Footrace Against Time

America is a very mobile society. People move frequently. There are a two periods of life when re-locating is more common - during the twenties and then during the empty nest syndrome later in life.

Youth is a time of freedom of movement. Those who are young and trying out newfound independence from parents, including single men, single women, and young couples, may find themselves relocating frequently. The reasons for moving often vary from going away to school or getting that first job to changing roommates, changing jobs, getting married, having children, upward movements in the career path, or just wanting to experience a new location.

The other life stage when we see large numbers of people moving is later in life when the last child leaves the family home. Many parents find this transition stage lonely and hard to deal with. It is not uncommon for parents to try multiple solutions to the "empty nest syndrome" before a move is made, but ultimately, many will move. Some of the reasons that people cite include:

The house seems too big

The maintenance on the house is overwhelming

Wanting more financial freedom to travel or live out other dreams

Deciding to live closer to their children and/or grandchildren

Desiring the lifestyle or climate that a resort area offers

The majority of those who move often do so for what they perceive as an opportunity at a better lifestyle. A better neighborhood or a larger home are two reasons that are cited often. Once children are close to school age, the school district becomes an important consideration. However, during child rearing years, families tend to be more stable and less mobile. It becomes important to retain as much stability as possible for children during their school years.

As we have learned from the current economic crunch, the state of the economy can hugely influence when and where people move, as well as their reasons for doing so. People who are suddenly finding themselves unemployed are moving in with family members to save funds. Others are suddenly questioning whether or not they want to keep that big house with the high mortgage payments. And of course, sadly there are so many households where income has dropped, and houses are being lost to foreclosure, forcing moves that were never imagined.

Residents on the east and west coasts tend to re-locate more frequently than those in the Midwest or central area of the country. Because of the popularity of living near the water, there tend to be more large metropolitan areas on the two coasts, which creates more employment opportunities. This is especially true on the East coast, but mobility on the west coast does match that seen on the eastern side of the country. Whether frequent moves is due to lifestyle differences or more opportunities is unclear, but statistical studies show that residents on these two coasts will move an average of every 3 to 5 years throughout their lifetimes.

People with higher levels of education are also more mobile. This has been largely attributed to the greater employment mobility that the higher education levels afford, as well as the financial freedom that often accompanies the employment opportunities.

Often as people approach retirement age, they begin to dream about that lifestyle they always coveted but denied themselves. At this point, many will migrate to resort communities to live out a dream, and immerse themselves in a society that better accommodates their needs. Miami is one such retirement haven. The warm climate soothes aching bodies, and activities that seniors can participate in and enjoy abound.