I left NYC for SC and I'll probably never go back. Here's what the slower pace of life taught me about work-life balance and happiness.
Courtesy of Michelle Gross
- Michelle Gross and her husband left New York City after many years and moved to South Carolina.
- She said it wasn't easy moving to the Lowcountry, but she's never been happier.
- Gross said she has a better work-life balance and doesn't plan to move back to NYC any time soon.
After 14-years of living in the New York City area, my husband and I made an offer on a house, sight unseen, and moved to a small town in the South Carolina Lowcountry. Was it risky? Definitely. But it was also one of the best decisions we've ever made.
Of course, it's not all shrimp cakes and pickleball. I've been documenting it in a newsletter I started, and I have a lot of notes for anyone who's ever considered making the leap from big-city living to a small town.
Here's what it's been like to leave New York City in search of a slower way of life in the South.
I knew leaving New York City wouldn't be easy
Courtesy of Michelle Gross
I moved to New York City the day after graduating from college in 2007 with the intention of never looking back. I told my California-based parents that I was always meant to be a New Yorker.
During the 14 years, I lived in New York and Jersey City, New Jersey. I had a career working in television, met and married the love of my life, quit my career in television, earned a master's degree in journalism, started a new career, and met some of the best friends and people I know.
But during the pandemic, we realized that we really wanted to live in a place where we could spend more time outdoors. Leaving New York would mean leaving a solid network of friends and an apartment that I loved, so I needed to be sure it was going to be a good fit both socially and work-wise.
With the exception of a good friend who lives in Charleston, South Carolina, we didn't know anyone before moving to the Lowcountry. So, we took our time moving down and held on to our apartment as we eased into Lowcountry-living.
As first time homeowners, the process was surprisingly smooth
Courtesy of Michelle Gross
Our house in the South was going to be a vacation home. We made and lost offers on three other houses before one was accepted. The house was in near perfect condition with the exception of a minor repair.
Coincidentally, the closing of our house also happened to be my birthday, so on our first night moving into our new home, we invited our next-door neighbors over for Momofuku birthday cake, which we'd pre-ordered from New York, and drank champagne on our upstairs porch.
Our neighbors have since become some of our closest friends in the area and we consider ourselves very lucky to have them nearby.
Since moving to the South, one of the biggest changes we've made is how we spend our free time
Courtesy Michelle Gross
Our house is located close to a deep river waterway, and whenever the weather allows, we're either out on our paddle boards, swimming and boating, or going for long walks beneath the mossy oak trees.
On weekends, we find ourselves driving out to Hunting Island State Park, which is not only one of South Carolina's most beautiful beaches, but is a great place to take our dog and go hunting for shark teeth on the shore.
Living and working remotely in the South has led to a better work-life balance
Courtesy of Michelle Gross
As a full-time freelance travel writer, I have the ability to work from anywhere with a good enough Wi-Fi connection. New York is far more convenient, when it comes to getting to and from the airport. Moving to a small town in the South Carolina Lowcountry meant I needed to alter my work and travel habits considerably.
I'm on the road less for work now, and that's turned out to be a very healthy decision for me. Spending more time at home has also meant reprioritizing the way I spend my downtime. I've turned my love for thrifting and crafting into upcycling and restoring furniture in my spare time.
Moving from a city with 8.8 million people to one with less than 13,000 was much easier than we thought
Courtesy of Michelle Gross
We realized after the first summer of living in the South that we wanted to make the move more permanent. We still had our apartment up North, but we found ourselves spending so much time in the South. It was time to let the apartment go.
Beaufort is home to one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the US, and largely comprised of military families and retirees. Things tend to close on the early side here, and that's been a major adjustment coming from the city that never sleeps. Still, we've managed to find a few staple restaurants and bars in town that we've become regulars at.
When we need a city fix, it's within driving distance
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Our house is located right in the heart of the Lowcountry, less than an hour from Savannah and a little more than an hour from Charleston. Both of these historically rich cities offer a unique experience along with some of the best restaurants and bars in the country.
We've also spent a lot of time checking out some of the surrounding sea islands including Daufuskie Island. Half the fun of living in a new place is being able to explore new areas. We've definitely taken advantage of our unique Lowcountry location in the time we've lived here.
I can't see myself moving back to New York City anytime soon
Courtesy of Michelle Gross
After a full-year of living in the South, I miss a lot of things about living in New York — but mostly, I miss the delis.
I miss the rugelach counter and grabbing a bagel and lox at Zabar's before going for a walk in Central Park. I miss nova lox and white fish salad at Russ & Daughters and a good bacon, egg, and cheese on an everything bagel from my local bodega.
And as annoying as the subway can be sometimes, I miss the convenience of swiping my metro card and meeting up with friends for bottomless brunch or going for drinks in Brooklyn. Despite the fact that living in New York can be cost prohibitive, it's still one of the most vibrant and exciting cities on earth.
I've gone back to the city a few times this year and I'll be honest, it's weird not having an apartment to go back to, but home, at least for now, is our little pocket in the South Carolina Lowcountry — and I can honestly say I've never been happier.
Correction: April 27, 2023 — An earlier version of this story misstated where Gross lived during her 14 years in the New York City area. She lived in New York and Jersey City, New Jersey, not solely in New York City.