‘Shifting to Mumbai during the pandemic? Here’s how I did it’

I remember reading a variety of articles about switching cities when I was informed by my organisation that we need to report at office soon Most of the articles and friendly advice from acquaintances were centred on the exciting new opportunities and a refreshing lifestyle a new city will offer But nothing seemed to ease the severe anxiety I was experiencing because I was going to switch cities in the middle of a raging worldwide pandemicI had spent a large part of the lockdown at home surrounded by family So bidding adieu to the emotional and material comfort to venture out alone made me nervous While this was not the first time I was leaving home to settle in an alien city in this case Mumbai it was definitely harder than all the other times because at every step I realised how I have been taking my time at home with family for granted Not to mention the logistics part was bound to be challengingMumbai is a city of possibilities but it can also serve you struggles especially when it is one of the worst pandemic hit cities in the country I switched cities in February 2021 The lockdown restrictions were starting to ease but the pandemic was far from being overMaharashtra was unlocking in a graded manner and on February 1 2021 the state government decided to resume Mumbairsquos local trains for the general public This is when I knew that there is no way the switch could be delayedFast forward I have slowly started accepting Mumbai as my new home and the struggles seem to have paid off Therefore here I try to relate my experiences of ldquothe big switchrdquo with anyone looking for helpHow I startedWhen you move to a different city you start everything from scratch so try to plan most of your moves Since I transitioned during a time when travel rules were still in place and management committees of residential areas were wary of welcoming new residents I had to put in more efforts than one would normally be required to do I took out time to curate a checklist This included chores that required immediate attention and also the ones that could be delayed The checklist helped me be on track I signed up on several flats and flatmates groups on Facebook This gave me an idea about the realestate market of Mumbai and the expenses I would be incurring The groups also helped me connect with Mumbaibased brokers I went for a preoccupied fully furnished flat in order to avoid any major task after landing in a new city I identified a trustworthy and reliable logistics company Everything from my personal belongings to house items gadgets etc were transferred through them I wanted to travel light and also make sure that I donrsquot flout any airport baggage limit rule The consignment was received by my flatmate in Mumbai I was constantly in touch with my flatmate who has lived in Mumbai for a long time She kept me informed about the current situation of the city and other restrictions I spoke to the HR about my concerns of travelling during a pandemic and the safety precautions being taken at officeTravel I was not required to produce a negative RTPCR test report as I was flying from Jharkhand However I decided to get my test done for future references or any unforeseen change in regulations I made sure to not carry heavy baggage so I could move around at the airport smoothly given that social distancing norms have already made movement slower With me I only carried the important things that I would be requiring immediatelyThings to keep in mind Do not trust every property picture sent by brokers and always negotiate Be in touch with several brokers and be clear about your expectations Several flat owners or building managers rejected my proposal to move in as a tenant because I was flying in from a different state This cost me my most preferred location in the city But I didnrsquot take breaks and kept looking While the property rent and deposit are lower than usual in many areas due to COVID19 properties in sought after locations are more expensive than they were I talked to friends and relatives in the city to get a better idea about my next preferred location Luckily I had friends who could check the flat and location I was moving in If you donrsquot have any itrsquos best to put up at an office lodge and inspect locations yourself I had booked a tiffin service beforehand Here friends and colleagues could be of great helpAfter moving Needless to mention I thoroughly sanitised my boxes and baggage before unpacking I made a checklist of my immediate expenses so I donrsquot run out of funds before salary day I made another checklist of things I would need to buy soon Lastly I made a note of all the expenses and household chores I would be sharing with my flatmateIn ways more than one I was lucky to be able to push the right buttons at the right time However I wouldnrsquot say it was not hectic It particularly took a lot of patience energy and determination to zero down on a safe cozy place within my budgetary restraints But most importantly I now have a story to tell for the rest of my life