Advice on moving (to Tooele, UT) & living alone for the first time?

[Ninjaneer]

Hi DU, :hi:

So I am moving to Utah as that is where my work is taking me. I'm a recent college grad and have never lived alone before. I am a bit nervous as I don't know anyone within a thousand mile radius of Tooele. I've lived in the Southeast Michigan area for most of my life. I Have always had a good number of friends and usually a place to be on a Friday night so this is a pretty big change for me.

So, I thought I would turn to DU and seek advice from all those wiser and more experienced than I.

Any advice you could provide regarding any aspect of starting a new life in a small town is greatly appreciated.

After I post this I'm getting in my car and starting the 26 hour drive to Utah from Michigan so I may not get to reply for a day or 3. Thanks in advance for your help :D

[seabeyond]

1. what an adventure. have fun. easy enough. nt

[Brickbat]

2. I loved living alone after college. I'm a solitary person and don't mind being alone.

Remember there is a difference between "alone" and "lonely." If you want to be with people, do things that you like to do, and you'll find other people who like to do those things too -- hiking, hanging out at the library, going to shows, whatever.

Looking at the place you're moving to, I'm guessing you will feel some isolation if not culture shock. Because OMG, small-town Utah. So find an oasis or two in SLC, whether it's a progressive coffee shop, a sports bar that supports your favorite team, an independent bookstore and meet people that way.

Drop in on the Democratic Party office and get involved with a campaign.

Remind yourself that being alone on a Friday night does not automatically make you a loser. There's something to be said for getting in your PJs at 7 p.m., eating the crap food you want and watching whatever you want on TV or playing whatever computer game as long as you want, and listening to the music you want. It's also OK to have a couple drinks when you're alone, unless you have a drinking problem. Just don't let it become a habit.

Get out and exercise and find other people who like to run trails or mountain bike or swim.

If you're churchy, find a progressive congregation and get involved.

It's a great adventure to live alone and I highly recommend it to most people. As I said, I loved it and remember those days fondly.

[snooper2]

3. There's a bar called the Corner Pocket right in the center of town, I'd start there

:)

Probably the best place to get the lay of the land---

88 East Vine Street, Tooele, Utah

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=active&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=bars+in+tooele+ut&fb=1&gl=us&hq=bars&hnear=0x8752a6083e8433bb:0xba03bffbc79018b0,Tooele,+UT&ei=onhSTv3xOojMgQf_9pzdBg&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=image&ved=0CBoQtgM


Watch out for the Mormons :P

Actually, I would travel around and look for some of those close-nit everyone is a polygamist inbreeding towns---
Just drive through and take pictures like a curious tourist :rofl:

per wikipedia, you won't have to drive far though, looks like your county is on the list

Davis County, Utah<27>
Salt Lake County, Utah
Tooele County, Utah
Utah County, Utah<27>
Motaqua, Utah<27>
Cedar City, Utah<27>
Hanna, Utah<27>
Hildale, Utah<27>
Manti, Utah<27>
Rocky Ridge, Utah<27>
Sanpete Valley, Utah<27>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polygamy_in_North_America

[dimbear]

4. Tooele is a sleepy little whitebread town just outside SLC.

Be consoled you are safe from urban violence. It's not too very far from the sleepy little whitebread town of Grantsville. It's not too far from the decayed hulk of abandoned resort Saltair, famed from the movie "Carnival of Souls."

The Tooele area is subject to various plagues of insects, so be prepared there.

Seriously? Short drive to Salt Lake, unfortunately you're on the bad side of Salt Lake. Good luck.

[Lindsey]

5. I agree w/what another poster said. Do the things you really like

to do; whether it's hanging out at a book store, going to a coffee shop and reading, hiking, hooking up w/some meetup groups,etc. If you do those kinds of things, you're bound to meet people who are into the same things you are. I hope you're very proud of yourself for being bold and getting completely out of your comfort zone. That means you're into growing. Have fun and be sure to reconnect w/us as soon as you can!:fistbump:

[struggle4progress]

6. Utah is a beautiful state, politically rather conservative overall, & religiously rather homogeneous

If I moved there, I'd regularly visit some outdoor attraction:

Arches, Bryce Canyon, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Zion ...

There are plenty of beautiful places to go see. I myself would probably visit Zion three or four times every year, if I lived around there

Figure out some way to meet like-minded people. I myself would probably get involved in the Sierra Club, for example, or Habitat for Humanity

One of the most annoying things about moving is figuring out all the basics: where can I buy stamps? where are the mailboxes? where's a good place to get socks or jeans? what grocery stores are convenient to me? how do I find a good dentist? &c&c It can take a few months to learn your way around

Be friendly. Try to meet people, but don't trust everybody too quickly: most people are fundamentally decent, but not all are, and it can sometimes be hard to tell who's decent and who's not

[rug]

7. Join a local church.

[Joe Fields]

10. The OP needs to become Mormon, if they are to survive living in Tooele

[applegrove]

8. Get into a routine of getting some books every week so you'll always have a good book at the ready.

volunteer some place that is a passion for you (like local politics since you are a DUer) so you can meet some people with like minds.

[Gormy Cuss]

9. On living alone: give it time.

You may feel really isolated and lonely for the first couple of months. The best ways to deal with those feelings are
1)staying in touch with your network of friends and family, even to the point of being annoying --they'll understand and
2)going to public places like parks, outdoor concerts, and the library. It just feels good to be around people even if they're all strangers, and
3)finding grocery stores and other retail spots that you can visit at least once a week. Again, just building some familiarity with the faces of the people who work there and understanding the store layout can go a long way toward feeling like you're settling in.

I've done this sort of move twice. The second time was easier because I knew how to get through it. Best of luck to you.

[elleng]

11. Remember that DU is always here for you.

Good luck.
:hi: