Becoming Part of Your New Community After a Move

Moving to a new city can be daunting. Even if you have vacationed in that town many a time, it is a completely different story to actually live there. Maybe work brought you here, and you are a complete stranger. Perhaps it’s your first time leaving behind your network of family or friends. Though at first it may seem like you will never find your niche, we promise that if you have an open mind and give it a little time, you’ll be a local before you know it! Whether your goal is to meet people and make new friends or just become more acclimated to the area, the tips below will have you feeling like a local in no time!

Volunteering can be a wonderful way to meet people with like-minded interests

Volunteer

A great way to become integrated into your community is to give back to said community! Whatever cause you choose to support, volunteering can be a wonderful way to meet people with like-minded interests. Being involved in volunteer activities can also help get you outside your comfort zone, or just outside your home. If you have special skills, you can provide those services to your chosen cause, but many organizations take volunteers without any skills necessary. Soup kitchens, food banks and animal shelters are just a few places that volunteers from all walks of life. If your availability is a little more sporadic, consider volunteering for a specific charity event. This requires a specific, finite amount of time but still introduces you to a number of people who are also committed to giving back to the community they call home!

Explore

Sometimes the easiest way to learn about your new city and meet people is to simply visit places where the locals go. Instead of walking your dog around the neighborhood by yourself, take Fido to a local dog park. Attend a local festival, whether it’s a concert or special interest group, or simply a fun carnival that’s in town. Get a new library card. Check out a local museum. Depending on the subject matter, it may have exhibits on the history of your new home, providing you with a little backstory on the region. Even spending some time at the local coffee shop, bookstore, barber shop or florist can help integrate you into the community. Plus, you might find your new go-to deli or hardware store.

Sometimes the easiest way to learn about your new city and meet people is to simply visit places where the locals go.

Watch

Maybe you have small kids, and don’t have the time on the weekends to volunteer. Maybe you moved in the winter and the most exercise Fido gets is hopping on the couch to watch you shovel the drive from the warm comfort of the living room. Even if outside factors keep you from jumping feet first into your new community, you can still integrate yourself into the day to day with the local news. Whether this means subscribing to a community newsletter, joining a local group on social media or simply watching the morning show while you eat your breakfast, keeping touch on the happenings in your new region is a great way to be an informed citizen.

Participate

If the circumference of your social circle is a little on the narrow side, consider participating in a special interest group. The options are as endless as your interests! Attend a fitness class at your new gym. Join a local sports team. Find a hobby club that fits something you’re passionate about. Take a cooking class. Become involved in a local church. Whether your passion is lacrosse, your faith, scrapbooking or model trains, we bet there is a local group of people just like you!

Though at first it may seem like you will never find your niche, we promise that if you have an open mind and give it a little time, you’ll be a local before you know it!

At GCD, our passion is building innovative homes and enduring communities. We love watching our neighborhoods fill with wonderful people and families that we know will enrich the surrounding area for years to come. If you are new to one of our beautiful communities, don’t be a stranger! Make new friends, rekindle an old hobby or give back to a special cause. Whatever way you choose to become involved in the new place you call home, the important part is to lay those roots and bloom!