• After growing up on the East Coast and living in New York City for years, I moved to Los Angeles.
• Some things were easy to adjust to, like the climate and the differences in public transportation.
• Other things threw me off, like LA's chill attitude toward alcohol and the slower pace of the city.

I grew up in New Britain, Connecticut, and when I was 18, I fulfilled my dream of moving to New York City for college.

I ended up staying for three more years after school, and I still think it's the most incredible place in the world.

However, I felt like I needed a change. Things were growing a bit stagnant in my life, so I packed up and moved to Los Angeles in hopes of finding work in the film industry.

Moving across the country is expensive — it costs thousands of dollars for professional movers alone — and I knew I was taking a risk. But I was also excited about the new adventure.

As a lifelong East Coaster, here are the things that surprised me the most about moving to California.

I adjusted to the climate more quickly than I expected.

Coming from the Northeast, with its bitter winters and humid summers, it's been pretty amusing to witness Southern California's version of seasons.

I can't help chuckling when I see people bundled up in Arctic-strength parkas when it's 65 degrees Fahrenheit.

That said, I acclimated much faster than I thought I would. After just a couple of weeks of being spoiled by sunny days above 70 degrees, I started feeling chilly when the temperature dropped in the evenings.

Now, I grab a light jacket anytime the temperature might dip into the 50s. In New York, if it got into the 50s in the spring, I'd be taking off my coat.

I thought not having a car would be a problem, but it's actually been easy.

Having spent my entire adulthood in New York City (where it's pretty rare to own a car), I was prepared for some difficulty adjusting to LA (where living without one is apparently unheard of).

Lots of people told me that it couldn't be done, that public transit in California wasn't very good, and that I'd have to spend a fortune on rideshare apps.

However, getting around has been pretty easy.

Although I'm used to the well-established and expansive public transit available in NYC, LA's bus and train system is actually super helpful. It even has some advantages over New York — the trains, though they don't cover as much ground, are generally on time and clean.

When I can't take the train, rideshares get me farther for less money than they did in New York.

Long-distance travel is the norm here.

All of the places I'd seen Angelenos visit in movies and on TV — Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs, Lake Tahoe — are way farther from the city than I imagined.

On the East Coast, a two- or three-hour drive was a big ordeal reserved for special occasions.

In LA, though, people are willing to drive three to five hours for a spontaneous weekend trip. An hourlong drive to Malibu for a beach day is also common.

The food is equally delicious, but totally different, in LA.

New York has a world-class restaurant scene, where chefs are doing some of the most interesting things out of any culinary city in the world. But California has the natural advantage of delicious, fresh ingredients.

It seems like so many vegetables and fruits grow here, and the amazing produce enhances the food in restaurants and grocery stores exponentially.

In New York, I felt like I had to be extra eagle-eyed when buying produce, but I hardly come across sad, pinkish tomatoes or tragically unripe avocados in Los Angeles.

That said, there are a handful of things I just can't seem to find in California. Specifically, big, cheap portions of takeout (especially Chinese food) and a decent bagel.

For me, finding an apartment in LA was so much easier.

In New York, the process of hunting for and securing real estate is notoriously head-spinning.

You generally need to have a lot of financial documentation (sometimes a letter of recommendation from a former landlord) and a cashier's check ready fast — or else someone else will probably snap your place up.

If your yearly salary isn't at least 40 times a month's rent, you also may need a guarantor to sign on with you.

In Los Angeles, I visited two apartments, picked the second one I saw, and the property manager told me there was "no rush" in getting him my deposit. I couldn't believe it.

Additionally, the approval process was much less rigorous. My years of apartment hunting in New York prepared me for a much more intense and complicated process than I actually had to deal with here.

I think LA has a more laid-back attitude toward drinking and drugs.

Growing up in Connecticut and living in New York as an adult, I was always confused when my friends who grew up on the West Coast would ask me to pick up a bottle of wine from the grocery store.

Most East Coast states have laws that wine and liquor can only be purchased at designated, licensed stores.

In California, however, I can pick up wine and liquor while shopping for groceries. It's a small difference, but it was a little jarring when I first arrived.

Overall, things seem to be more chill in California.

As far as I can tell, it's not just a stereotype — people seem to be more relaxed in LA.

I've noticed that many people take longer lunches and seem to love getting outside. And, despite the traffic, I've noticed much less road rage here than in NYC.

I miss the pace of life in New York and the to-the-point attitude of East Coasters. I'm getting better at having friendly conversations with chatty strangers, but sometimes, I miss the public solitude I was used to.

I also miss how New Yorkers always seemed to bond by complaining — my candidness doesn't seem as welcome in LA.

Deep down, I'm still very much an East Coaster at heart. But so far, I'm loving the sunshine, the fresh avocados, and the overall relaxed vibe of the West Coast.

This story was originally published in March 2020 and most recently updated on March 4, 2025.

• I moved to Portland, Oregon, from the west edge of Denver for mostly practical reasons.
• My rent was lower, but I missed my friends and struggled to adjust to the wet weather.
• I realized I had to put in years of work to feel at home in the Pacific Northwest.

In 2017, when I was 66 years old, I moved to Portland, Oregon, after 40 years in Colorado.

My stream of income had ended abruptly, I was having issues with my landlord, and I was tired of almost nonstop snow and sunshine.

Plus, my brother and his wife offered me a deal I couldn't refuse: low rent in an apartment building they owned in Portland. They promised to update the unit and give me a lifelong lease.

The move made sense for me financially and practically, but it wasn't easy emotionally.

It took a lot of effort, eight years, and multiple trips back to Denver to convince me I'd stay in Portland for the long haul.

The first few years of living in Portland were especially difficult — I had to push myself to establish connections

I physically and emotionally struggled to adjust after the move.

Even my curly hair, manageable in Colorado, was out of control in the Portland humidity. It didn't know how to adjust.

For the first few years, I felt depressed by the city's cloudy, cold, and wet winter weather. I felt like I could never get warm.

Though I thought I'd be prepared for less sunshine, I ended up buying a Seasonal Affective Disorder lamp, purchasing "mood" supplements, and taking Vitamin D ("the sunshine vitamin") daily to cope with the season.

I also underestimated how difficult it would be to start over in a new community without roots, especially since the only friend I had nearby was my brother.

Eventually, I began pushing myself to connect with my surroundings instead of just surviving in them.

I started a local chapter of the national writers' organization I belonged to. I took a part-time job so I could meet people, attended networking gatherings, and met my neighbors on daily walks.

I also began discovering new favorite spots, such as Portland's wine country about 30 minutes away. I drove there often, which helped me miss my Colorado mountain views a little bit less.

Plus, I found a curly-hair specialist and began making appointments.

After 8 years, and several trips back to Denver, Portland feels like home

Since I moved, I've made several trips back to Colorado, and each seems to reaffirm my decision to leave.

When I visit Denver, my skin is no longer used to the dry weather. Big-box stores have replaced many of my favorite small shops, and old friends and sisters who were once my neighbors have scattered geographically.

The last time I returned from Denver was in June. I still remember the refreshing feeling of leaving its 90-degree weather and walking out of the Portland airport to the welcoming chill of 60 degrees.

On my way home, I picked up groceries from the local market, where I now know people by name. I visited my naturopath, who has become my confidant in the eight years I've been here, and made plans to meet up with a now good friend over lunch.

What I had missed about Denver I have now found here — I needed only to see it.

My social circles and friendships have been going strong. The city's winter weather no longer depresses me, and I finally have money in the bank and feel financially secure.

When I first moved to Portland, my therapist, who specializes in relocations, told me it would take eight years to feel at home here. She was right.

Now, instead of pining for the past, I see what is before and what is ahead. I'm here to stay.

• I lived in Banff, Canada, throughout my 20s. I loved the North American town and would move back.
• The people I encountered were so kind, and I loved experiencing the changing seasons.
• Banff had beautiful wildlife, and Canada had great cuisine that I still think about.

When I was 25, my friend asked me if I wanted to move to Banff, Canada. Without giving it much thought, I jumped at the opportunity.

Within a few months, I quit my job at a daily newspaper in Australia, sold most of my worldly possessions, and boarded an airplane for Calgary, Alberta.

My friend had lined us up with an agency that sorted out all the visa paperwork and organized a job in Banff, so it was a really smooth transition.

I'll never forget sitting on a bus driving from Calgary to Banff and seeing the Rockies for the first time. That was the start of one of the most magical periods of my life.

There's nothing like watching the changing seasons hit beaches and mountains

One of the many things about Canada I first fell in love with was its changing seasons.

Coming from the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, I had never really experienced proper seasons before. The Gold Coast typically averages about 300 days of sunny weather a year.

When we arrived in Banff, it was fall. There was something so striking about the golden and orange hues of the autumn leaves set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.

As the days grew shorter and colder, Banff became a winter wonderland. The first time my friend and I saw snow falling, we ran outside, laughing and dancing in the snow like two little girls.

For someone who'd grown up on a beach in a sub-tropical climate, that was pretty special.

Experiencing holidays North American-style was a blast

As Halloween approached, I realized what else I'd been missing in Australia.

When I was a child, we would go trick-or-treating in our street, but none of the houses would be decorated and we'd be lucky to come across a neighbor who actually had candy to share.

In contrast, Halloween was incredible in Banff. There were costume parties, bonfires in the park, jack-o'-lanterns on people's lawns, and spooky decorations adorning most buildings.

For Thanksgiving, my Canadian friends made me a traditional Canadian pumpkin pie — something I'd never tried before. Throughout the season, locals showed me that North American hospitality I'd heard so much about.

Christmastime also felt extra special celebrated against a snowy backdrop, and we experienced some of the most festive decorations we'd ever seen in Canada.

I miss so much of the food

During my time in Canada, I also fell in love with the food.

I've traveled to many places but, in my opinion, North America seems to do food better than everybody else. The serving sizes tend to be big and the flavors strong and tasty.

One of my favorite things to eat in Canada was the local favorite, poutine — fries with cheese curds and brown gravy. It proved to be the perfect après-ski treat after a day of shredding the ski hills around Banff.

There are so many other foods I miss, such as Nanaimo bars (made with wafers, nuts, and coconut crumbs) and fluffy pancakes with pure Canadian maple syrup.

I'd also love to once again have fresh BeaverTails (a fried-dough treat) and the mighty Caesar (a zesty tomato-clam-juice cocktail with vodka).

I still think about Banff, and I'd move back in a heartbeat

After living in Canada, my partner and I moved to London and then to various parts of Australia, but we never felt that same magic.

We miss Banff's incredible mountains, beaches, forests, and wildlife that often took our breath away. Above all else, we miss the people in Canada the most. We met some of the kindest, most caring souls you could imagine there — people who instantly felt like family.

If I had my time again, I would've spent longer in Canada before moving on after a year and a half. Even now, more than a decade later, I'd say goodbye to our home in Bright, Australia, and move back to Banff in a second.

On all of my travels to more than 50 countries, I've never found another place quite like it, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

• I moved from the US to Europe in 2019 and eventually began living in Barcelona in February 2020.
• Shortly after, Spain went into lockdown amid to the coronavirus pandemic. I felt lonely for months.
• I struggled to adjust and wanted to give up on living abroad, but falling in love changed my mind.

After years of traveling to Europe and dreaming of living there full time, I finally made the jump in the summer of 2019.

I was excited but also terrified to leave everyone and everything I knew and loved behind in Los Angeles.

Still, I made the jump. I started my life abroad in Bordeaux, France, but after a few months, I knew it wasn't the right home for me. My time there helped me realize I wanted to live somewhere that has more sunshine year-round.

So, in February 2020, I headed to the sunny beachy city of Barcelona next.

My move to Spain got off to a rough start, and I almost went back home

Unfortunately, the excitement of my move to Spain was short-lived.

A few weeks after I arrived, the coronavirus pandemic sent the country into lockdown, and I was stuck isolating in my Airbnb for months.

As lockdown restrictions were lifted, I started to enjoy daily life in Barcelona, from morning walks on the beach to afternoon strolls to get tapas and sangria.

However, I struggled to build my social life and make friends. As my feelings of loneliness deepened, I began second-guessing my decision to move to Europe in the first place.

Before packing my bags and heading back to the US, I visited a friend from home who was living nearby in Madrid. Over drinks, I told him I wasn't happy and that I'd had enough of living abroad.

He reminded me that I wasn't so happy back home, either. When I lived in Los Angeles, I was looking for love and failing and constantly complaining about the high rents and the outrageously high price for a glass of wine.

He had a point. I still wasn't sure about staying in Spain, but maybe the place I was living wasn't my problem. Perhaps I was giving up too quickly.

He insisted I just hadn't yet found my people in Barcelona and offered to connect me with a friend of his who lived there named Tomi.

I'm so grateful I gave Barcelona one last shot

Within days I received a message from Tomi inviting me to a concert.

I was hesitant to go, but once I arrived, I felt like I was finally walking toward the dreams of a life in Europe I'd always had for myself.

The small venue had brick walls filled with abstract artwork, a lively crowd of international people mingling, and a handsome Argentine man waiting by the bar waving at me — Tomi.

We felt an instant connection as we were both musicians who were far from home and new to Barcelona.

By the time I left the concert, I couldn't have been happier or more excited. The music was incredible, the venue and crowd of artists were inspiring, and my new connection was really charming.

From there, Tomi and I began spending more time together. Before I knew it, I had completely forgotten about wanting to go back to Los Angeles. I was in love and finally really living in Barcelona.

We got married four years later and still live in the Spanish city.

Looking back, I'm grateful that I stuck things out despite struggling to feel at home for the first few months. If I had left, I wonder if I'd ever have met the love of my life.

It also may have taken me longer to realize that the place you live can't always make you happy — and that finding love and connection with the right people can help anywhere feel like home.

• My husband and I have moved six times in the last decade in search of a place that felt like home.
• We've struggled in our search until realized loving where you live takes effort and commitment.
• After some self-reflection, we've finally settled down and committed to building a home.

My husband and I have occupations that have allowed us the freedom to live anywhere we want within the United States, which has been a blessing and a curse.

With a penchant for adventure and the whole country at our fingertips, we've had a hard time choosing a single place to settle down.

Newly married and in our mid-20s, we left our shared hometown Atlanta, Georgia, and headed west for Denver in 2014.

We were hungry for change and eager to find a place that felt like a better fit for us than our home ever had.

Denver was great until the novelty wore off

When we first got to Denver, we loved it. We were obsessed with the beauty of the West and eager to drink in every new experience.

We were hiking, camping, and road-tripping as if we were the first people to ever discover mountains. We'd never felt more alive and free.

However, after over a year of non-stop adventure, the novelty began to fade, and we were surprised to find ourselves longing for the familiarity of the same home we'd been keen to leave before.

Giving in to the pull, we moved back to Atlanta in 2016— a U-turn that would start a trend.

We regretted our choice almost immediately. Desperate for the freedom we'd felt in Denver, we moved back as soon as possible (in 2017, less than a year later).

Becoming parents made finding the perfect home feel even more crucial

Shortly after returning to Denver, we had our daughter, which raised the stakes in our search for place perfection. We wanted to give her a great life and thought finding an ideal place to do so was essential.

We fantasized about raising her in an idyllic setting in the mountains, but our eyes were bigger than our budget, so we settled for what we hoped would be the next best thing — a small city in a mountainous state.

From Denver, we moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2019 (it didn't feel right at the time), then to Bend, Oregon, in 2020 (in pursuit of closer mountain access), and then back to Fort Collins in 2021 (when we missed Colorado, again).

Our third move back to a place we didn't love the first time was a wake-up call and a catalyst for introspection.

My husband and I have since discovered that a) we both have ADHD, which means we crave change and forget our lessons easily, b) we've put too much pressure on finding the perfect setting for our daughter's childhood, and c) a place alone can't provide lasting contentment.

A new place can bring novelty only for a little bit. However, liking where you live long-term requires putting in the effort to make it feel like home.

We've found clarity and have settled down

Despite our nomadic start to adulthood, we're now staying put.

Thanks to therapy and personal development work, my husband and I have found the healing and contentment in ourselves that we always hoped to find in a place.

We also know we can give our daughter a loving, supportive childhood wherever we are — our presence matters more than our location.

Now, instead of looking to other cities and wondering if the grass is greener, we're watering the grass in our own backyard in Fort Collins.

We know we need a village, and now that we've done some internal work, we're committing to building one where we are instead of seeking it out somewhere else.

After all, cultivating community and familiarity takes time.

We're confident we can find contentment in Fort Collins by making an effort to do so since it has our basic requirements for employment opportunities, housing, amenities, and recreation.

Although we're still explorers at our core, we now get our fill of adventure through travel and local exploration instead of moves while also getting to soak in the goodness that comes with building a home.

This story was originally published on March 27, 2024, and most recently updated on February 26, 2025.

• We moved our family from San Diego to northern Spain and now have a lower cost of living.
• We've really enjoyed living in a walkable area instead of one that's heavily reliant on cars.
• Socializing feels like a priority in Spain, which has made it easier to have a work-life balance.

When we moved our family from sunny San Diego to rainy northern Spain, the weather wasn't the only major change.

Although some cultural differences took time to incorporate into our lives, there are others that we adopted immediately. Fortunately, many of these changes have allowed us to slow down and be more present in our lives — something we're grateful for each day.

Here are some of the biggest differences we've experienced between our life in California and our life in Spain.

We've enjoyed not having to rely on cars

Although there's public transit available in California, it's generally very challenging to get around the state without a car.

However, where we live in Basque Country, a region between northern Spain and southwestern France, we can get almost anywhere on foot.

It's nice to be able to get exercise and enjoy fresh air while running errands. If it's raining or we want to explore other coastal villages, we take the bus.

Fortunately, our local bus system is incredibly efficient and affordable (usually under 3 euros per ride).

We also have a local commuter train that takes us to surrounding towns or to the border of France. From there, we can easily explore French Basque villages, or hop on the train to Paris, our main European railway hub.

During a recent visit back to California, I spent 80% of my time in the car, in traffic, which is something I don't miss at all.

It's easier to make time for resting and socializing in Spain

In Spain, there's generally more work-life balance and a cultural emphasis on socializing, which takes place in the streets, cafés, bars, and plazas.

On Sundays, the majority of shops are closed so people can rest and spend the day with loved ones. At first, we found it frustrating and inconvenient to be unable to run errands and shop.

Soon, we began to appreciate that so many stores would lose a day of business in order to prioritize connection and relaxation.

Now, we use our Sundays for lengthy four- or five-hour lunches with family and friends, restful walks on the beach, and peaceful hikes in the local mountains.

Our meal schedules have completely shifted

Americans marvel at how late Spaniards eat dinner, but now that I live here, it makes perfect sense.

Our children start school between 8 and 9 a.m. and also get a two-hour lunch break. Kids can either eat at school or go home to have lunch with their families. Working parents can often take part in this, too, as most businesses in Spain close from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. for a midday break.

This has been a huge difference for us. In the US, we would usually eat a quick deskside lunch at work and not see our kids until the end of the day since they had just 30 minutes for lunch and recess.

The school day is also longer here because of that lunch break. Elementary school finishes at 4:30 p.m., and kids typically have their afternoon snack around 5 p.m.

In the evening, people often meet friends for a glass of wine or beer and a pintxo (bite-sized snack) before heading home for dinner around 9 p.m. … or later.

We have a lower cost of living

One of the biggest differences between life in California and Spain is our cost of living. In general, our money seems to go farther in Spain.

We've seen prices rise since we've been here, but they still remain incredibly reasonable to us, with the euro hovering near parity with the dollar.

For example, a café con leche (latte) is typically under 2 euros in Spain. In cafés that cater more to tourists, it can run between 3 and 4 euros. Still, both are a far cry from a latte in San Diego that'd usually cost us $7 (or $8 with a tip).

A glass of wine, on average, ranges from 2 to 4 euros here. In the US, a decent glass runs upward of $18 (similar to the cost of an entire bottle in Spain).

Spain's tipping culture has also helped save us money.

In the US, tipping for a service is expected. Here, rounding up or leaving 10% when you really enjoyed the service is appreciated but not expected.

Local hospitality workers tend to make a higher, more livable wage and thus don't heavily rely on tips — which isn't the case for many in the US.

• I moved from Chicago to San Diego to be with my long-distance boyfriend, who's now my husband.
• Although my friends were jealous I was moving to a sunny "paradise," San Diego wasn't for me.
• I found the weather to be boring, and I didn't like how hard it was to get around without a car.

After living in Chicago for six years, I had a fulfilling career, great friends, and was involved in several organizations.

I would've happily stayed there forever, but my then-boyfriend (now husband) was in the Navy. We'd been in a long-distance relationship for seven years, and we wanted to be together.

In July 2023, I moved to where he was currently located: San Diego.

When I told my Midwest friends and colleagues about my move to California, some of their eyes would grow wide with envy.

Many of them — some who'd never been to San Diego — would tell me how lucky I was to move to a sunny "paradise" with so many beaches.

I would smile and nod, but I was actually very reluctant to move. Eventually, I learned firsthand why the sunny city wasn't the right home for me.

San Diego's sunny weather bored me

Although many of my Midwest friends envied the idea of year-round beach weather — especially during frigid winters — I wasn't a fan of it.

Having grown up in California, I actually took perverse delight in the adversity of Chicago's cold and snowy winters. I was amazed at how the city carried on, no matter the weather conditions.

I loved having white Christmases like in the movies I watched as a kid. I reveled in Chicago's changing seasons, dining outdoors in the spring and summer, bundling up in the winter, and watching the leaves change in the fall.

Meanwhile, San Diego's weather is almost always sunny and in the 60s. Eventually, I even removed the weather app from my phone's home screen because I felt there was no point in checking it anymore.

Although the sunshine was nice when I wanted to visit the beach or one of the area's great hiking trails, I grew bored by the lack of seasonal change and even missed the difficulties Midwestern winters can bring.

I missed needing to wear the sweaters my nana had knit to keep me warm in Chicago — and being able to comfortably visit the beach on Christmas just felt wrong to me.

I struggled to adjust to living in a car-centric city

Before moving, I'd visited my partner many times, so I knew just how car-centric San Diego is. However, I didn't have (or need) a car in Chicago and had no desire to purchase or own one.

Since San Diego is also a sunny beach town, I assumed cycling to get around would be popular, convenient, and easy enough. I soon discovered that was not the case.

Unfortunately, many of the city's neighborhoods and downtown areas didn't feel well connected for biking. I struggled to find bike lanes, and my map apps often directed me to cycle on roads that were basically highways.

Eventually, I began trying to run or walk to places instead, but that, too, proved challenging as I often encountered missing sidewalks or busy roads.

On the bright side, I was pleasantly surprised by San Diego's public transportation. To be fair, coming from Chicago — a big city with extensive bus and train options — I had very low expectations.

Although it was nice to be able to take public transit, it sometimes took me an hour or more and several connections to travel throughout San Diego.

Eventually, I accepted that San Diego and I just don't have compatible priorities when it comes to getting around. Living here reminded me how much I prefer walkable cities to car-centric ones.

Sometimes it was even hard to enjoy the beaches

Many of my Midwestern friends were jealous of just how many beautiful local beaches I'd have access to in San Diego.

Unfortunately, these beaches also drew in many tourists and visitors — and I didn't always know if I'd be able to fully enjoy them.

I moved to California just before the Fourth of July 2023, and I still remember my run around Mission Bay the day after the holiday weekend that brought me to tears.

Our nearby beaches were covered in abandoned pool floaties, broken camping chairs, and food bags that couldn't fit in overflowing trashcans. Rummaging seagulls further dispersed the garbage as I gagged on the stench of stale beer.

Hundreds of people had come into my new home, partied all night, left their trash, and now the beach had a serious hangover.

Unfortunately, this incident in 2023 wasn't the first (or last) time locals and volunteers were left to clean up messes partygoers left behind during holiday weekends.

It never got easier to watch my home being treated so poorly.

After a year in California, I was excited to leave

I lived in San Diego for almost exactly one year before we relocated to the Washington, DC, area.

I couldn't have been more excited about the prospect of living in a walkable city with changing seasons and ample public-transportation options once more.

Although I understand why many love San Diego, it just wasn't for me — and I've been happy spending my days in DC exploring museums instead of lounging on the beach.

• At 55, Sue Loraine took a sabbatical from her job in the UK to move to Finland with her best friend.
• They stay in her friend's parent's cabin in Finland and are living off of Loraine's savings.
• She loves the local culture and nature and hopes to inspire others who want to make a big change.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sue Loraine, a 58-year-old UK citizen in Finland. It's been edited for length and clarity.

After decades in a range of different careers, followed by many years as a therapist, I felt burned out at work and ready for change.

The idea for my next move came when I least expected it to: while watching a wilderness documentary on TV with my best friend and roommate, Saara.

Suddenly, she turned to me and semi-jokingly suggested that we try living in Finland for a year.

For Saara, Finland was home. She'd grown up there but moved away at age 12. As we began seriously considering this plan, her parents said they'd allow us to stay in the isolated cabin they owned there for free.

This would make our year in Finland feasible since we wouldn't pay for accommodation, and I could rent out my apartment to cover my mortgage.

Five months later, at age 55, I took a sabbatical, and we left Glasglow, Scotland, to spend a year in the "happiest country in the world" — a place I'd never visited before.

A year wasn't enough time in Finland

It didn't take long for me to embrace living in the Finnish wilderness.

Good thing since the cabin is quite isolated in 4 acres of forestland just over 200 miles north of Helsinki. The neighboring cabin is over a mile from us, and the closest supermarket is 40 minutes away by car.

Our neighbors are the resident beaver who frequents our lake in the summer and the wolf who traverses the forest in the winter.

Some might view the isolation and lack of amenities as boring, but I appreciate the silence of the forest.

By my third month in Finland, I knew I was meant to be here and that I wanted to turn our yearlong visit into a full-time reality.

To do so, we returned to Scotland for one year. I saved as much money as I could, sold my apartment, and applied for a Finnish residency permit.

My roommate and I now live off those savings, and I estimate we spend roughly 800 to 1,000 euros a month.

The access to nature suits me well — and I get why the locals are said to be so happy

Having Saara by my side helped me navigate the culture shock of moving to a new country. If I didn't have her, I would've probably played things safe and lived in a bigger city first rather than the wilderness.

However, I think that being surrounded by nature is what cured my burnout, which took a good seven to eight months for me to start to recover from.

In the winter, I get my thrills from ice fishing or jumping out of our sauna into the icy lake and back. In the summer, I swim in the lake and forage for wild berries.

I like that every day at the cabin brings a new challenge. I've learned many skills, like sourcing firewood for winter by chopping down trees and fending off venomous snakes in the summer.

I now believe the easy access to forestlands (they make up about 70% of the country) and strong local connection to nature plays a significant role in why Finland continues to top the list of happiest countries in the World Happiness Report.

Never being far from a forest gives the Finns the ability to frequently lose themselves in nature, reconnect, and reset.

I still can't believe how quickly Finland has felt like home

Each day, I continue to be surprised by how much Finland fits me.

Many people here are incredibly kind and helpful. They live in the moment and aren't trying to keep up with the Joneses — it's refreshing. I also haven't gotten tired of being surrounded by nature.

Really, I find it remarkable how quickly I've fallen in love with a country I'd never been to before. I would have never known this love and belonging if I hadn't just taken a risk and moved there.

My advice to others who want to make a big change is to take it day by day. If you end up unhappy or it wasn't what you expected, you can always try something different.

• Some older Americans said they moved abroad because they couldn't afford a comfortable retirement in the US.
• They cited high costs for medical insurance and housing as reasons for their moves.
• Four retirees who moved to Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Spain shared how moving helped their wallets.

Amy Glenn felt like she had no choice but to leave the US.

Glenn, 72, said she couldn't afford life in Texas after years of teaching political science and economics at a university and over a decade of caring for her parents full-time. She feared her $1,200 in Social Security wouldn't be enough to live comfortably in the US.

In January 2023, she paid $165,000 for a house in Costa Rica. Each month, she spends $300 on groceries, $70 on electricity, and $80 on medications and doctor visits.

"I would have never bought this much property in the US, and that takes a huge weight off my mind because I know that I'm not going to be homeless," Glenn said. "The financial stress is gone."

Over the last few years, dozens of American expats have told BI their reasons for moving abroad. Many, including retirees, have mentioned higher US living costs as a major motivator for relocating to relatively cheaper countries like Mexico, Ecuador, and Spain.

Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows that consumer prices have risen by over 23% since 2020. Inflation typically hits older Americans harder because they often depend on fixed incomes from retirement savings or Social Security.

Over 760,000 Americans abroad receive Social Security benefits yearly. Data from the Social Security Administration shows that Americans' average monthly Social Security benefit was $1,976 as of December 2024.

"We have a substantial number of people who don't have sufficient retirement savings to supplement their Social Security," David John, a senior strategic policy advisor at AARP, previously told BI. "Social Security is it for a substantial number of people. That means, essentially, that they may not have the kind of retirement that they dreamed of."

The predicament has left many older Americans considering moving abroad as the key to a fulfilling retirement.

Retirees want to live where costs are low and quality of life is high

Some older Americans have the financial means to live in the US but realize it may not be the best investment or align with the lifestyle they envision long-term.

Shawna Lum, a Spain-based relocation coach who has helped retirees move abroad, told BI that lower living costs are especially appealing to retirees on fixed incomes.

"Affordability is a huge reason my clients move abroad, especially retirees on fixed incomes," Lum said. "Many of them find that in countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Panama, they can live comfortably on their Social Security check — something that just isn't possible for them in the US."

Take Sandy Berenhaus, a clinical audiologist who retired from her consulting practice in 2024 at age 73. She had substantial savings and investments spread across multiple assets.

Although Berenhaus could have continued living in her $4,000-a-month luxury apartment in New Jersey — a two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit with its own indoor garage and a community pool — she knew that relying on Social Security as her main income might make retirement in the US financially challenging.

"My savings and investments might be viewed as 'substantial' by some but clearly stood the risk of being significantly depleted over time without making significant changes to my lifestyle, not to mention the occurrence of unforeseen emergencies," Berenhaus told BI. She added, "I'm not a millionaire. If I lose my Social Security, that's a big deal."

Beyond finances, Berenhaus said the divisive politics in the US began to turn her off. She wanted to live in a place where she felt she could truly enjoy life.

After consulting with Lum this year, Berenhaus packed up and moved to Barceloneta, a seaside neighborhood of Barcelona, Spain. She lives in a two-bedroom sublet with beach views and pays $2,000 monthly.

"Barceloneta is the perfect starting point for my next life chapter," she said. "Living here allows me to pursue many personal passions at a fraction of NYC prices. I have music, dance venues, and beautiful beaches at my doorstep. Plus, there are friendly locals and a huge array of similar-minded expats from around the world."

Healthcare costs have pushed some older Americans out

Stephen Vargha, now 66, left his job at a North Carolina television station in 2020. He expected to work for a few more years before enjoying his retirement in the mountains, where he bought a home in West Jefferson.

However, Vargha struggled to find work. Despite being open to a pay cut, he said he received "not a single phone call" when applying for jobs, which he said was worrisome. While doing the math for his retirement, he and his wife discovered their monthly health insurance premium of $1,930 — not including deductibles — would cost about $150,000 over the next seven to eight years.

Vargha and his wife decided the best action plan was to leave the US and move abroad, where they could better afford daily expenses and healthcare. He took his monthly Social Security income of $2,400 and relocated to Cuenca, Ecuador. He receives a net pension of $570 after taxes. He and his wife had about $850,000 in combined assets before leaving.

In Cuenca, a city in the Andes mountains, they bought a 1,200-square-foot condo for about $150,000. Vargha said each month, they spend $177 on health insurance, $22 on property taxes compared to $285 in the US, and $39 on homeowners' insurance compared to $145. Groceries are somewhat similar to the US, about $600 monthly, and they devote about $300 to restaurants and entertainment.

"We're able to do more than we ever could in the US when we were both working," Vargha said. "We ate out maybe once a week because that was all we could afford. We're now eating out eight to 10 times a month."

Brenda Price, 59, also said healthcare costs also pushed her to move abroad from Minnesota.

Price worked in international finance for most of her career and retired early at 55. She grew tired of paying over $1,000 in insurance premiums per month on top of an annual deductible of $10,000, in addition to $2,200 monthly plus utilities for a studio apartment.

"We would have been able to make it work, but it would have been a very different lifestyle because the costs are so much lower than they would have been in the US," Price said. "We were limited, and we couldn't spend much."

Price and her husband moved to Valencia, Spain, two years ago. They rent a 1,200-square-foot apartment with a balcony and terrace for $1,500 a month.

She said groceries cost 30% to 40% less, while health insurance is about $200 monthly. She said public transportation is about 40 cents a ride, while a museum visit runs her $2. She estimates they spend about $200 monthly on activities and about $300 on Spanish classes. She's also enjoyed the cost of travel, once flying to Morocco for about 80 euros, or $83.

"I am very much a budgeter, and I know what we have to spend and what we should spend," Price said. "We're very happy here, and we have no plans right now to leave."

• In January, I moved from Scotland to Spain to start the new year in a new place.
• Barcelona is a fun-loving, vibrant city, and I've had a fun time dating here.
• I feel like I can actually meet people organically instead of just swiping on apps.

At the beginning of 2025, I uprooted my life and moved to Barcelona.

I didn't specifically move for the Spanish dating scene, but as a single 33-year-old, it was definitely part of the draw of the fun-loving city.

I'm from Scotland, and dating in the UK was getting pretty monotonous. I'd swiped past the same random Glaswegian guys so many times that I'd have to reset Tinder.

After going on several dates over the last month and a half, here are some of the biggest differences I've noticed about dating abroad, so far.

I don't need an app to get a date

In the UK, it seemed like the only way I could get a date was by downloading a dating app like Hinge, Bumble, or Tinder. Even with the endless swiping, though, there was no guarantee.

Men in Scotland rarely approached me unless there was a lot of alcohol involved. It's not exactly fun when a guy is slurring into your ear that he wants to take you out.

In Barcelona, however, my experience being asked out has felt a little more civilized, for lack of a better word.

When I go out for tapas at one of the jam-packed vermuterias (like a wine bar but for vermouth) in the Gràcia area, I almost always end up chatting with the guys standing next to me at the bar.

Next thing I know, one of them is asking the server for his pad and pen, and I'm writing down my number so we can meet up next weekend.

When I am on the apps, Bumble is king

Meeting people organically in Barcelona has been significantly easier for me. However, that doesn't mean people here don't use (and find success) with dating apps.

According to some local friends I've made, the preferred dating app here is Bumble. I promptly downloaded it, and since doing so, it's also the place I've had the most success.

I've found that people I match with on Bumble are very quick to ask what I want. Am I looking for some fun? Do I want to hang out? Am I looking for a relationship?

This upfront, no-nonsense approach was refreshing. Things are just so much easier when everyone communicates and is on the same page.

I'm not trying to imply that I'll somehow be on the same page as everyone in Barcelona, but I don't need to be. Since these conversations have happened early and often, I know when to let people go on their merry way instead of being strung along.

The prospect of a dancing date was intimidating at first

In Glasgow, dancing was not a typical date option in my social circle. Typically, grabbing a pint or dinner was the go-to.

So, when a date in Barcelona asked me to go dancing at a salsa and bachata club, I was speechless.

Luckily, just knowing some basic steps was more than enough where we went. Everyone seemed like they were just there to have a good time.

After going, I can see why it's a more popular (and romantic) date option here.

I haven't paid for a single date in Barcelona

In the UK, most of my friends agree that you should split the bill on a date. They call me old-fashioned, but I prefer it when the man I'm with pays on our first date

Sometimes, it happened naturally without too much nudging on my end, but that wasn't the norm.

In Barcelona, though, when I try to put my money down, my purse is batted away. This may not be everyone's experience, but I'm not mad that it's been the trend for me so far.

After chatting to one of my dates about the phenomenon, he said that he thinks Latin men feel more inclined to spoil a woman while pursuing her.

I seem to be the only one going on 'solo dates'

Dating can be tiring, and sometimes, all I want to do is fly solo.

Taking myself to dinner is one of my favorite things to do — there's nothing better than treating yourself to some expensive wine and a delicious meal. I did it all the time in the UK, no questions asked, and often saw other people dining alone, too.

However, Barcelona seems to have a more sociable culture. Going out for a meal, in particular, is typically a shared event that lasts for hours — not something you do by yourself.

When I first started taking myself out for tapas and wine in Barcelona, the wait staff would often ask when my boyfriend was going to turn up.

• I moved to the Netherlands from Colombia years ago.
• For my first birthday there, I received all secondhand items, which made me feel unappreciated.
• Over time, I saw this custom as thoughtful and meaningful, so I'm teaching my kid to embrace it.

I moved from Colombia to the Netherlands years ago and saw a lot more tulips and bicycles than ever before.

Fortunately, I also found community. When my friends came together to celebrate my first birthday in the Netherlands, they brought me beautifully wrapped presents.

However, I was caught off guard as I opened them: Almost every item — books, clothes, shoes, home decor — was used.

As my friends shared where they found the item and why they thought I'd like it, I struggled to wrap my head around the secondhand gifts.

I knew secondhand shopping was popular here, but I didn't realize it extended to gifts

I'd known many of my new neighbors prioritized buying things secondhand — and were especially proud of doing so when they got a good deal. And I get it: shopping secondhand can be less wasteful and a good way to save money.

However, I was surprised the secondhand-shopping culture also extended to gift-giving. I felt like my friends weren't truly appreciating me: Didn't they care enough to get me something new?

In the community I grew up in, it was not common to give secondhand gifts — especially for a birthday or the holidays. I'd feel embarrassed giving someone a secondhand item as a gift and doing so might even be seen as impolite

In the following weeks, though, I learned just how normal and common secondhand gift-giving is in my new community. I also began to see how nice it can really be.

After all, the effort and thoughtfulness behind a gift means more than a shiny new box and a price tag. The gifts I received were focused on my needs and desires.

It was nice that my friends thought so hard about what I might enjoy and that they spent so much time scouring marketplaces, apps, and thrift shops in search of the perfect gift for me.

It's pretty easy to order something new online, but shopping secondhand can take a lot of time and dedication.

I hope to pass this custom and its values to my daughter

I've since embraced giving and receiving secondhand gifts, and I'm teaching my daughter to do the same.

When she was born, most of the clothes and items she received from friends and family were secondhand, which further opened my eyes to how nice it is to have practical and intentional gifts regardless of where they came from.

When we shop for presents, I encourage both of us to think about what the recipient might actually need or enjoy instead of just picking something because it's trendy or new.

We've had so much fun searching for items in secondhand shops and online marketplaces and discovering unique gifts that we might never have found new.

This custom has also been a great way to remind myself of the importance of intention and thoughtfulness when it comes to parenting, too.

• Gen Xers are moving to retirement hot spots for better housing, lower prices, and warmer weather.
• Census data shows a rise in Gen X movers in Florida, central Texas, north Georgia, and Tennessee.
• Movers told BI they sought lower costs and taxes but faced high insurance and utility bills.

Gainfully employed Gen Xers are packing their bags for retirement hot spots.

They're not foregoing the daily grind; instead, 45- to 60-year-olds are increasingly moving their families to warmer locales to take advantage of abundant housing, sunshine, and lower taxes.

Matt Hickman wanted to live somewhere with easy ocean access, good weather, and vibes that echoed his native California. In April 2020, the 46-year-old and his family moved to Orlando, which he said was more affordable than where they had been living in Colorado; a five-bedroom house cost around $90 a foot.

"I said, 'You know what? If we move now in our forties, we can be set up so that we'll have our house halfway paid off by the time we get close to retirement, and we'll have beaten all the baby boomers who are going to move down to Florida and make it more expensive,'" Hickman said.

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Many in his generation seem to be on the same page. An analysis of Census data from 2020 to 2023, exclusively shared previously with BI by University of Virginia demographer Hamilton Lombard, shows that many counties in the south experienced large net increases in movers ages 45 to 54, particularly in Florida, central Texas, north Georgia, and Tennessee. Many New England, Missouri, and Idaho counties also experienced large increases. Meanwhile, much of California, the Midwest, and the Deep South — such as Louisiana and Mississippi — were in the red.

Some of the most popular counties for Gen Xers were those with older populations living in retirement communities — Gen Xers moved to "retirement destination" counties at a net rate of 5.1% between 2020 and 2023, compared to the US growth rate of 1.6%. Lombard suspected this trend was due to ample available housing in these areas and the generation's rising savings.

In interviews with half a dozen Gen Xers who moved further south, most said they appreciated the lower cost of living, slower pace of life, and work opportunities. Still, some said they hated the weather, paid exorbitant insurance premiums, or didn't enjoy the politics.

Hickman's family liked Florida for a time. They landed in a predominantly 55-and-up community, visited a theme park often, and went to the beach six months of the year, but the humidity started to weigh on them. Plus, their homeowners' insurance was $3,500 a year, property taxes soared, and they spent hundreds a month on utilities. As expenses — and bugs — piled up, they decided it was time for another change.

Hickman and his family landed in Atlanta, where they found a younger community along with cheaper utility and insurance bills.

Moving south to save money, but not everything is cheaper

Many movers told BI they moved south to save more in preparation for retirement, though some discovered prices are, in some cases, much higher.

Randy Foster, a music promoter, lived all over the Eastern Seabord but moved to Seattle in 2015. With rising prices in his area and nine months of no sun a year, he wanted to move south.

After a recent divorce, Foster, 55, settled in Florida's Bradenton-Sarasota area in 2022, where his cost of living fell dramatically. Though he now has a car in Florida, he estimates he's saved about 30% compared to Seattle.

"I decided that Florida offered more opportunity, more freedom for me, more freedom to choose," Foster said. "I spent a heck of a lot less on rent and all of my bills now than I did in Seattle."

While he paid $3,000 monthly for a three-bedroom Seattle apartment, he pays about $2,000 in Florida for a four-bedroom house with a yard. His electricity bill is about 50% more in Florida, though his other utilities stayed consistent.

He said he enjoys earning $160,000 annually in a state with no individual income tax. Though he said he only has about $30,000 saved, as he hasn't prioritized his retirement planning until recently, he believes he can continue saving more in Florida.

Escaping high taxes

Some movers said they left for Southern states with fewer taxes and better business environments.

Tracy Rockney, 57, worked in pharmaceutical regulatory affairs and built a consulting firm. The mother of three considered some southern states when deciding to leave Illinois but found Florida unappealing due to its humidity, hurricanes, and aging populations in the areas they considered. Her husband's college roommate encouraged them to move to Dallas-Fort Worth.

"We would rather live a community where there's a mix of races and cultures and ages," Rockney said.

In 2020, she moved to a Dallas suburb with her retired husband and their youngest daughter to limit her tax liability — Texas has 0% state income tax — and to improve her daughter's education quality. She sold the Illinois home for $795,000 and bought her current Texas home for about $1.1 million.

She's found the healthcare options better in Texas, and she said prices are generally lower than Illinois'. Rockney sold her business in August 2022 and left her most recent role as an executive vice president in late 2024.

She's appreciated lower grocery prices, though her water bill skyrocketed to $150 monthly. Landscaping costs are "really expensive," for which she budgets between $5,000 and $10,000 annually.

She appreciates Texas' many outdoor activities, and her husband is the youngest person in his skydiving group. She said Texas' business-friendly environment may help her when she starts up new entrepreneurial ventures.

"We kick ourselves and say we wish we'd done this move sooner," Rockney said. "I wish I'd done it maybe when starting my business in 2015."

Taking advantage of remote work

Some movers told BI they left the commotion of busier, more expensive cities for more rural areas while working remotely.

Elisa Suetake, 51, is hovering somewhere between retirement and work.

Suetake and her husband spent six years in San Jose, working in Silicon Valley. The couple would go to Hawaii three to four times a year but thought they could never work from there without getting cabin fever.

The pandemic, however, proved that wrong. In July 2021, they moved to Maui, tripling their property size for just $250,000 more than their San Jose home.

Their new property has a main house with five bedrooms, with an attached ADU, and there's an additional smaller structure with three bedrooms. They plan on remodeling and renting out the smaller house while keeping the attached apartment for guests.

Suetake said that neither she nor her husband are planning on retiring traditionally — they'll never stop working, but they will stop working for someone else.

"We're never bored. We're always learning something," Suetake said. "It's just that we don't have a dedicated income stream from a company."

• After visiting all 50 states, there are three I'd happily live in — including my current, New York.
• I love to spend time in the wide-open spaces of the Teton Mountain Range of Wyoming.
• With stormy seasons and beachside communities, Rhode Island is my ideal state for coastal living.

As a travel writer, I truly believe that every state in the US is worth visiting at least once.

Some states, as I've written before, deserve multiple trips. However, there are only a select few I'd consider living in full-time.

As a constitutionally (and professionally) nomadic individual, it takes a special part of the country to make me want to stay put for longer than a month.

From the mountains of the American West to the Atlantic Coast of New England, here are the three states I'd choose to live in every time.

I can't resist the cosmopolitan culture of New York's concrete jungle

After all of my travels, I stand by the idea that New York City is the only real "city" city.

I may seek out the serenity of nature on my travels, but when it comes to day-to-day living, I long for the 24-hour bodegas and 4 a.m. last calls in the city that never sleeps.

Plus, I appreciate how easy it is to leave the city and explore some of the state's other landscapes. When I tire of all those bright lights and big city action, seaside getaways to spots like Shelter Island or the Hamptons are a mere train ride away.

As a frequent traveler, one of the other big benefits of living in New York is that I have two major international airports with direct flights to almost anywhere.

I spent most of my post-college years living in Manhattan, so I also treasure that it's located close to many of my friends and family members. (Full disclosure: I am a New Jersey native).

I'm currently living in New York City, and I'd choose to do so over and over again.

I love the wildness and the wide-open spaces of the Cowboy State

Yes, I am transitioning from the most populated US city to the least-populated state: Wyoming. The state has great opportunities for horseback riding, skiing, hiking, and so much more.

In the past, I've spent several years cabin-dwelling in the Cowboy State — and I'd do it again. I found solace in the wide open spaces of Grand Teton National Park and grew accustomed to falling asleep to the howls of coyotes.

I long to return to that lifestyle of writing in the morning, skiing in the afternoon, and watching that western sunset in the evening with a bourbon in hand.

When I do hit one of New York's airports, the destination I often yearn to fly to the most is Wyoming's Jackson Hole. In my humble opinion, it's the most beautiful place in America.

The state's mountains are often calling me, and I can see myself answering again one day — permanently.

Rhode Island epitomizes my ideal of East Coast island living

As much as I adore the drama of the Tetons, there's nothing that quite compares to the sea.

I've spent many summers along the Atlantic shores of Rhode Island, and I can envision myself happily residing on its rocky coast year-round.

Although the Pacific has sandier beaches and sunnier days, I prefer New England's jagged coastline and stormier seasons.

Rhode Island is a thrill to explore, teeming with coastal communities that each have their own charm, from Narragansett to Jamestown, Little Compton to Block Island.

The combination of the farmlands in Portsmouth and the lively nightlife of Newport already makes its Aquidneck Island my favorite getaway every summer.

One day, I hope the Ocean State becomes my safe haven for all four seasons. By then, of course, I'll have to find a new vacation spot to escape to.

• My fiancée and I met in St. Petersburg, Florida, and lived there for seven years.
• We loved the hip downtown, but the area got too crowded and expensive for us.
• So, we moved close to her family in a small Wisconsin town and were able to buy our first home.

I've lived in North Carolina, Oregon, Illinois, and Florida, but Wisconsin feels like my true home after being here for just one year.

As a native Southerner, my family scoffed at my idea of moving to Wisconsin. After all, most people we know move from the North to the South to escape cold winters, not the other way around.

However, after seven years, my fiancée and I felt our Florida phase was over: We were ready to stop renting studio apartments and buy a piece of property with a comparable monthly cost.

We found exactly what we were looking for in Southeastern Wisconsin.

St. Petersburg became crowded and costly during our stint there

When we first moved to St. Petersburg, Florida, it still had the charm of an up-and-coming city.

New businesses were opening downtown, including coffee shops and craft breweries, which we felt signaled a new horizon for the once-sleepy retirement community.

Our predictions were right, and by 2021 we could feel the surge of new residents. The nightlife was vibrant, the restaurants were world-class, and the art scene was booming.

But new apartment buildings were also popping up, and it quickly became difficult to find even a studio-sized apartment with in-unit laundry that fit our budget.

We rented an accessory dwelling unit behind a bungalow-style house a few blocks from the ocean. It was a nice setup, but we quickly outgrew the 500-square-foot space.

After I landed a remote job, we agreed that our real-estate ambitions could take shape anywhere. Wisconsin, where my fiancée's family lives, was at the top of the list.

Real-estate affordability sealed the deal for our move to the Midwest

I fell in love with the landscape, culture, and overall vibe of rural Wisconsin, but house prices were our main motivation for leaving Florida and buying in the Midwest.

The average home price in Florida is $386,892, while the average home price in Wisconsin is $301,659, according to the Zillow Home Value Index.

Our studio apartment in Florida cost us $1,100 a month, not including utilities. Our current four-bedroom home cost about $200,000, which we're paying for with a standard 30-year mortgage. Our monthly payment is around $1,200 a month.

So, our monthly cost for owning a large home in Wisconsin is comparable to when we rented a small apartment in Florida.

Although Wisconsin does have higher taxes than Florida, we still save money by living in a rural area with cheaper food, gas, and utilities.

Our lifestyle change also helps us save. Fewer dining and entertainment options mean we go out less, so we instead opt for free activities, like hiking or swimming.

So far, we've enjoyed living in a smaller town

I grew up watching "The Andy Griffith Show" with my grandpa, so I always dreamt of living in a place like Mayberry where I'd know all my neighbors.

As a North Carolina boy, I never thought I'd find Mayberry in Southern Wisconsin, but I've fallen in love with our home here.

We enjoy the outdoors, so being close to beautiful lakes, hiking trails, and camping destinations was appealing. I even kept up my surfing hobby on Lake Michigan.

The town we chose is also full of charm. A new coffee shop, restaurant, and speakeasy bar opened in recent years, and we found ourselves in the same hipster atmosphere that made Florida so appealing — just on a smaller scale.

Pinellas County, Florida, is the most densely populated county in the state, with over 3,400 people per square mile. Walworth County, Wisconsin, has just 191.7 people per square mile.

We've been in our new house for almost a year, and we enjoy our new small-town lifestyle. I'm grateful remote work made more rural living possible for us.

Recently, we even visited our old stomping grounds in Florida. Although we'd missed the beach, we still didn't regret our decision to swap palm trees for pine trees.

• I left Miami to save money living in a small Florida town while planning my move to the Northwest.
• This was meant to be temporary, but I'm still here 15 years later with no plans to leave Florida.
• I love raising my son here because of the town's laid-back vibes and access to nature.

I enjoyed living in Miami in my early 20s, but the city felt like it was becoming more and more expensive to live in.

At the time, I was working while in school full time and just barely paying my bills month to month. Unfortunately, I couldn't picture the degree I was working toward resulting in a job that paid me well enough to get me out of this cycle.

So, I decided to start saving up to move to Portland, Oregon, a city with a lower cost of living that I'd fantasized about for years because of its vibrant culture and ample access to nature.

My first step was to lower my living expenses by moving to a small Central Florida town on the Space Coast a few hours north of Miami, where the rent (and cost of living in general) was more affordable.

Although this move was supposed to be temporary, I'm still happily here 15 years later and hope to retire in a small Florida town.

Miami was fun, but I liked learning how to rest in a slower-paced town

Once, I heard a woman who had just moved to Miami say, "What's there not to like about Miami? Every day is a party!" I thought her observation was spot-on.

However, by the time I left Miami, I had grown tired of the city's lively, always-on-the-go lifestyle.

Miami has a high cost of living, but I also struggled to save money while living there because it felt like there was always somewhere to be. These activities almost always came with an added cost, whether I was paying for parking, a club entrance fee, or dinner out on the town.

Although I missed Miami's lively culture when I first moved, I grew to prefer the small-town way of life that encourages rest and time at home.

For example, at 9 p.m., many people in Miami are just heading out to dinner at one of the city's many options. In my quieter town, most restaurants aren't even open that late.

I spend more time outside than I ever did before

The longer I live on the Space Coast, the more outdoorsy I become.

I actually go to the beach more now than I ever did in Miami, where it could be a hassle. Here, the beaches don't feel nearly as crowded. I think they feel cleaner, too.

I also started hiking a lot more, as there are some great state parks and forests in Central Florida. Even in my own neighborhood, I've seen more wildlife than I ever did in Miami, including tortoises, rabbits, and deer.

One reason Portland was so alluring to me was that it seemed to have so much beautiful nature and greenery. If I hadn't moved a few hours out of Miami, I would have never discovered how much natural beauty I could experience without leaving my state.

My new town also feels more aligned with what I want for my son

Since moving to the Space Coast, I became a mom and thought more of what I wanted for my son. I wanted him to spend more time out in nature — something I only got to experience as an adult.

When he thinks of "going out," I want it to be to a beach or a hiking trail instead of the hottest new restaurant. I'd like for him to benefit from a slower way of life, one that prioritizes rest.

Our town is a great place for all of the above.

I also ended up becoming a teacher, and if I still lived in Miami on my teaching salary, I would never be able to afford the same life we live now, which includes having our own home and going on vacations.

I like that we don't have to scrape by every month.

After 15 years, I'm still loving small-town Florida life

Sometimes I still miss the buzz of Miami and its seemingly endless options for restaurants and events. I'll always consider it home, but I'm so glad I've experienced a slice of small-town Florida life.

This move was only ever meant to be temporary, but 15 years here taught me just how much Florida has to offer outside of Miami.

Now, I have no plans to move out of the state.

• When I was offered a dream job, I moved my family from the mainland US to Puerto Rico in 2015.
• On the island, we sometimes had no running water, struggled to get around, and items were costly.
• Though we struggled to adapt, we loved island life and didn't regret the move.

In 2015, I moved my family of four from Pennsylvania to Puerto Rico to pursue my dream job. Although I had lived on the island when I was young and vacationed there, I had never worked professionally or lived there as an adult.

When I accepted the job as a service manager at a MedTech company, I fell in love with the idea of warm weather and being near the beach year-round. Plus, the job offered me international experience, which I was looking for.

The thought of living, working, and maybe even retiring in Puerto Rico motivated me the most. But the reality of the island life wasn't what I expected.

A struggling economy made daily life costly

During one of my first days, an employee quipped, "I was wondering if you knew what was going on on the island. Everyone is leaving, but you took a job here."

I was unaware that people were leaving the island for the US mainland for better job opportunities. The decline was due to a struggling economy and a rising unemployment rate.

Since my company paid for everything at first — including food while we were in a hotel — I didn't notice how expensive everyday items were. That was until I had to pay for them out of my own pocket.

Workplace norms were different on the island

Having worked most of my career on the US mainland, I was used to living life on a strict schedule. Meetings started when they were meant to and ended at the appropriate time.

But there was a more lax culture around timeliness at my new job. Meetings that didn't start or end on time were almost a daily work frustration.

On several occasions, trying to impose my US-bred management style, I would call an employee who was late to a meeting but was unable to reach them, only for them to walk in 15 minutes late with Starbucks in their hands.

Water shortage was a harsh reality

When my family and I moved into our rented home in Cataño, we were surprised to find that there was no running water.

Puerto Rico was in a drought for the first time in almost two decades. Water was rationed, and we had to store it for the days when the water was turned off.

I was used to having access to water when I needed it on the mainland, so it was a struggle for my family to adapt. In the US, we never had the local water department ration water because of a drought.

Getting around the island was a challenge

I often drove around the island. For a distance that would typically take me an hour in the US, even with some traffic, in Puerto Rico, it took 30 to 45 minutes longer.

Driving on the island highway system was nothing like my normal drive on the I-76 in Pennsylvania, which stretches from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. The only thing that would stop me in Pennsylvania was the need to get gas — not a traffic light in a small town in the middle of the interstate.

In the US, I was used to highways that were clearly marked with white lines. That was not always the case in Puerto Rico.

Also, traffic norms are not the same. In Puerto Rico, it's common for drivers to stop at a red light, look both ways and then just keep going. On one occasion, as I waited at a red light with my family, another driver behind me got out of his car to tell me to run the red light. When I refused, he simply drove around me.

Puerto Rico is still a paradise to enjoy

Despite my challenges living in Puerto Rico, we enjoyed the warm weather, beaches, sightseeing, and food.

We took the ferry from Cataño across the bay to Old San Juan to go sightseeing. As a family, we went to the beach on Isla Verde, which was only 30 minutes away from us and one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Going a little further down from Isla Verde beach, we often stopped at the kiosks on the side of the highway to buy many of the island's popular food dishes.

After just over a year, we eventually returned to the mainland when I landed another job. My time in Puerto Rico was memorable, and I do not regret it.

But if I had to do it all over again, I would research the island more to ensure I was ready for the move and better plan to adjust to the difference between living on an island and the US mainland. I wrongly assumed that since Puerto Rico is part of the US, the infrastructure and the ways of living would be the same, but that was not the case.

• Shawn Robertson, 55, has lived in the same home in Tsawwassen, British Columbia, his whole life.
• He has experienced major milestones, both good and bad, while living in that house.
• While he says staying put has its perks, he also feels he might be ready for a change.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Shawn Robertson, a 55-year-old from Tsawwassen, British Columbia. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm 55, and I've lived in one house my entire life. I've never met anyone else who has lived in the same house for as long as I have.

My parents originally lived in Richmond in British Columbia, Canada, and when they started thinking about adopting a child — me — they decided they needed to be in a more rural setting.

The little town of Tsawwassen fit that bill. It had a good school system and was vibrant and up-and-coming. So, in late 1968, they purchased the land and built the house. It was finished in the summer of 1969.

The house is a very German-looking style. Dad was Scottish, but I think he just liked the look of it. There's brick on the bottom frontage and stucco with what used to be dark brown trim. It's a double-story building with five bedrooms and a den.

I loved growing up in this house

After adopting me, my parents brought me home from the hospital at the end of September 1969. The house would have been big for us — back then, it was just two adults and a tiny baby. My older brother John was 20 and had already left home.

I was more or less an only child, so I had free rein of the house. It's shaped like a U with this big porch in the center, and playing out there was every kid's dream. I remember whipping around on all sorts of different toys and bikes. There was a fairly big backyard, too, so there was always room to run around.

Around the time my wife Cori and I got engaged, both of my parents' health tanked. We decided we would live with them so that they could remain in the home they'd built for as long as possible.

I experienced many milestones in that house, both good and bad. When I married Cori, the house was the drop-off point for my groomsmen. We welcomed our four children while living there and navigated the passing of my dad in 2004 and my mom in 2015. Since then, we've had engagement parties for two of our kids at the house and hosted a baby shower for our granddaughter.

I know all of the house's quirks, and there's a deep familiarity there. We have friends who are still amazed when they find out we're still in the same place. Life doesn't usually allow that anymore, whether it's jobs, kids, or economic upheaval. I feel very fortunate for it.

I also consider a lot of the neighbors to be like family. Many of them have lived around us for easily 30 years or more. It's only recently that a few new ones are coming in, while the old ones are downsizing.

We've considered moving before, and still do sometimes

There have been times over the years when we would have moved if we could have. However, my wife and I felt that it was very important for our kids to have stability during their teenage years.

I retired in September 2024. I don't see our kids taking over the house because they are going in different directions. There's no specific set date to sell the house; however, we are actively looking at other places to live — possibly the Okanagan region of British Columbia.

If I'm being honest, I think it would make it easier on me if a developer demolished the house. It's always going to feel like our home, and if I drive by and see that it's changed, I think I'd feel saddened. On the other hand, if the house was gone entirely, I'd drive by and think, "We had a really nice life here." It would just be different.

We have so many memories in the house and such deep roots there. But the memories do come with you through photos and stories. The kids have fond memories of it, and that's all I need.

• My parents and grandparents were born in South Florida, and so was I, but I left when I turned 18.
• I can't see myself moving back with my kids, especially with the state's high hurricane risk.
• I'm also not aligned with the state's view on education, and I don't miss the year-round sunshine.

As a third-generation Floridian, I was an anomaly among my friends growing up in a state with so many transplants. My parents and grandparents on both sides were born in South Florida, and so was I.

When I left the state three weeks after my 18th birthday, I also became an outlier in my family, as they all remained in the Sunshine State.

I joined the Army right out of high school in 1995 and lived in several states over the next seven years. Eventually, we settled in Colorado, where I still live with my spouse and three children.

Once I moved, I never looked back. Florida will always hold a place in my heart, but I couldn't see myself moving back near my family for a few reasons.

I adore feeling the weather change each season

South Florida essentially has a continuous summer, with an average of over 240 days of sunshine a year. Growing up, I classified the seasons as almost hot; hot and muggy; hot and rainy; and unbearably hot.

In Fort Lauderdale, where I was born and raised, daily high temperatures could go above 87 degrees Fahrenheit for months of the year.

Some people adore this — but I fell in love with experiencing the weather truly change as the seasons do in places like Colorado.

I enjoy how the cold of winter makes me look forward to the heat of summer and vice versa. It's nice that Christmastime feels different from summer break. Plus, the fall colors are spectacular, and spring's growth is so lovely.

Hurricanes are a serious threat to the state

Speaking of heat, the climate crisis is making many parts of Florida increasingly harder to live in.

Rising sea levels mean more flooding. Hotter ocean temperatures also contribute to stronger, more damaging, and unpredictable hurricanes that take a long time to recover.

For example, in 2017, Hurricane Irma struck the Keys where my father lives. He's still repairing his house's infrastructure damaged by that storm. Several businesses shuttered permanently, and many people never rebuilt their homes.

After surviving the devastation Hurricane Andrew caused in 1992, I don't want to live with the threat of losing everything hanging over me for half of every year.

The state's view on education isn't aligned with mine

Though Florida is considered a great state for education, I'm not aligned with many statewide policies and recent changes.

For example, Florida recently expanded its universal school voucher system to every student, which means state money that once funded public schools can be used at private schools that accept the vouchers.

Several states have versions of these programs, but they have their share of critics, and I believe they risk leaving public schools underfunded, which would harm students and school districts.

Plus, in recent years, Florida has passed sweeping book bans, notably including books containing LGBTQ+ characters and topics.

In 2023, Florida had more books challenged for removal than any other state. This emphasis on banning books doesn't align with my personal idea of a good education.

As the mother of three school-age children, I want books to be accessible, and for curiosity and questions about them to be encouraged.

Overall, the choice I made was the right one for me

I miss many things about Florida — especially its beautiful beaches — and I'm glad I get to experience them when I visit my family.

But between my views that don't align with Florida's education system and the state's increasing vulnerability to hurricanes, it's hard to imagine ever wanting to live there again with my family.

Though many people are flocking to Florida and my family enjoys living there, I know leaving was the right choice for me.

• Gerardo and Tomi Ruiz moved from San Bernardino, California, to San Antonio, Texas, in September.
• They moved with their two young sons after a nearby fire destroyed their rented home.
• The couple loves Texas for its cheaper cost of living and the people but misses California's food.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Gerardo Ruiz, 29, and Tomi Ruiz, 26, native Californians who moved from San Bernardino, California, to San Antonio in 2024. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

Gerardo: My wife, Tomi, and I are from San Bernardino, California. We met at a party in 2019 and married last April.

San Bernardino isn't as nice as it used to be. Many things, like homelessness and gang activity, seem to have gotten worse in recent years.

Tomi: There were things we liked about California. I had family only about an hour away. I loved being in the snow or at the beach whenever I wanted.

We had been talking about leaving California for a while because the cost of living was dramatically increasing. We had discussed Texas, Arizona, or maybe Utah, but we weren't serious about it.

A fire finally pushed us to leave

Tomi: In September, the Line Fire broke out in Highland, California, next to my grandparents' house.

We were renting a house on the other side of town. The Line Fire wasn't directly threatening our house at first, but our neighbor's home caught fire. They said it started from an ember from the Line Fire.

It was terrifying. We were asleep, and suddenly, my husband woke up to what sounded like a huge explosion. I felt him pushing me and yelling.

When I sat up, I saw flames coming through our bedroom window, not even six feet away.

Gerardo: We have two kids, Anthony, who is 3, and Charlie, who is 1. We grabbed them both and ran outside.

Tomi: We both ran out in our underwear because we didn't have time to get clothes.

The fire destroyed about half of our house, plus there was smoke damage everywhere.

Gerardo: We lost almost everything in our bedroom and the dining area.

Tomi: We were just in shock. We sat outside staring at the house for a long time.

Gerardo: The Red Cross gave us some money for a hotel.

We had to restart our lives somewhere

Tomi: A few days later, our landlord told us they had to terminate the lease because they couldn't estimate how long the repairs would take and couldn't put us in another place in the meantime. We were homeless and realized that we had to start all over again.

We discussed staying in California, but starting a new lease in the state is expensive with a deposit, the first month's rent, and all the fees.

We figured if we had to start over completely, we'd be better off starting in Texas.

Gerardo: My brother has lived in San Antonio for about 10 years. We came out to visit a few years back and just fell in love with the city.

Tomi: We packed up what we had left, my husband took out his 401(k), and we drove to Texas.

Texas is so much more affordable

Gerardo: Our first impression of Texas was how cheap the rent is. We paid about $2,350 in San Bernardino for a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment. We're now in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom place in San Antonio and pay $1,250.

Tomi: We first applied for a few houses, but the wait took forever. We decided to apply for an apartment and got approved the next day. We stayed in a hotel for three weeks until we got approved for the apartment.

In addition to rent being cheaper, gas is much cheaper, which is great for us because we have pretty big cars.

Gerardo: Car registration is, too.

Tomi: Groceries, however, seem to be about the same.

While the cost of living is more affordable here, the pay is lower.

I'm a certified phlebotomist, and in California, I was making about $25 an hour. Here in Texas, I got some offers ranging from $16 to $20 an hour, and I accepted one. I'm making less than I was in California, but with the money we're saving, it's not too big a difference.

Gerardo: I'm a tow truck driver. I worked two driving jobs in California, making $21 an hour and $24 an hour.

I expected to be able to find a similar job in Texas, but once I got here, it was more difficult than I thought. The highest-paying towing job I could find was for a little more than $15 an hour.

For now, I've been holding off on getting a job to watch the kids since we don't know many people here in Texas who could babysit.

The state has exceeded our expectations

Tomi: We just fell in love with Texas. It's so much greener than we expected. We thought it would be all desert and cowboys, but San Antonio has many nice parks and playgrounds. It feels very family-oriented.

Gerardo: The environment out here is great. My wife has some PTSD from the fire, and it's nice that it's not as dry.

Tomi: You definitely feel the Texas heat, though. It was still so hot on Halloween. We're used to a breeze in October.

It also snowed since we've been here, which is uncommon for San Antonio. We love the snow.

There have been some challenges, but we made the right choice

Gerardo: The hardest adjustment has been the food. Even the McDonald's here tastes different. Texas street tacos are not like California street tacos at all.

There was incredible Hawaiian barbecue in California. Since we moved, I haven't been able to find similar food.

Tomi: Texas has been so good to us. I felt like I was home right away. I feel like I've connected with the people. Everyone is so kind.

Gerardo: Our goal is to stay in Texas long-term, but we want to move to Amarillo, Texas, eventually. It snows there more often, and we love the cold.

Tomi: I'm so glad we moved. It was scary when we decided to do it, but we had nothing to lose and made it work.

Gerardo: The recent fires in Los Angeles were terrible, and we're praying for everyone involved.

The reassurance of not having to worry about wildfires here like we did in California has been a huge plus already.