"Give each a ranking of importance, and then rank each opportunity," says Johnston. "The answers become pretty simple. The importance of ranks will change as things in your life change."

When you want to relocate
Valerie Kirk didn't like where she was living, so she decided that relocating might help her enjoy life more. So she made a plan: Identify target cities, research them and start a job search.

"I found that employers were very nervous to talk to people from other areas," she says. "They were concerned about paying for relocation, the time involved with relocation and taking the leap to trust someone to actually relocate."

Many people have found that they might have to move to the city of their dreams (say, New York) first in order to even be considered for a job.

"I finally did find a great job," Kirk says. "It is like I have entered a completely different world. The people here are great and my job is fantastic. I stayed in a place I didn't want to be because of the job, and it was a mistake. I should have moved long ago for peace of mind."

If you want to move somewhere else, you might face trade-offs, though. "If you want to relocate to be closer to family, that's great, you're moving closer to your support system. But be realistic," says Gao. "If you have a strong reason to move, then do it. But it might take a temporary setback in your career to do it."

Karen Otazo, career expert and author of an upcoming book "The Truth About Managing Your Career," offers these tips about what to do when you want to relocate for work:

• Prepare. Use the Internet to research job prospects in your field. The public library -- and librarian -- might be able to help.
• Calculate the costs. How much will it set you back to live in your target city? Does it make sense to move?
• Will your present employer help you? For example, is there a branch in your target city that you could transfer to? It's usually easier to move with your present company than a new one.
• If you're single ... and without other obligations, you can move first. "If you're young and a laborer," Otazo says. "You can go to New Orleans and find work."
• If you're not single ... or have other obligations (children, parents who depend on you), go on a scouting expedition to check out job prospects. You can even live in the city until you find work, then send for your family when you've got a job.

Based on her experience, Sanchez says, "If you're at an age where meeting new people and making friends is easier, it's a plus, and if you already have some friends or family, or other ties where you're going, it's a plus." Otherwise, she says, you might feel an imbalance in your life after relocation.

So should you move? Only you can decide.

The most important thing to remember? "No one size fits all," says Gao. "You have to follow your heart."