moved
I never thought I’d find myself arguing about dryer sheets with my mother-in-law at midnight, but that’s my new reality.A few years ago, my husband and I moved in with his parents because the rent in Houston was eating into our savings. A “temporary stay” at my in-laws was supposed…
I was only supposed to be in Portland, Oregon, for four months. Eight years later, though, I’m still here.When I first moved to the city at 22, I knew little to nothing about Portland. Although I’d spent time elsewhere in the Pacific Northwest, I’d never even visited Oregon.I was offered…
“You can always move back if it doesn’t work out!”I resented this response whenever I’d say I was moving to Chicago to become a comedian. It felt like everyone was doubting my decision.At the time I left, I was confident that nothing would bring me back to my hometown of…
In March 2021, my partner, greyhound, and I started living aboard a 42-foot sailboat.In the years leading up to moving aboard, I daydreamed about our nomadic lifestyle — but after a year of sacrificing hygiene, stability, and family time, the wanderlust had worn off.Simple day-to-day activities, like showering and grocery…
We thought we were doing the right thing when we left Chicago for a small town in Ohio.I was pregnant with our first child, and Ohio offered more space, a lower cost of living, and most importantly, being closer to family.What I hadn’t accounted for, though, was how deeply I’d…
When I hit my 30s, I hit the road. I quit my job in the US and flew straight to Florence, where I spent the next six months basking in the city’s sunlight and rich culture. It was a beautiful start to my gap year of travel, which I was…
In 2019, my (now ex) husband and I joined the mass exodus of Californians moving to less expensive states.First, we settled in Atlanta. The bustling business hub seemed rife with career opportunities for both of us. Plus, it was familiar territory for me as I’d lived there a few times…
This as-told-to essay is based on conversations with Michael McCready, 56, a lawyer who moved from Chicago to San Juan, Puerto Rico, in January. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.I’ve been a personal injury lawyer in Chicago for 30 years, and on January 1st, my wife and…
When my boyfriend (now husband) got an opportunity to move from New York City to Denver to start his dream job, we both knew it was right for him.I, however, wasn’t quite ready to follow.For seven years, I’d been living in New York City, where I attended college and stayed…
After 17 years in Los Angeles, I was fluent in traffic shortcuts, niche coffee shops, and how to be optimistic when someone casually mentioned they were working on a screenplay. I could parallel park on a hill, one-handed. I’d survived preschool waitlists, earthquake drills, and overpriced poke bowls. Los Angeles…
