Choosing a city to move to

[another_newbie3]

Hello
I am in my 20's and I am getting ready to move out on my own. I really don't care for the town I am living in so I am looking at different city's to move to (my parents are also moving but there moving to the coast and I really don't want to live near the coast). How do I make sure the city I choose is with in God's will? My career does not affect it because its one of those careers that can be done anywhere. One of my friends told me that when it comes to choosing to move to a new town there's not strictly "one" town that is the only one that is in God's will. Example say I am looking at 3 different towns it doesn't matter to God which I choose. Is that true? What are things to look at when looking for a new town?

 

[CarrieH]

Hello, and welcome to CAF! I’m a big believer in listening to the Holy Spirit’s prompting. If you are meant to go to one particular place, you will feel a peace in your heart about it that you won’t feel when you think about some of the other places on your list. The same goes if you are not meant to go there: you just won’t feel peaceful about it. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will speak forcefully to you (this happened to me in a job interview once, and it was scary but awesome – I heard a voice in my heart say “don’t do it” just as clearly as if someone spoke those words out loud to me). Other times, it’s just a nagging lack of peace. That’s my :twocents: on that.

As far as narrowing down your choices, look at your skill set and compare it with the job opportunities and the salaries being offered in that area for your line of work. Then compare it with the cost of living. If you are interested in staying somewhere on a long-term basis, then you will want to look at the demographics of the cities you are considering. This website might be helpful to you: homefair.com/real-estate/city-profile/index.asp

You say that you have one of those careers that can be done anywhere. In that case, I would strongly recommend signing on with a travel-temp agency and getting a short-term contract assignment in the city at the top of your list of possible places to move. These agencies will often provide housing and benefits for the time when you are working there, and if you like the position and it is a good fit, the employer may very well offer you a permanent job when your contract is finished. And if it turns out that you don’t like the job or the town so much, you aren’t stuck – when your contract is up, off you go to the next assignment elsewhere (and you don’t look like a job-hopper since you were a contract worker to begin with). As an RN, I know several nurses who have gone this route when planning a move a long distance away.

Good luck to you and God bless!

 

[onetruechurch]

Since this is the vocation forum I will assume you are interested in living in a town where you can lead a holy life. Let’s say you are interested in Regnum Christi. You could check on the net to find out what cities have active groups. Sacramento and Reno would be good choices there.

I don’t have all the stats on the new “Catholic” town in Florida but it is located on the Florida coast and is centered around the Catholic University Ave Maria. You mentioned you are not interested in living on or near a coast so that may not be a choice.

You can also check the net for stats on where are the most Catholic towns and cities. Sometimes that can be mis-leading because some northeastern cities have many “liberal” Catholics. If you are looking for a Catholic husband you need to be in a town that attracts a more conservative environment.

If I were in my 20’s I might consider the St Louis area. I am very impressed with Archbishop Burke. Also I am impressed with the Catholic newsletter written in his diocese.

There is another forum here at Catholic Answers that is called Water Cooler…specifically the Back Fence. The folks who go to that forum are very helpful when it comes to questions about finding a good place to live. It is a very casual forum.

 

[forgiveall]

Go where you know you can do Gods will. Go where you know that you will be needed. You with your faith can, if you choose, lead a holy life anywhere. It doesn’t have to be where the strength of the Holy Mother Church is. You are the church and you take the church where ever you go. You take the word of Jesus where ever you go.

Mother Teresa wanted to live with the poorest of the poorest in Calcutta. Though she was unwanted because of so many different beliefs, she still did it with the help of Jesus. Look at her for a good example in your life.

I’m sure you will make the right decision where ever you end up. Ask Jesus to guide you and he will, but don’t ignore his answers.

May God protect you where ever you go

May God bless everything you do in the name of Jesus!