If you're looking to move next year - either overseas or to another part of the country - this thread will help.
1) Weather
This impacts everything: Your mood, what activities you can do, and even your level of sociability.
Put simply, there's no reason to live someplace where bad weather seals you inside your house for 3 - 6 months each year.
2) Social Scene
How fast can you make friends? And is it possible to climb the social ladder?
When it comes to social scenes, there doesn't seem to be much correlation between city size and ease of meeting new people.
There are large cities where making friends is easy (Saigon and Chicago are two of my personal examples).
And there are also massive cities where you're just another cog.
Likewise, moving to small towns is often a social disadvantage.
Why? The locals all grew up together and are incredibly cliquish.
Because of the huge variance, invest some time into whatever location you're curious about. I suggest staying there one month, minimum, to get a feel for things.
3) Outdoor Activities
Done right, you're never home. There's just too much stuff to enjoy, and you don't have time for Netflix or video games.
I was in coastal Mexico last month. Great weather, nice beaches, restaurants, gym, town dances on the weekend.
No time for boredom.
4) Cost Of Living Vs Opportunities For Fun
"Price is what you pay, value is what you get."
"3rd World" Saigon has a nicer, better, high-end scene than 15 - 20 US States. Not to mention more "mundane" benefits, like the walkability cafe culture.
There's nowhere else I can think of that's better for taking a walk, looking at cool buildings, seeing interesting nature (lizards, fruit trees, etc), and then stopping by a random cafe to grab a $0.50 iced coffee.
It's an expirience you couldn't replicate in the States.
Despite this, costs are insanely low.
How low?
You can rent an apartment (with maid service) for less than it would cost you to eat a Jimmy John's sandwich each day.
Even people who prefer small town or rural living would probably have more fun overseas.
There are a lot of places around the world with incredibly friendly people, great nature, and total freedom.
Driving a motorcycle around the countryside, stopping to climb mountains or explore your surroundings; it's like living in "Red Dead Redemption."
Mexico City has good infrastructure, safe streets, nice cafes, cool art deco buildings, awesome historical architecture, and fantastic parks.
And, the cost of living is almost half that of Duluth, Minnesota.
You can almost always live in a nice area abroad, that has everything you want to do, for a fraction of what it costs to settle for some low-cost area in the USA.
Keep this in mind as everything goes remote and you get more opportunities to go somewhere else.
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If America locks down again, and there's a good chance they do, book a plane ticket and leave the country.
ASAP
Being locked inside during winter, in a negative mindset country with civil unrest is a recipe for disaster.
In Central America, you can rent a nice apartment, in a safe neighborhood, with good Internet for under $500.
And prices are way lower if you're in a smaller city.
Even if you have very little in savings, you could easily do something to pay rent (or just get a 0% interest for the first 18 months credit card) and cover the bills.
If your grandfather bought a rental property for $20,000 back in the day, your family is minting money.
If your grandfather put 10% of his paycheck into savings and nothing else, you're going to work.
Don't repeat this mistake.
Your main goal is to buy or build things that appreciate in value over time.
Otherwise you're just stuck running the hamster wheel forever. And that's true whether you're flipping burgers or earning a high income while overspending.
BIG GIRTHY WHITE PILL SUPPOSITORY TO FILL YOU WITH HOPE THREAD
3 PREDICTIONS THAT 2021 WILL BE GREAT, IF YOU'RE A SMART MAN
1. Obesity Continues Expanding.
A lot of people stopped working out in March and will never get into shape again. In the future, anyone with a moderately good physique will stand out.
2. More People Living At Home Or In Smaller Cities
Twofer here.
Rent will (hopefully) go down more in major cities, providing a great opportunity for adventurous young man.
Like it or not, most people live in an echo chamber. As such, they tend to develop one-dimensional thinking over time.
If you live someplace where everyone is fat, it's likely you'll end up fat as well. Or, at the very least, your attempts to get into shape will be met with HUGE resistance.
To crib a buzzword, your surroundings often become "The New Normal."
Here's how you shake things up:
1. Read Biographies
Reading is not a magic cure-all for your problems, and there are plenty of unexceptional and lazy people who read books.
HOWEVER, it is very rare that you meet a do-nothing who reads biographies.