Over the last four years I’ve moved from Stellenbosch to Cape Town. Cape Town to Wellington. Wellington back to Stellenbosch, and from Stellenbosch to Pretoria. Rebecca and I currently live in Port Elizabeth.

In fact, I’ve not slept in the same room for more than a year since 2000 — at boarding school you move dorms and rooms every year and at University I changed rooms or moved digs every year.

I’m a perpetual migrant. A real wanderer.

At least I was. Rebecca is pregnant and we’d like to start settling down.

The real question is, where should we live?

For some the answer is easy:

“I’ve always lived here, why would I move?”

“This is where I went to university”

“This is where I work”

“My wife’s family is here”

For some, like me, the answer is far harder.

Deciding where to live comes down to the following factors:

• Financial freedom

Don’t live in Camps Bay if you can’t afford it.

Live where you can afford to live.

• Network and support

Where are the people who support you in life?

Where are your family and friends?

Live in proximity to your family and friends. Be close to the people that support you when things are hard and celebrate with you when things go well.

• Lifestyle and culture

Live where you can do the things that you love.

If you’re into the live music scene, living on a remote farm may not be the best idea. If you’re a keen mountain biker, reconsider living in the big city.

• Opportunities

Where are your business and career opportunities?

If you want to swim with the big fish, go to where the big fish are. If you want to be the big fish in a small pond, move out of the ocean.

…..

Where do you live and why do you live there?