Tips for relocating?

[alanpartridgefromtheoasthouse]

We're about to move 60 miles away to the suburbs of a brand new city where I won't know a soul I'll be working from home most of the week with a couple of days on the road.

Feeling very nervous about being so far from family, friends and the neighbourhood I've lived in for 15 years!

Any tips for settling in? We have a toddler so hoping to maybe meet some other parents via the nursery. What else can I do quickly to feel at home?

When I was in my twenties I had to move jobs every six months or a year.
I used to listen to the local radio and read the local newspaper. It helps you to learn more about the area.

Your toddler is your 'in'. I met most of my friends where I live now through school. I volunteered at the school, organising some events (like summer fair and discos) plus we had a weekly coffee morning. It started at 8 so even those who worked could pop by for half an hour.
Be brave and if you meet someone you think you connect with, ask to meet up for coffee or have them over for lunch. Some will not stick but a few will become friends!

Look to see if there are any Facebook groups for the local community. Not just the city, but often more immediate neighbourhoods, streets etc, have their own groups. That's how I've gotten to know people on my estate in lockdown.

Don't be shy about joining clubs when they start up again. Things like running clubs and outdoor exercise classes are starting back and there will be lots of new people starting I imagine. Get stuck in!!

Thank you, good tips here! I feel like a kid starting at a new school

Will definitely check out local papers, Facebook groups and clubs. LOL at my toddler being my "in" - well put!!

Ask your neighbours if the street has a WhatsApp group as quite a few steets have started doing that over lockdown and it's really useful if you are new.

Relocation with a child should make it relatively easier to meet people. Excellent idea for a weekly coffee morning at 8 am- with or without the kids? Our school always had them at 9am so it ruled out working parents which wasn’t ideal. If you had a local park that could be lovely doing 8am meet up with kids before school/nursery in summer. Or if you can leave your kids in the evenings and you have a nursery class WhatsApp group definitely suggest a parents drinks at the local pub.
Ask nursery if you can put up a sign in there suggesting a nursery parents social group if there isn’t one. Class WhatsApp groups at primary seemed to happen via the class reps taking the initiative, and parents asking them to join it- you could always suggest being a rep at your nursery if they don’t already have that, then seek a couple of others to share repping, suggest organising whatever kind of event for nursery parents/kids to give it all a finite date and a bit of momentum and then take it from there. Good luck!