When I was younger, living in a big city like Los Angeles or New York seemed like the epitome of hipness and culture to me.
I wanted to be in the middle of the action, to be able to stroll down my block for a cocktail and thumping music or hit up the newest Ethiopian restaurant on a whim.
Once I finally moved to Los Angeles, I loved it. As an outdoorsy person, I even felt spoiled by its mild winters, solid hiking trails I could drive to, and year-round sunny weather.
But after 20 years of living there, my dreams of making it big as a film producer were waning just as my career as an outdoor journalist was soaring.
Leaving a big city in search of cheaper rents and improved outdoor access was on my radar. I craved change, and knew I should leave if I ever wanted to own a place.
The increased frequency of summer heat waves and even worse traffic during my years in the city might have been the final nails in the coffin.
I knew my ideal new city would have to be pretty lively, with sunny weather, more access to the outdoors, and desirable real estate I could more reasonably afford.
After many weeks of careful online research, I settled on the small Colorado city of Boulder with a population of just over 100,000. I still haven’t looked back.
Right off the bat, I doubled my living space
One of the first things on my Boulder to-do list was to find a well-priced condo and snatch it off the market before I got left behind.
To be honest, the real-estate market in Boulder isn’t wildly affordable. In fact, based on data from Zillow, the average home in Boulder is about as much (or a little more) than the average home in Los Angeles.
However, I feel really happy with what my money has gotten me here.
For $450,000, I ended up in a gorgeously updated two-bedroom, two-bathroom unit from the 1970s with mature landscaping, great neighbors, and an absolutely stunning mountain view.
In Los Angeles, something similar in one of my preferred neighborhoods would’ve easily cost far more.
Finally, at the ripe age of 37, I have my own office, which doubles as a guest room. Plus, later on, I had plenty of space for my partner and a lab mix to move in.
Easy access to the outdoors helped me make friends and improve my mental health
Boulder is famously said to have over 300 days of sunshine each year.
I can’t say for sure if that’s true, but I do get tons of it, which helps make the Colorado city an outdoor lover’s paradise. Within a 15-minute drive, I have access to world-class hiking in the Flatirons, a farmers market, and miles of well-planned bike paths.
Because of this, it’s been so easy to find friends who also love the outdoors.
Within one month of moving to Colorado, friends from across the country had added me to group texts and email chains with their Boulder connections, setting me up with a bevy of new hiking pals.
I met a fellow outdoorsy author with a cute mutt, a former mountaineer, and loads of people to go skiing with in the winter months.
Being able to join a handful of new women’s hiking groups helped me build my social groups, too.
Beyond building my circle, all that access to the outdoors has vastly improved my mental health. I feel freer, more relaxed, and less anxious living in the center of a small city.
I even joined the local folk music scene
When I moved to Colorado, I had no idea that the folk and bluegrass music scenes were so legendary in Boulder County.
In just about every season of the year, there’s some kind of outdoor music festival happening in city parks, at local craft breweries, or at the storied Planet Bluegrass. Here, you’re just as likely to stumble across a badass banjo player busking on the Pearl Street Mall as you are at a major music venue.
In order to keep my hands busy and foster a sense of community during the cold, dark winter months, I picked up a guitar and started a folk band with my boyfriend.
It’s something I never would have dreamed of doing when I lived in LA, but I’m proud to say that Trouble’s Braids has been steadily gigging all across the Front Range for over a year.
I have to drive a little further for big events, but living here is well worth it
Moving to Boulder was the absolute right decision for me.
There are some things I miss about living in a big city. For example, I have more limited late-night options since many local restaurants close by 8:30 p.m. I also don’t have as much access to big events, and I have to drive for an hour to go to a concert at Red Rocks or see a musical in Denver.
However, the nearness of the natural world is an invaluable addition to my lifestyle. It’s helped me build new relationships with like-minded outdoorsy people, and I have built many connections that I treasure.
I don’t know where I’d be if I had stayed in Los Angeles, but I’m really glad I’m here instead.
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