I live in an affordable coastal city in Florida. Lower cost of living aside, our move has come with surprising perks.

Although it's been quite an adjustment going from a big city to a small one, I've grown to prefer the latter.Ashley ArchambaultI moved out of Miami to Titusville, which has a small-town atmosphere and a lower cost of living.It's been nice to feel so involved in our community and be surrounded by more nature.I feel loyal to our local businesses, and I feel moving to a smaller city gave me a more open mind.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 upI love getting to bring my son to the beach.Ashley ArchambaultGrowing 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 incredibleLiving 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 forOn 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 mindI like living in a smaller city.Ashley ArchambaultMoving 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.Read the original article on Business Insider

Comments

Business News

DWP urgent warning as people have money taken from accounts

Express

Is this Revolut email genuine? It's asking me out of the blue to confirm personal details but how can I be sure it's not a scam…

about 4 hours ago

A third of Britons want to own a buy-to-let... but is it still a good idea?

Dailymail

Comments

Business News

DWP urgent warning as people have money taken from accounts

WASPI campaigners court breakthough in £3,000 compensation court battle

Water firms would be foolish to increase salaries to get around bonus ban – Reed

Pret A Manger ‘considering stake sale ahead of possible flotation’

Tesla shares rebound on news of Musk and Trump talks after explosive feud cost firm $99bn in a day

Sainsbury’s is testing a huge change to shelf labels – and shoppers will be divided

Tesco shopper fury as supermarket axes dinner staple from shelves

I scooped huge National Lottery win and quit my job hours later… here’s what I do day to day

World’s best beer 2025 named beating Budweiser, Guinness and Heineken

Crackdown launched on ‘rogue financial promotions’ by some influencers

What pensioners need to know about income tax

'Perfect' mini brownie box slashed to under £5 for Father's Day using this unique deal

Superdrug giving away 18 free products to shoppers this month - but not for long

Amazon rivals Argos deal on multi-charging stand for Nintendo Switch 2 controllers

Warning issued to anyone with £10,000 in their savings account

Poundland shutting three stores in June with more closures to follow - see full list

HSBC chair Sir Mark Tucker to rejoin Hong Kong insurer AIA Group

House prices rise £7k in the past year but pace of growth has slowed with affordability 'a challenge'

Musk threatens to decommission SpaceX capsule, a key space station link, after Trump attack

NTSB finds fuel leak and improperly installed parts in the engine of an airliner that caught fire

Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman sees sales fall as Trump trade conflicts weigh on spirits producers

Lambda Legal, a nonprofit supporting LGBTQ+ rights, exceeded fundraising goal by $105M

Japanese court rejects damage claims against utility executives over Fukushima disaster

Judge and lawmakers question the Trump administration's plan to gut Job Corps centers

The implosion of a powerful political alliance: Trump and Musk in their own words

Trump and Musk break up, and Washington holds its breath

Salvage crew bound for the site of a cargo ship fire off the coast of Alaska

Asian shares mostly gain ahead of Friday's US jobs report

HSBC’s Sir Mark Tucker to leave in September for return to insurer AIA

The Range is selling a patio heater that’s ‘perfect for cool summer evenings’ & it’s super cheap to run

‘I was sharing room with 15 people, now I’m Jeremy Clarkson’s neighbour!’ Superfan wins £5m mansion for just £25

I tried the UK’s best fish and chips with secret batter ingredient and the right way to add salt and vinegar

Regulators tackle influencers promoting ‘rouge’ financial products as legal action begins

How to deal with debt after a loved one’s death

Average UK house price slumps by £1,150 month-on-month – Halifax

‘I was £70,000 in debt at 48, six years later I was able to retire'

Co-op adding new service for shoppers in 100 supermarket stores this summer

The best mortgage rates for first-time buyers

Income investors back cheap passive funds to save on fees - but are they missing out on returns?

A villa we booked in Portugal was infested with mould, slugs, and ants... why won't Booking.com refund?

Is this Revolut email genuine? It's asking me out of the blue to confirm personal details but how can I be sure it's not a scam…

A third of Britons want to own a buy-to-let... but is it still a good idea?

Average UK house price slumps by £1,150 month-on-month – Halifax

FTSE 100 Live 06 June: House prices dip, HSBC boss lands new role

Private Japanese lunar lander crashes into moon in failed mission

New £1,000 rule for pension pots as Reeves launches radical shake-up

As Ed Miliband shuts down UK gas fields - we blow £20bn buying it from Norway instead

Distillery hails milestone after 'bold move to restore whisky-making' to island

Investors eye Scottish floating windfarm bonanza

‘Vast Majority’ of new homes will have solar panels, says Miliband

'A policy Labour never liked - but may not be able to scrap'

Musk-Trump row explodes as Tesla boss claims US president appears in Epstein files

‘Vast Majority’ of new homes will have solar panels, says Miliband

Here's how big business leaders are reacting to the Trump-Musk breakup

Trump's surgeon general pick criticizes others' conflicts

Alert over new 'fake HMRC service' to 'unlock hidden rebate'

Butlin's revamp major holiday park with 'top quality' attractions and prices at £69

Bill Ackman and Ye really want Trump and Musk to get back together

Sabrina Carpenter Releases Summer-Ready Single ‘Manchild’

Texas Tech Forces Game 3, Raising WCWS Stakes And Media Value