With the exception of an international move, a cross country move is one of the most challenging residential moves you can undertake.
Of course, relocating a residence across thousands of miles is not going to be smooth sailing, more so if you’re embarking on a DIY move.
There are so many things that could potentially go askew, which is why if you can afford it, the best thing you can do for yourself is to hire reputable long distance movers New York (or from your current city of residence) to assist with the move.
We insist on reputable as this is not a move you really want to entrust with just about anyone. You don’t want to find yourself in the same boat as Arlo Pear (played by Richard Pryor) and his family in the film Moving where they hired the wrong moving company for a cross-country move to calamitous (albeit hilarious) result.
Thing is, though, even with the best movers overseeing the relocation for you, there’s always the question of how you’ll cope during the transit in terms of passing the time.
We all have our ways of killing time when we find ourselves on an overly long journey, be it by road or flight. Luckily, in this digital age, there is so much to keep oneself occupied so long as you have an Internet connection.
Otherwise, sleeping is always an option, as is staring endlessly at the terrain and contemplating life. Others prefer a good movie (or series) and of course, for some of us, there is nothing like a good read when you find yourself with endless hours to burn without much else to do.
If you fall in the latter category and you’re looking for something nice to keep your mind occupied, we have some great recommendations of books to lose yourself in while moving cross-country.
The Hopefuls, by Jennifer Close
Mindful of her husband’s political career, Beth agrees half-heartedly to move with Matt from New York City to D.C., but she finds it harder than expected adapting in a new, humid city.
The city feels foreign to Beth, and the D.C. crowd is reminiscent of her “high school council members” – the eager (and annoying) bunch who would fight with fervor for pizza lunches and dance themes. It gets to a point she starts questioning whether her husband’s one of them.
When the couple befriends Jimmy and Ashleigh, things start to look up a bit, but soon ANOTHER move to Texas is in the offing – and with it, plenty of competition, jealousy and gossip.
This is Where You Belong: The Art and Science of Loving the Place You Live, by Melody Warnick
The title of the book should give you a hint of what you’re in for.
Falling somewhere between a self-help book geared towards cultivating an attachment with your community and personal memoir based on the frequent moves of the author (complete with inner monologues), this is a book that can help you change your outlook about your new city if you find it a challenge embracing the new life.
The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin
Another book that can help you take steps in the right direction if you find moving to a new city is not as happy an adventure as you hoped it would be.
In this one, Gretchen explains the pursuit of happiness in a way you can relate to, which should serve as an inspiration towards embarking on your own happiness journey. In a practical way.
Mad About The House, by Kate Watson-Smyth
The UK author has amassed a wide audience since launching her interior design blog in 2012. In this book, she serves a dose of interior décor inspiration that you can tap into if you need ideas to decorate your new home when you finally settle in.
Whether you’re moving into a small studio or 10-bedroom mansion, there is plenty of pro interior design inspiration and ideas you could borrow.
The Happy Ever After Playlist, by Abby Jimenez
If romance novels get you all warm and fuzzy inside, this is one of the good books to immerse yourself into while moving cross-country.
It follows a woman who decides to adopt an adorable pet to help her escape the loneliness since losing her fiancé two years earlier.
It’s all roses, rainbows, and close bonds until the pet’s original owner (a top musician) reaches out to her demanding to have the pup back.
How will it pan out?
