According to the local Chamber of Commerce, more than 80 people move to Nashville a day. And of course, some of those people are moving to a new city alone. While that can be an intimidating prospect, hopefully Nashville’s welcoming atmosphere and large amount of things to do can help make the transition easier! So we’ve tried to get some great advice for relocating people moving to Nashville alone.
Moving to a new city alone is an amazing experience, but it can also be scary and frustrating – especially if you are on a budget. The first few weeks (or months) you feel like your are going around blindfolded. All your time and resources are consumed by finding a place to live, and mundane tasks such as shopping become a mission. Once you are finally settled in, another question kicks in – how to meet new people in a new city? Where do I go to have fun?
When Moving to Nashville Alone You Should:
Choose where you live carefully! Where you live will impact your experience so much, especially in Nashville. It can be worthwhile to just rent a room in a great, walkable area for your first 6 months so that it’s easier for you to meet people and make new friends. Great neighborhoods for this include Midtown, 12 South, and East Nashville.
Also, do things to help you meet new people! You are all settled in your cozy new place – what to do now? If you came for university, you have probably met some friends already. However, this is not always the case. If you are alone and feel stuck, here are some solutions:
- Classes / activities. Fun and easy way to meet like-minded peoople! What do you like? Yoga, Capoeira, fitness, hiking, playing a musical instrument, painting, cinema… Find classes or places where these activities are performed, and join!
- MeetUp. This website lets like-minded people join groups and organize meet-ups in their area! Usually, the events are free. All kinds of topics and activities are available – if you don’t find your thing, you can create a new group.
- Couchsurfing. The same website that lets you sleep in strangers’ houses also lets you meet strangers. They organize language exchanges, other events, and general meet-ups. This is how I met all of my friends in Barcelona initially!
- Social Media. You will likely find events to join on Facebook, Linkedin and other social networks.
Making friends and contacts in a new city is really tough for introverts. Hopefully, the open, friendly culture in Nashville will help make it easier. But if it doesn’t?
If you value your alone time, you might feel tempted to back away from invitations to social gatherings in your new city. Even if you just want to try a new restaurant, you order the food to go and take it back to your place. Resist the urge for solitude. Screw up your courage and try to find restaurants (like Monells and Burger Up) which offer communal dining. If you want to make friends, then make this a time of putting yourself out there, even if it’s by yourself at first. Go to movies, bars, coffee shops, and restaurants and open yourself up to conversations with strangers. Even if you don’t make friends, you’ll hear some cool stories.
When you meet people around the city, always tell them you’re new in town. This opens the door for them to tell you about local places to check out and events to attend. This will also encourage them to include you in their social circles and invite you to get-togethers. Own your rookie status and allow people to act extra friendly and inclusive. Most people will want to take you under their wing and show you the best that Nashville has to offer from a local’s perspective.
Moving to Nashville Without a Job
If you’re planning a move but don’t have a job in the new location yet, don’t worry. You can move without a job – just know that it takes a little more work, determination and yes, some luck. But you’ll find you can make it work if you’re willing to trust yourself.
The first step is to ensure you have enough money to live on while looking for employment in the new city or town. This should be in addition to all your moving costs. Take into consideration either six months rent or a solid down-payment plus food, living expenses, utilities and other moving in costs. Try to have at least three months of living expenses in the bank before we’d attempt to move without employment. This also depends on your skills, your contacts and network in the new location and how flexible you are in your employment goals.
