Over 3.7 million American employees work from home at least half the time, according to Global Workplace Analytics. This number is expected to exponentially increase as companies sprint to revamp their workspaces to accommodate employees who already exhibit work mobility capability. Technology has played a huge part in making it possible for employees to work remotely. Both hardware devices and online collaborative software has enabled the hardworking absentee employee.
If you’re one of the lucky ones who can essentially work from anywhere in the world with an Internet connection, you may be living a nomadic lifestyle. This affords you a previously unheard of opportunity to travel the world while earning money. You might even have developed a touch of wanderlust, the desire to pack up and move on whenever the urge strikes.
At some point, however, most people get the desire to settle down. Whether it’s to grow some roots or to start a family, deciding where to settle down in one area isn’t an easy choice. It is one that you’ll need to make based on your own preferences and personal situation, but there are some effective ways to figuring out where you want to live. Ask yourself these telling questions.
Are you an indoor person or an outdoor person?
When a realtor shows you a home, do you march straight out the back door to see what the outdoor space is like before even glancing at the indoor space? Do you need lots of windows and natural light any place you live? Would you rather work on a park bench than at a mahogany desk?
If you’re an outdoor person, you’ll want to carefully consider climate in figuring out where you want to live. Otherwise, you’ll want to give more weight to the architectural elements of any place you’re seriously thinking about. Surprisingly, Seattle has more temperate days per year than New York City. Take that, East Coast!
Are you a practicing fan of culture or an armchair culture enthusiast?
Do you actually buy tickets to see the local ballet? Or are you content to watch the Nutcracker once a year from your vantage point on the couch? Do you have the art museum schedule memorized, or are you happy with your coffee table books of Monet and Renoir?
There’s a vast difference between someone who appreciates culture and someone who is actively involved in it. If it’s not critical to be within driving distance of fine museums and theatres, now’s the time to admit it to yourself. If live music is your thing, Detroit may be calling for you. Did you know that some of the greatest musicians came from and worked in Detroit? Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and Diana Ross all recorded with Atlantic Records and spent many a late night recording tracks that became classic hits. The city is still throbbing with the beat to this day.
Are you a nester or an activity fiend?
When you have time all to yourself to do what you want, what do you do? If you frequently spend days off lounging at home with a good book and a supply of plastic organizers, it’s possible you are a bit of a nester. If on the other hand, you sleep with your sneakers next to your bed and a bike helmet next to your keys, you probably yearn for activity no matter where you are.
Obviously, a nester has more options for places to live, whereas activity fiends might only be satisfied with a wide variety of things to do at their disposal. If you want to hang with friends who would rather bike to work, cut down their own Christmas trees, and who snack on granola on a daily basis for energy, try Boulder, Colorado. The weather doesn’t matter to Boulderites. They’ll be outside doing something whether it’s a blizzard or a hot sunny day beneath the Flatirons.
Where are you on the political and religious scale?
Don’t worry. No one’s asking you to engage in a heated debate to figure out where you want to live. But if you’re a hardcore anything, you might as well live among others who share your general outlook regarding political and religious views.
When it comes to cultivating friendships, you’ll find it easier if your views align with theirs, and vice versa. Not impossible if they don’t, but easier if they do. Did you know that Maine is chock full of liberals who feel that less government is the best government? So much so that there’s more than one group who believes that federal taxation is against the constitution, so they refuse to file their tax returns.
Who do you enjoy being around?
Certain people tend to live in certain areas of the country. You should think about the kind of people you enjoy being around. Do you like elders, or people of your own age? Are you inspired by being surrounded by ethnic groups? Do you feel an affinity with one certain nationality or another?
If you can pretty much feel comfortable with anyone, this question isn’t that pertinent. But if you adore the Latin culture, or German, or Irish or Greek, remember that one of the great things about America is you can find those communities of those subsets and more dotted throughout the country. For example, if you have an affinity for all things Greek, Tarpon Springs, on the southwest coast of Florida, is home to several enterprising (and successful) Greek sponge fishermen. Opa!
It turns out that figuring out where you want to live requires quite a bit of introspection. It’s worth it to spend time alone with yourself to ask yourself these questions. You might be surprised at your own answers, but don’t judge yourself whatever the answers are. Once you get closer to knowing the kind of place you want to settle down, you can use the process of elimination to follow it through.
