Moving is a time for starting over. In a new home on a new street in a new city, maybe even a new state, everything has changed, including your habits and your grocery store. Depending on your distance, your circle of friends has taken a big shift too.
The New York Times published an insightful article on how difficult it can be to make friends after a certain age.
In your 30s and 40s, plenty of new people enter your life, through work, children’s play dates and, of course, Facebook. But actual close friends — the kind you make in college, the kind you call in a crisis — those are in shorter supply…
“After 30, people often experience internal shifts in how they approach friendship. Self-discovery gives way to self-knowledge, so you become pickier about whom you surround yourself with, said Marla Paul, the author of the 2004 book ‘The Friendship Crisis: Finding, Making, and Keeping Friends When You’re Not a Kid Anymore.’‘The bar is higher than when we were younger and were willing to meet almost anyone for a margarita,’ she said.
But what about making friends after a certain move? Where do you go to make friends in a city you have only been in for two days? When age and location becomes an obstacle, how do you meet new people?
Here are a few places to start:
Work
This might be an obvious one, but there’s a hidden beauty about work friends: You already have something to talk about. You both know the coffee on the third floor is the best, and that the bagels down the corner are always stale. After eight-hour days, work might not be much fodder for conversation, but it’s a place to start. Look for friends at work who share the same hobbies. Even if you don’t end up hanging out, they can introduce you to other like-minded locals.
Another idea is to attend the work events your company or coworkers put together; hanging out away from the office makes is great bonding time.
Concerts
Like work friends, meeting people at concerts gives you both a jumping off point. If you’re willing to pay over $15 for anything, there’s a level of commitment to liking the band you’re about to see. Music can be a great way to get to know the person sitting (or standing or dancing) next to you. Stubhub has a free app that can help you find new music wherever your location.
Community Events
This type of get-together can be a way to discover your neighborhood and the people in it. Whether it’s a flea market, a festival, a screening or anything in between, you have the chance to meet your neighbors and get to know the locals. Events is a website that lets you search for community events in your area and create your own account to keep track of it all.
Online
In today’s social media fueled world, some sites provide an online way to connect with people. For instance, Girlfriend Social is a website dedicated to helping women meet each other based on interests and hobbies. If you want to go a different route, perhaps your friends from home know someone in your new city, and can connect you with them via Facebook or email? This might also be someone who can get you better acquainted with the town or neighborhood.
Make Time to Wander
Something pointed out in the New York Times article is the fact that as we get older, our lives get busier. Dozens life’s nuances get in the way and give us less time to socialize outside the home. Regardless the point you are in life when you relocate, you never outgrow the need for friends.
After moving to a new City full of eight million strangers, I had to quickly find ways to expand my group of friends while balancing a full-time internship. I can only imagine how hectic it is when you throw other things like play dates into the mix. Still, you need to set aside quality time to explore and meet people whenever you can to make friends in your new city. Open yourself to meeting and chatting with new people and you’ll find yourself with the social circle you need.
Are you planning a cross country move from New York City? Check out Moveline and set up an account with us, we’ll help you decide how to move.
The moving trucks have long pulled away and you’re unpacking your boxes; your move is over, but now what?
The adjustment of the post-move can be forgotten in the craziness of getting the moving process together. Suddenly there are even more things to figure out. Where do I buy groceries? How do I do laundry here? Is there a place to walk my dog?
Here are few resources to find what you need when these questions have popped into your head:
Where will you buy groceries?
Your empty refrigerator is staring at you and you can’t eat out one more night. A local grocery store is a must, but can be surprisingly difficult when your staple choice isn’t there. Most staple grocery stores have store locators on their website, and while the aisles may have changed, you’ll find it’s as if your favorite store has moved with you. Looking for something organic? Local Harvest offers a searchable database of organic stores and restaurants, farmers markets, wholesales and co-ops.
Where will you do laundry?
Depending on where you move, your washer and dryer might be in the next room, in the basement, or blocks away. If it’s the latter, finding a nearby Laundromat can be a pain. This website, www.laundromatfinder.com, might not have the prettiest interface, but has tons of Laundromats across the United States. Call in advance to see how many quarters (or what card) you’ll need.
Where will you go for walks?
Want a bench to read a book, does your child need a swing set, need to take your dog on a walk? The U.S. Government has a great website to find a park in your area.
Where will you get utilities?
The power is off, you don’t have running water and your gas stove won’t light, in short, you need utilities and you need them fast. Websites like The Utility Connection can help you find electricity and water for your neighborhood. Don’t have Wi-Fi yet? Check out Google Maps for a Starbucks near you for some caffeine with a side of Internet so that you can get yours set up.
How will you get around?
Public transportation can be a pain, especially when you’re somewhere new. Luckily, if you have a smart phone or Internet access, your commute can be easily navigated. Cities like Portland, Seattle and NYC have their transportation detailed with helpful apps to get you to work on time, just check out the App Store (iPhone) or Play Store (Android.)
Universal Tip
Walking around the neighborhood is always the best trick to getting to know your surroundings. Know anyone close by? Offer them lunch in exchange for a quick tour.
The first day in a new place can be exciting, you just have to take that first step.
Check out other Moveline post move tips.
Learn more about how Moveline is creating a radically easier way to move.
Moving into a tiny apartment can be dismal. And with the adAPT NYC project, micro-units might be a reality for many New York City transplants.
Erin Boyle’s blog “Reading My Tea Leaves” features many aspects of living in New York, including life in a tiny apartment.
Currently featuring 21 big ideas on how to cope with very little space, Boyle gives tips based on her own experiences, lending honesty, humanity and fun.
For instance, Boyle recommends washing windows, organizing and tucking away clutter, buying beautiful cleaning supplies, and finding clever storage solutions for items (like putting a surfboard in the shower.)
Boyle told Yahoo Shine, “I say the rule of thumb is to only accumulate things that you really love,” she says. “James and I think really carefully before buying new things. We save our pennies for special and handcrafted products that we know we’ll want forever…”
Boyle and her boyfriend were recently featured in the New York Post and in a Yahoo Shine article; the latter featured 10 more tips to living in a small space. Looking for more? WiseBread offers a five-point survival guide.
I found some of the ideas featured helpful, and they remind me to stay optimistic and make any new place home, even if it’s close quarters. No matter how small, smile through it.
Check out more post move tips.
Learn more about how Moveline is creating a radically easier way to move.
It’s peak season, that’s a mover’s way of describing those summer months when a lot of people are moving. You’ve found the place, given notice to your landlord, and moving day is close.
Moveline is here to make your move less stressful, and nothing can be more stressful than a communication breakdown with your moving crew. As your move progresses, you might have noted some terminology used by your moving company, your movers and maybe you. But what does it all mean?
Here are some terms to add to your Moving Dictionary:
Accessorial Charges
These are the additional services that go beyond your movers’ basics.
Bill of Lading
This is the contract your have with your movers.
Binding Estimate
This is the firm price that is based on your inventory, changes when your inventory changes. The estimate will be set after an inspection of your inventory is conducted.
Blanket Wrapping
When your valuable is given a little extra padding. Keeps your furniture from being damaged when the truck hits bumps.
Carrier
Your mover. They call you the Shipper.
Conditioning
When the crew lead takes note of any scuffs or scrapes your stuff has before it goes on the truck, to make sure he doesn’t pay for anything that is already broken.
Consultant
A salesperson or other moving or relocation company representative who calls you to find out the particulars of your move.
Claim
What you file when your lamp, or any other item, arrives damaged or doesn’t arrive at all.
Extra Pickup
When you remember that you have stuff in a storage unit and your movers pick it up for you. Or maybe you needed an extra day to move. The extra pickup is any additional day you need your crew.
Interstate Move
You’ve found a job in Tennessee, but your stuff is in New York.
Intrastate Move
You found a place in Manhattan, but your stuff is in Albany.
Load Only
When your movers are hired to load your things.
Order Number:
The number that’s assigned to your move, used to identify it.
Peak Season Rates
You might pay more to move July 1 than February 1. More demand sometimes translates to higher costs depending on whom you hire.
PBO
Packed by Owner (You), which means you might want to BYOP (Bring Your Own Pizza.)
Professional Packing
Your movers are hired (or hire someone) to pack your belongings for you.
Shipper
You (we don’t think it makes sense either). See Carrier.
Tariff
A document every carrier has that lays out how much you’re being charged for each part of your move.
Unload Only
When your movers are hired to unload your things.
Any moving lingo you’ve heard that we didn’t list here, but you still need a definition? Let us know!
Check out more pre-move tips from Moveline.
Learn about how Moveline is creating a radically easier way to move.
It’s easy to see that moving is a big life changer. Your entire history is in boxes, sealed with tape and packed into a van to begin a new existence somewhere else.
Whether you’re moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico or just to an adjacent borough, moving is still moving. And according to Charles Duhigg, author and New York Times reporter, moving may be just what you need to kick your more persistent habits.
Duhigg took some time in March to talk with Terry Gross on Fresh Air about his upcoming book “The Power of Habit.” During his interview, he touched on what makes habits happen, what keeps them going and what it finally takes to break them.
Each habit begins with a trigger, when something in your brain creates a desire to do a particular behavior. This behavior becomes part of a routine, so ingrained you don’t even realize it’s happening. Finally, your brain recognizes a reward or satisfaction from the behavior. Habits take many forms; putting on the left shoe first, biting your nails, buying a particular brand of toothpaste, or smoking. Any one person might have dozens of habits they haven’t even noticed yet.
Duhigg explained that a change of location and environment, like moving, disrupts the habit triggers. When you take your first step into that new house or apartment, and realize all the changes to come, it’s the perfect moment to initiate other changes too. An empty fridge can be stocked with healthier foods, your new stoop isn’t the same as your favorite smoking spot, you haven’t even bought the same laundry detergent as your mother yet. Duhigg pointed out that studies show people are more likely to change the brand of coffee they buy after a move.
However, don’t put too much pressure on yourself to change everything at once or freak out when you have the occasional slipup. Breaking a habit is a process, just like moving is. The most important thing is to desire the change and to make it happen. Duhigg said, “You have to actually believe in your capacity to change for habits to permanently change.”
So as you’re preparing for a move, try not to dwell on the life you leave behind, but instead, focus on the opportunity to make a fresh start, and on a positive change you’d like to make in your life. The grass is greener on the other side, if you want it to be.
Check out more moving day tips and move organizing tips from Moveline, a radically easier way to move.
Great companies have a culture from the beginning — a way of interacting, and their own unique traditions and processes. Moveline’s is special.
When I first walked into the Moveline office, after navigating through the East Village for the second time, I still didn’t know what to expect for my first day as a marketing intern for Moveline. This position was a big deal for me; I moved to New York from Eugene, Oregon for the opportunity to grow and make an impact in an early stage company. In my excitement, I had already changed outfits twice, consulted with my intern friends and done everything possible to prepare myself.
Looking back, I really didn’t need to worry. The moment I stepped out of the elevator I was already in for the best first day ever.
A Different Kind of Orientation.
What could be a better orientation for a company like Moveline than to actually go visit a move? After I got indoctrinated to the team with my very own Moveline T-shirt, Kelly and I met Geoff to drive to Fort Greene, Brooklyn to observe Steve’s move. Meeting with Steve and his family in his beautiful brownstone, I got a glimpse of how Moveline’s products fit into a move. In this case it included performing an inventory, and after checking out the 5 floor brownstone and seeing the custom furniture, I realized it was no easy feat to list everything that had to move. But Steve explained that he didn’t list a thing; Moveline took care of the inventory, so he and his wife could focus on house-hunting in Austin.
Just Do It.
Everything about the day showed me how Moveline functioned as a company. The team had an easy banter with each other, a clear vision that worked together, and of course, matching T-shirts.
First days can be tough; I expected an adjustment period to get my bearings. What do I want to do vs. what do I need to do? How should I spend my time? I already tend to overanalyze everything, but then Kelly and the team encouraged me to think about it another way. What do I want to learn? What do I want to get out of this? What do I want to do with my time? Just do that. Add value where I’m passionate.
As an intern, this experience is a learning opportunity. But I look at my fullt-time teammates and get the feeling that they have as much enthusiasm about what they’re doing and learning as I have about this internship (a lot). It’s easy to feel the culture of growth throughout the company.
Baogette.
Though it was only my first day, I got the sense that a team member rarely eats alone at Moveline. As a group of four, Kelly, Chris, Adam and I went to Baogette, one of the many restaurant options the area has to offer. On our way out the team asked other TechStars if they wanted anything. There is a real camaraderie in the office; talk of other start-ups, coding advice, current events and more can be overheard. You come into the office as part of one team, but in the TechStars office, you’re part of a bigger community too. Oh, and Baogette is delicious.
We’re All in This Together.
Websites are easily broken. One line of code out of place and the whole page shuts down. With that in mind, how many companies would trust an intern with pushing code? On their first day?
Probably not many, but Moveline did. Before I left for the day, Kelly approached me and said there would be a group activity. Within an hour I was tasked with changing an image using Terminal and Sublime 2. I can now git, brew and CD. I never dreamed I would learn such technical skills in a marketing internship, let alone on my first day. But Kelly, Chris and Adam walked me through it one step at a time, and I’m glad they did. I now know to “respect the code, but never fear the code.” Each member of the team encouraged me to continue learning Javascript, simply because I want to and might help in that capacity again.
I remembered when Fred asked me what would make my ideal internship and I told him something where I could do what I do best and learn a variety of new things. After my first day, I knew I’d found that at Moveline.
I left the office more excited than ever, as if that were even possible. And that best first day has turned into an amazing first week. I don’t have to wear my Moveline shirt often, but I think I want to.
We announced the New York launch of Moveline in our pitch yesterday at TechStars Demo Day. In our 6 minutes on stage at Webster Hall, we told the audience about our mission to improve the moving experience through technology, and showed off our product.
What we presented struck a chord; everyone hates moving, and the current process in the moving industry is outdated and inefficient, and stresses people out. Moveline is simple, fresh, and something people clearly want. TechCrunch and Mashable broke the news about us first, and since then, we’ve been picked up by other press outlets and the word has spread. This morning, we were featured in Lifehacker, and accounts exploded, with hundreds more people now signing up to use Moveline.
We’re thrilled; Moveline has been in development for a few years, and we’ve always hoped for this kind of response when we went public in our first hub. We’ll do our best to meet the demand of everyone who has expressed interest in the last 24 hours, but for the sake of managing expectations, we’d like to clarify the state of our launch:
Moveline is currently live serving local and New York City outbound moves.
If you’re a New Yorker and are moving in town, or out of state, we’re excited to help.
We’re selectively accepting New York moves inbound from other major metro areas.
If you’re moving to New York from another major city, please apply for our beta, and we’ll bring you in as we have capacity. Be sure to specify the date of your move when you apply, and we’ll let you know as soon as possible whether we expect to be able to help you in time for your move.
Our pilot program in other cities is currently closed.
At this time, if you’re not moving to, from, or within New York City, our beta is now closed. Trust us, we’d really love to help, but we’d rather wait until your next move, when we’re fully prepared to do a really good job in your city, than disappoint you now. The moving business is inherently local, and the nuances from one city to the next make a difference. If you have questions about moving in your city, feel free to tweet us your questions, or send us an email, and we’ll answer what we can. We will not be able to perform your inventory or gather quotes just yet.
The mobile app is in testing.
We’ve just finished a prototype of our new iPhone app, and it’s currently in alpha testing. We plan to release it later in the summer. In the mean time, video uploads are performed through the web, using Moveline’s secure servers. You can still use your mobile device to film the videos.
Requesting a Demo.
If you’re not moving, but are a potential partner, press, or generally interested in seeing a demo of Moveline, please contact the founders directly. We’ll set something up.
Thanks for all the kind words and for bearing with us. We’re here to change the industry & one move at a time.
20 years ago, to purchase a plane ticket, you would have to call an agent at every airline, collect a set of prices, decide which one had the right combination of price, time, and amenities you wanted, and call them back to book a ticket. Crazy, right?
Today, to collect a set of professional moving quotes, you call several moving companies, schedule a time for each salesperson to come out to your house to perform an inventory, and they contact their dispatcher to get a price. You’re stuck with a stack of paper inventories, deciding which company seemed most trustworthy. If you’re moving long-distance, you also want to compare quotes for other moving methods, such as renting a truck and driving, portable container companies, or even freight companies.
For some of these companies, you can go to their website for prices – for others, you still have to call and talk to a pushy salesperson. Now, there are websites – lots of them – that claim to be able to get you a set of price quotes for your move. But inevitably, they ask you for your phone number and your email address, and you get spammed with calls and messages from salespeople and brokers.
Moveline is changing all of this.
With Moveline, you simply make a video of your stuff you’ll be moving. No salespeople in your home, ever. The video is securely transmitted to Moveline, where we turn it into an inventory of your stuff. From there, you take control, and use our platform to decide what you’ll be taking with you, and what you won’t.
When you’re ready, you submit your inventory for quotes from Moveline’s network of providers. Several reputable moving companies submit quotes for your move. Not estimates, hourly rates, or ridiculous weight tables – you get actual, binding, guaranteed quotes, that won’t change, as long as your list of stuff doesn’t change. For each provider, you see reviews from past customers, and stats from past jobs.
But Moveline doesn’t just show you quotes from full-service companies – we gather quotes for local labor, and combine them with truck rental, portable container, and freight shippers, to unlock an array of possible ways to move. Best of all, when you work with Moveline, we’re never trying to sell you anything – our product and customer service culture are all designed to be on your side as you navigate this expensive, tumultuous time in your life. It’s not quite as simple as booking a flight, but it’s a lot closer.
At Moveline, we’re building simple web tools to do all the things today’s van lines and salespeople do by hand. We’re bringing transparency to a market that has none, and we’re putting customers in control.
We’re starting with New York City. Join us.
Ready to get moving? Learn more about how Moveline is creating a radically easier way to move.