Such changes can be filled with uncertainty, anxiety and apprehension.  but it can also be exciting, filled with adventure, new opportunities and a chance for personal growth.  Although it is not easy to leave a familiar place, consider these tips to help you say goodbye:

Have a party for the specific purpose of saying goodbye to your friends.  Hold it a month or two before your actual move.  Make this a strictly informal time with an atmosphere that is warm and friendly.  This will probably be an emotional time, but is also helps you realize these people will remain your friends, even though you will be separated by distance.

Have lunch with old friends and co-workers during the few weeks before your move.

Plan a backyard barbecue for the neighbors a month before you leave.

Host a family pot-luck get together.

Take cookies and say goodbye to a meeting of your church group, civic organizations and your sports teams.

Young children may want to take cupcakes, cookies or fruit and vegetable snacks to school, day care, or a play group.

Preteens or teens may want to plan their own evening going-away party.

Teens may enjoy treating friends to a day at a local amusement park.

Read books and travel literature about your new community.

Look at local maps.

Read about landmarks.

Look through the information in your Relocation package sent by your real estate agent.

Take a camera and shoot pictures of:

	Pictures of possible new homes.
	Local ball fields.
	Schools.
	Neighborhood children playing.
	A backyard tree that would make a great tree house.
	Anything of interest that will build your children's enthusiasm about the move.

Tell them the advantages of moving (new sports, a better school, entertainment).

Be prepared for negative reactions.  Give them a chance to express their feelings and be honest about your own feelings.  Gently tell your children about any sadness you may feel about leaving or uncertainty about a new home, job or city.  This helps reassure them that they aren't alone in having worries or concerns. 

Give them some influence and control over some aspects of the move.  A toddler can pack a teddy bear or help you do some serious packing.

Don't overload young children with unnecessary details.

Make a scrapbook containing pictures of your current home, friends and other mementos of your life together.

Help older children prepare a list of phone numbers and addresses of close friends, relatives and other important people in their lives.  Knowing they can stay in touch is an important part of a successful move.

Include children in a preview trip, if possible.  Explore the new neighborhoods, schools and town together.

If the children can't be included in the home-finding trip, take pictures of your new home, the schools they will attend, parks and other facets of the new location that will be interesting to them.

If you can, try to meet families in your new neighborhood before you move.  Being familiar with people when  you move in will help your children feel more at home.

Set aside time each day during the relocation to sit down and talk/read/play with your children.

Allow children to maintain contact with special friends after the move.  This can include having friends from the old neighborhood come visit if distances are short, or allowing our child to call friends in  your old location periodically.  Encourage them to write or email friends.

For more information on moving with children and moving in general, read SMART MOVES: Your Guide Though The Emotional Maze Of Relocation by Nadia Jensen, Audry McCollum and Stuart Copans.  To order a copy call 1-800-895-4331 The ISBN is 1575250861.

Cats and dogs may be shipped by air or taken along in the family car.  If you are flying to your new destination, check with the airline in regards to the size requirements to take a cat or dog into the passenger cabin with you.  If you are transporting your pet in the baggage compartment, talk to your veterinarian about up to date shots and a health certification.  You may want to ask for tranquilizers to give your pet just before heading to the airport.  Make sure to put a piece of clothing with your scent on it in the animals box so it will feel more at home during transportation.  If you are driving, be sure to pre-check with hotels and motels along the route to make certain your dog or cat will be welcome.

Hamsters, birds and other small animals can be easily transported in your car.  Make sure they have enough food and water in their cages and are out of drafts and extreme temperatures.  It is a good idea to cover their cages with a cloth to keep them quiet and restful.

Fish are very difficult to transport.  In general, it is impractical to move an aquarium with fish in it.  A gallon of water weighs 8 pounds, so a small ten-gallon aquarium will weigh almost 100 pounds when filled.  Plan on giving the fish away with a promise to restock the aquarium when you arrive at your new home.