go for a northern city instead in your shoes because the cost of living would be so much less.

Would you have a job to go to op?

Yes it's the potential loneliness that's a negative factor. Although I'm pretty lonely at the moment where I am. My sister did say the online dating scene in London was so much better, if I wanted to go down that road.

No I don't have a job yet. I'd try to secure one before I went, or try and find a remote position.

It does seem like people leave to buy houses or start a family and neither are an option for me anytime soon. I seem to be doing things back to front.

Would you want to buy your own property in time? I would take that into consideration too.

My best friend did, she did it three years ago and loves it (late twenties) she is probably a little like you in terms of loving her own company and feeling a little awkward in new social situations etc. She always says that the ideal thing about London is there is a place for every interest and hobby and becuase people often live so far apart she can go to a museum/gallery/ park on her own and there are plenty of others doing the same ... but also there is every walk of life around you so you can meet all sorts of people you never normally would and make bizarre and amazing friends.

Go for it!