Eleven years ago, I left Nashville’s music industry scene for a suburb just outside Columbia, MD. At the time, I thought trading one community for another would be simple — the stability of suburban life between Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, and only a few hours from New York City, perfect for a new stage in my life.
But years later, I still haven’t found my close friends here. As a native Nashvillian, I recognized familiar faces everywhere I went, but I haven’t landed there quite yet in Columbia.
Over time, though, Columbia has surprised me. What started as a practical move has become a reminder that a slower rhythm doesn’t mean a lesser song.
I cherish having access to water
I didn’t realize how water-deprived I was until I moved to Maryland. Weekends bring calm inspiration: paddles slicing through the Chesapeake Bay, Osprey nests in the distance, and the simple joy of pulling up a crab cage filled with bright blue claws, ready to devour in the most satisfying breakfast.
And when I want something livelier, the Atlantic Ocean is just a day trip away, with boardwalks and beach fries. That quintessential Maryland mix of salt air and summer joy reminds me that inspiration comes from stillness.
There’s more balance in my daily life now
Columbia is no Nashville, and that’s partly the beauty in it. There’s no Broadway-style bar crawl, no residents grumbling about pink cowboy hats and neon honkey-tonks. Here, the balance between tourism and daily life still holds.
In fact, Columbia ranked #1 best city for women in 2025 and #8 safest city in the US in 2025.
The beauty is in the balance between tourism and residential stability. Merriweather Post Pavilion sits at the center of it all, a venue that’s hosted major artists for decades, from Joni Mitchell to The Grateful Dead.
Now, new Artist Lofts are underway in Columbia. Summer brings a steady stream of music with a concert season that fills the area with national talent but fades back into calm come fall. I’ve loved seeing artists like Alanis Morrisette, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban, and Shania Twain perform just minutes from home.
While Columbia may be known more for its proximity to the science, technology, and government sectors than the arts, creativity has quietly found its place here. My daughters found the space to create films that toured festivals, even earning a waiver to Sundance. Later, they launched a small environmental film festival with a grant from Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Foundation. We’re also a short trip from New York City, where we enjoy catching live theater shows.
It’s a great place to raise kids
In Nashville, I grew up knowing every downtown venue by heart. My teen years were spent chasing live shows, from 3rd and Lindsley to the Ryman Auditorium. But here, my kids’ lives are more structured, focused on academics and competitive sports. They’re grounded, attuned to a routine that doesn’t involve who’s on stage tonight.
Maryland’s schools are rigorous, and the expectations are high. Unfortunately, the arts sometimes take a backseat, but there’s a steadiness in that structure, and I’ve come to appreciate it.
I miss the creative heartbeat of Nashville, the morning runs through Centennial Park, the feeling that everyone you met had a story to tell or a song to share. I miss the crowd outside the riverfront on a warm summer’s night, the magnetic draw of a city that celebrates inspiration.
Columbia is quieter and at times, feels like a hub more for scientists and policy makers than poets and guitarists. But it’s also safe, balanced, and full of small joys: the water, the concerts, the community that shows up for each other.
I still miss Nashville, but Columbia has brought a rhythm that’s calmer, steadier, and no less meaningful. Sometimes the trade-off between creativity and peace isn’t about focusing on loss, but realizing what you’ve gained in return.
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