When you move someplace new, how to make it home

It's time to move.  We're moving!  Get excited!  Let's go!  Not excited?  Not loving this transition?  You're not alone.  Moving is literally considered one of the top 3 most stressful activities people engage in.  (Divorce and grieving death of a loved one are other 2).  Moving, at its best, when money isn't a problem, the new location is beautiful and suitable and convenient, and everyone involved is happy this is happening - is STILL very stressful.  And we all know - all of the conditions are never fully optimal and harmonious.  So, what do we do about it?  We do what we can.  Like the serenity prayer right?  Change what we can and accept / make peace with what we can't.

So you're moving into a dorm, moving into your first apartment, moving into a new foster home, moving back in with your parents, moving into your first house, moving into a trailer park, moving into your car or a tent - whatever you're doing, you're making a new home.  What's important to a new home?  Shelter from weather, safety in every way, a place to sleep, a place potentially for recreation, a place to eat, that's about it.  Everything else is superficial details. 

Part of why moving is stressful, is your home is gone / and you need a new one.  Why is home important?  Home is sort of everything.  It's where we feel safe, where we rest, where we recharge, where we can be 100% ourselves, where we feel most free, many critical things.  So the key to moving is making your new home feel like your home as soon as possible.  How do we make this new place feel like home?  This is where understanding yourself is imperative.  A place may feel like home to you if you can play loud music.  If you can cook very smelly food.  If you can be surrounded by images of fuzzy kittens.  If you can feel like your children are safe and have a nice place to play.  It can be a billions things.  You have to think about what all the places have in common that you've lived and felt good during that time - extract those commonalities and apply them ASAP as much as you can to this new home.  That is the work of 'moving' many people forget about or don't realize it's a thing.  If you get to caught up in choosing a home based on the commute time, or a certain amenity, or however many bedrooms you want - or whatever you think are the requirements - do not forget to factor in what you as a person actually really need to get from your home when you're living in it. 

An example, you're an early morning riser and highly value absolute quiet and stillness during your morning cup of coffee or your entire day is thrown off balance.  So make sure where you move it, has a space that feels nice for that morning moment, is going to be quiet at that time of day, and maybe there's something beautiful in nature around the home (a tree outside a window, a nice garden, a pretty city view) - that you can soak in as you wake up, feel peaceful, and consume caffeine.  These kinds of things, these valued habitual practices that stabilize our daily happiness.  Figure out what these things are and honor them as best you can with each new home.