I was born and raised in Miami, but I don’t feel like I truly experienced living in Florida until I moved farther north to Titusville in Brevard County.
It’s right along the coast with a population of about 50,000 — about a tenth of Miami’s. Although it’s smaller, we’re just 45 minutes from Orlando, so we still have easy access to big-city benefits, like top-notch medical care.
Titusville’s lower cost of living, which has helped it become one of the most affordable places to live in Florida, also drew me in.
After a few years, I’ve grown to prefer its slower-paced small-town atmosphere over Miami’s big-city vibes and hope to remain in the area well into my retirement.
Here are a few things that have pleasantly surprised me about moving here.
I feel more connected to nature now than I ever did growing up
Growing up in a city, I rarely saw animals in my own backyard.
Now, I’ve become familiar with Florida wildlife from sightings in our neighborhood, on nearby nature trails, and in coastal waters. These never cease to be thrilling because I didn’t grow up with them.
I’m so happy I get to raise my son in an environment where spotting creatures in their natural habitat is a normal occurrence.
Before living in Brevard and traveling around Central Florida, the closest I had ever gotten to hiking was taking walks in public parks.
Nature outings used to only be a part of vacation excursions, but now they’re a part of my regular routine. I visit the beach far more than I ever did before living here because it’s a close drive away and it’s rarely crowded (unlike Miami Beach).
I often feel like I have the beach all to myself, which makes the experience much more therapeutic.
The sense of community is incredible
Living in a smaller city, it feels more important to support our community in ways I never thought of growing up. This could look like attending an event free to the public to meet and support local vendors, but it’s also word-of-mouth.
Since our community is more tight-knit, it’s easy to ask for or give recommendations for just about anything, from plumbers to bakeries.
Plus, our neighbors are always telling each other about local events and celebrations.
I love that the parents of kids who go to school with my kid regularly fill me in on extracurricular opportunities — and there’s always a local fundraiser of some sort happening near us.
My family doesn’t have a large budget, but there’s never a doubt in my mind that we’re going to donate what we can or volunteer our time.
All in all, there’s a sense of unity that comes with living in a smaller city that’s really comforting.
We’ve also formed loyalties with the restaurants and businesses we’re grateful for
On a similar note, we basically keep a running list of our favorite local spots and try to never take them for granted.
Although we have fewer restaurants and businesses overall than we would in a larger city, we’ve become more grateful for the ones that are here.
Plus, supporting local vendors, who are often neighbors, gives me a sense of pride that I never experienced before. It’s nice to become regular patrons at these spots and feel so invested in their success.
By being exposed to a different way of life, I’ve developed a more open mind
Moving from a big city to a small one has been a big adjustment.
A lot of things shocked me when I first moved to the area, like the fact that most restaurants and businesses here close at 9 p.m.
The culture here also feels different, from the stronger sense of community among neighbors to just how many people here participate in outdoor activities.
By experiencing this way and pace of living, I’ve become more open to trying new things. After all, I never expected to love being in a small city quite this much.
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