Sometimes when we land in a place that doesn't immediately feel like a fit, we have to figure out how do we put down roots here? How do we go from, I can't believe I'm living in Boxburg, Virginia, to feeling like, oh, this actually is a home and I love it.

Welcome to how to. I'm Courtney Martin. As many of our listeners know, I moved about a year and a

half ago. I only moved about 10 miles away, but it has often felt like 10,000 miles away.

All new neighbors, a new school for my kids, a new rhythm to each day. Whereas I used to walk my

kids to school along dense urban

blocks and then maybe grab a coffee on Telegraph Avenue with a friend, I now have redwood trees,

the occasional coyote, and a whole bunch of strangers surrounding me. I have found it difficult

to make new connections. Neighbors seem more private here, maybe a result of them being more

spread out. And I still haven't found the ideal coffee shop scene despite a pretty formidable effort.

Last week on the show, we talked with a listener who is aching to do what I just did,

move to a new place. Journalist Melody Warnick helped her think through her options. This week,

I'm going to talk with Melody about what comes next, learning to love a new place. In her book,

This is Where You Belong, Finding Home Wherever You Are, Melody wrote about her own experience

moving to Blacksburg, Virginia for her husband's job. She thought she'd love it immediately, but she soon found out why it's nicknamed Bleaksburg.

Ooh.

So, Melody rolled up her sleeves, did some research, and set out to fall in love with her new city one little experiment at a time.

What she discovered could help you, no matter if you've lived somewhere for 10

days or 10 years. So, Melody, you open your first book, This is Where You Belong,

talking about constantly scrolling realtors.com, itching for your next move. What was so

intriguing for you at that moment about the fresh start?

Oh, I think whenever anything gets difficult for you in your present life, whether that's,

you know, the neighbor with the dog that barks too much or the volunteer commitment that has

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