Relocating: Things to Think About & Consider

Taking a leap of faith and relocating to a new location does not come without many challenges and uncertainties. If you are looking to relocate, go on the road full time, or become full-time RV'ers here are a few things to consider:

1. Have a plan for where you will stop each night, until you reach your destination.

2. Turn your location on, and share it with at least 1 or 2 trustworthy people. Share with them where you anticipate stopping each night, and check in with them if you stop elsewhere for the night. If something should happen while you don't have cell service, or worse, then they will know approximately when you will be where.

3. Never use gas from gas cans older than 1 or 2 months. Anything older than 6 months, just toss out. Yes, even in this economy.

4. Stock up on snacks before hitting the road! The coat of snacks and drinks differs so much in each state that you will likely end up spending more and eating less quality food than if you had prepared ahead of time.

5. Plan to have a minimum of $1k-$5k in savings or checking for AFTER your trip. This should cover things that go wrong after you arrive, down deposit on a new place, monthly rent or RV park cost until you can get settled.

6. Know what you plan to do work wise. Are you going to be looking for a job? Or maintaining self employment? If you are going to be looking at a job, expect that interviews from the time of application can take between 1 and 6 weeks.

7. Begin spending time in town and walking around the community. You will slowly begin to meet people by just being a presence in town.

8. If you're low income, you can file for food, Healthcare and other state and public benefits the moment that you have an address.

9. If you're not going to be taking everything with you, ensure that you scan all important documents to your phone or other easily accessible device that you will be keeping with you through the move.

10. If you're going to drive through international lands to get to your state (i.e., Driving through Canada to get to Alaska, or vice versa), ensure you have pets up to date on all vaccines, health screen completed and signed by vet (the border sometimes does in fact to see both of these), keep records of custody papers, if you have changed your name at all have with you all name change documents, your passports, drivers licenses, car registration, car insurance, birth certificates for yourself and your children. It seems like a lot but at times they will ask for some of it, or all of it. Sometimes they won't ask for anything. You never know.

11. Note that you cannot transport your own handguns through Canada as well. Rifles and shotguns, yes, but not handguns.

Safety is the most important. Ask locals about safe neighbors or RV parks to stay in. If ever you are unsure, you can call the local police department and ask.

It never hurts to go into the local police department anyway, introduce yourself and ask family friendly things to do in town, safe neighborhoods to live in, and so on.