6 Things to Get Recommendations for When Moving to a New Place

Published by Carrera on

Anyone who has spent any time in the military knows that moving is simply a part of the job. While it can be fun and exciting to move to a new place, it also presents challenges that can be difficult to deal with. Whether you’re moving to a small town or a large city, it is always helpful to get recommendations from the “locals” and people who have been stationed in the area for a while.

Getting a Sense of Normalcy Among the Chaos

Whenever I move to a new place, there are six things I typically ask people for their recommendations for right away. Each of these six things are an integral part of my life, and are crucial in helping provide a sense of normalcy for my family amid the chaos of moving.

1. Church or House of Worship

This makes it to the top of the list for the obvious reason–getting plugged in to a local church is the highest priority for my family. We have found that one of the best ways to settle in to a new place is to attend church services and Bible study/small groups.

This is a wonderful way to meet people who share the same faith and values that we do, and is a great way to get involved. My husband and I have volunteered at every church we have attended, whether it was working in the nursery, teaching a Sunday School class, or playing an instrument on the music team.

If you have the opportunity ahead of time, try to find a few recommendations for churches and then check out their website or social media page before going to the service. Reading a church’s statement of faith, or similar declaration, can help you identify the denomination of the church and determine which churches you may want to attend in person.

The 3-Week Rule

One rule I always encourage people to follow when looking for a new church is this — attend one church for at least 3 weeks before you decide to attend permanently or leave and look elsewhere.

The reason for this is simple–one service will not give you an accurate picture of the church. Who knows…you may have been visiting on the Sunday that a guest speaker came to visit, or maybe the music wasn’t the best because the team leader was sick or on vacation. Give a church at least 3 services before making your final decision.

2. Car Mechanic

It’s all fun and games until the timing belt breaks, or your transmission needs work, or your engine makes a funny noise when you turn your car on in the morning.

But finding a good car mechanic can sometimes be an even more difficult search than finding a spouse. It is very easy to get overcharged for the work, especially if you are unsure of the problem, or if you had not yet approved the work to be done.

(Let’s not even get started on how pushy some mechanics can be with a young, female second lieutenant just trying to get the brakes checked…)

Ask around to find recommendations for an honest car repair shop–even if you don’t think you need the work done right now. Trust me, the time will come when your car will need a repair done, and you will be glad you had this information before you actually needed it.

3. Nail Salon/Hairdresser

While this may seem like the most frivolous of all, it really is important in my book. I’ve had my share of going to nail salons, only to find they do not maintain hygienic practices, or going to a hairdresser asking for a trim…and walking out with over 6 inches of may hair missing from being butchered at the salon.

If you see someone with their hair and nails done well, ask for their recommendations–you won’t regret it!

4. Places to Eat

Let’s face it, we all have to eat! The sooner you can find a place that has your “usual,” the sooner you will feel at home.

Enough said.

5. Daycare/School Zones

If daycare is a must for your family, get recommendations well before you arrive at your next duty station. Often times, daycare centers have a wait-list that can span multiple months. If you know that daycare is going to be the only option for you and your family, definitely plan this in advance!

Another crucial consideration for your family is school zoning. If you are going to live on a base that does not have its own elementary or middle school, many cities only have a handful of options for your children to go to off base.

If you plan to live off base, check out school zoning and see where the best places to live might be, in order to get your children in the school district you prefer.

6. Doctor/Dentist/Pediatrician

While active duty members don’t have to worry too much about doctors and dentists (since we often have little choice in the matter of who is assigned to us as our PCM), this is very important for family members.

Military spouses may have the option to select their own doctors on or off base. Moreover, most military dependents have to get their dental work completed off-base, so it is important to find out who offers the most affordable prices, but who is also the most credible and recommended in their work.

Bottom Line

There are enough things to worry about when moving to a new base. The sooner you can find the best places for your family, the sooner you can focus on settling in and getting connected!