Boomerang relocation is common in Houston
When Jennifer Zisman moved from Houston to San Diego in June of 2018, the last thing she expected was to be moving back here just 15 months later. But, that’s exactly what happened, and she is now in the throes of her relocation back to the Bayou City.
It happens all the time. People move to Houston, stay here for a few years, then relocate somewhere else, only to find themselves back here a few years later. It’s often referred to as boomerang relocation.
In Zisman’s case, the move back to Houston is one that she is looking very forward to, since it’s a city that is both familiar and comfortable for her.
She originally moved to Houston in 2004 and remained here until her move to San Diego last year. So, having lived here for so many years means that she already knows the city quite well, and has many established relationships, which will make for an easier transition.
“I am thrilled to be moving back to Houston and to be able to work with the same group of colleagues that I’ve worked with since 2010,” explained Zisman. “So, when I think about Houston, I think about the social environment, the Southern hospitality, the good times and relationships, the athletics, the restaurants, and sporting events and activities.”
In fact, Zisman said that she is such a Houston sports fan that she named her dog JJ Watt. So, she is excited to be moving back here just in time for football season.
She also remarked that she is happy to see some of the changes that have taken place in Houston since she has been away.
“When I left, it was about nine months after the flooding from Hurricane Harvey. I lived in Memorial Bend in the Memorial area, and it was totally devastated. So, to come back and start to see rebirth and new life is so encouraging, and I’m excited to continue to see that growth,” said Zisman.
So, now that she is moving back to Houston, Zisman has set her sights on living inside the Loop.
Her focus this time around is on her desire for convenience, quality of life, and the ways she wants to spend her time outside of work.
“My office is on Allen Parkway, and I’m not really interested in a long commute. I don’t have to be in the office every day, because I can work from home, but there’s something about being in close proximity to the restaurants and sporting events that I love, and all of the things that I’m going to be doing. Having fun and connecting with people is how I want to center myself,” she said.
But, even moving back to a familiar city can be stressful, and Zisman is making this move solo.
So, to help alleviate the stress, she said that she has learned to compartmentalize different aspects of her move, and tries to stay as organized as possible. An important part of the process for her is determining which items she will keep, and which ones need to be discarded.
Likewise, she said that she has adopted a positive attitude when it comes to moving, and that from her viewpoint it’s kind of like an Olympic event, where endurance is the key.
“I have moved 10 times in the last five years. So, I just keep it in perspective that it’s a move, and something is going to break, and something is not going to go as planned, but that’s OK. That’s the definition of a move. So, you have to go into it with that attitude, and not get too overwhelmed,” Zisman said.
Overall, she said that she views the move back to Houston as a fairly easy one.
She also said that one of the best things about Houston are the people, and the abundance of career opportunities that exist here.
“When I moved to Houston in 2004, I was not in the profession that I am in now. I did a major pivot from a professional standpoint, and Houston is one of the very best cities for changing your career. In 2005 I did a complete career change, and it has been very fruitful, and I am very grateful because that would not have happened if I wasn’t in Houston,” Zisman explained.
She added, “I believe that it’s because of the people of Houston. They truly are so open-minded and have open hearts, and allow people to be successful when they make that pivot. To me, that just kind of defines what Houston is about, and it’s essential to growth.”
Michelle Sandlin is an award-winning writer, journalist and global mobility industry expert. Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/TheMichelleSandlin and on Twitter: @MichelleSandlin. Also visit “On the Move” at blog.chron.com/onthemove.