living

I thought I would hate living in a high-rise apartment. I grew up in the woods of northern Minnesota, watching deer and the occasional bear wander through the backyard. I’ve spent my adult life in suburban townhomes near large park reserves, a compromise between rural landscapes and the job opportunities…

This story is based on an interview with Carlene Jenkins, 89, a retired personal shopper from Austin. It has been edited for length and clarity.Three years ago, it became time for my husband, Robert, 90, a retired dentist, and me to downsize and move from our house in Austin.A lot…

For a while, it felt like everyone was moving South.The trend took off during the pandemic, when remote work gave more Americans the flexibility to live wherever they wanted. Many headed to states where homes were more affordable and jobs were easier to find.Southern states such as Florida, Texas, Georgia,…

She arrived in Malta on a Thursday, and by Friday, we were stretched out on one of the island’s pale limestone beaches, watching the water shift from turquoise to deep blue at the horizon.My best friend of 24 years was visiting from San Francisco, where she has lived since we…

Years before moving to France, I went to Paris for the first time with my wife, who had always dreamed of visiting the City of Light. Back then, I bought into some of the stereotypes about the French, but I was pleasantly surprised by my encounters with locals.About eight months…