The Right Mindset for a Major Move
When you’re moving long-distance, whether it’s across the country or across the ocean, preparing your mental state can be as vital as logistics. The right attitude can not only make your move easier, but it can change your outlook on life. For example, for my husband and I, moving abroad made us realize that life is an adventure. And, like any adventure, there are unknowns, things that will go wrong, and things that will turn out better than you ever imagined.
Naturally, it’s easy to worry about a major move and what lies ahead. When we moved to England years ago, we were picking up our whole lives and going to a place with different food, different customs, different money, different healthcare, and oh yeah, they drive on the wrong side of the street. (Okay, not wrong. Different.) But we soon realized that these were not things we could change; they were things we could embrace. The tricks to reducing stress were to let go of things we could not control, make sure we were prepared, and be ready for the ride. This mental shift allowed us to take things in stride and ultimately, put us it a place where things rolled off our backs. It’s a philosophy we still rely on today.
How do you prepare for a long-distance move without losing your sanity? Start by learning as much about your new location as possible and not just where you’ll live and socialize. Check out medical and dental options in case you need healthcare sooner than expected. We were accustomed to having access to great medical and dental care, so living in the United Kingdom with universal healthcare gave us pause. To ease the transition of moving there, I copied all of our medical records and took them with us. These days, most medical records are electronic. But knowing you have them, whether overseas or in another state that may not have your same healthcare system, removes one worry you don’t need.
If you’re moving abroad or to another state, be sure to review new tax laws. The first year we lived overseas, my husband worked for a company based in the UK, but he physically conducted business in another country most of the time. Our accountant needed that information to make sure our taxes were filed properly. Also, understand that filing taxes may be more complex as you could have tax requirements overseas as well as in the United States. Keep in mind this is certainly not tax advice! It’s just a reminder to make sure your accountant has expertise and knowledge of multi-country tax laws.
When hiring a moving company for an international move, make sure the company you select has experience. You’d be surprised how many companies will say, “Sure, we can do that,” and they can’t. Or, “We’ve never done an international move, but you’ll be our first.” Let me tell you that when it comes to moving anywhere, you do not want to be the first. We interviewed several movers, gathered estimates, and submitted our findings to my husband’s company. In the end, an experienced international chain moving company came and boxed up our two-bedroom condo easily. We were fortunate to have access to my in-laws’ basement to store furniture and personal belongings that weren’t coming with us. If you’re not as fortunate and leaving things behind, be sure to rent storage space in advance. Also, it took our clothing and other items a month to reach us. Have enough spare clothes to last a few weeks (or have access to laundry), should you arrive before your belongings.
Once you have movers lined up, decide what needs to move with you. This is a personal choice and varies based on whether this is a permanent move or, as in our case, a temporary one. I know some people who have moved abroad lock, stock and barrel as they couldn’t bear to be parted from anything they owned. Having all the comforts of home when they were moving far away made the transition less traumatic. In contrast, we decided to rent a furnished home, so we only needed to pack clothing and personal items. We did not want to live as Americans in England, but immerse ourselves in a new culture. Bringing everything we owned from the United States would have diminished the experience.
If you’re moving overseas with pets, prepare for their move ahead of time. When we moved to England, pets had to be quarantined for months upon arrival. Technology now makes the process much easier for everyone. That said, in most cases your pet will need a passport, rabies vaccination at least 30 days before departure, health certificate stating your pet is in good health and parasite-free, and an implanted microchip to trace past vaccinations and veterinary care. Some countries (as well as Hawaii) still require pets to be quarantined for a period of time. (To determine specific international requirements, including radio frequencies for microchip transponders, contact embassies or consulates directly.) If flying to your new location, make sure your selected airline is pet-friendly, and your pet is healthy enough to endure a flight and familiar with his or her kennel. Also, know your flight costs and fees before taking off to avoid unexpected surprises.
Looking back on our move to Europe, we barely remember the problems. Were things damaged in transit? Certainly. But that could happen moving across the street. With the right attitude, preparation and resources, a move can unveil new horizons and leave you with good memories for a lifetime.
A global relocation resource, Hali Jaffe loves helping people and provides experienced advice to ease the burdens of a personal or corporate move. You can contact her at hali@REALocationwithHali.com.