I left Florida to retire in New York City at 62. Living in a bustling city keeps me feeling young.

• While many people move to Florida for retirement, Karen Meadows and her husband did the opposite.
• The couple left their calm, slow-paced life in Panama City Beach for a faster one in Brooklyn.
• At first, many things about moving to NYC, like the subway, scared Karen, but now she feels at home.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Karen Meadows, a 62-year-old Floridian who moved to New York in 2024. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

My husband and I have been married for 34 years, and we spent 17 of those years living in Panama City Beach, Florida. It’s where I raised both of my kids and where I started my running coaching business and a 10K charity race.

Panama City Beach was a gorgeous place to live, with beautiful skies every day, clear blue water, and pure white sand. While it was a touristy area, when we first moved there, it was still pretty sleepy during the off-season. That’s actually why I got into the racing business — I was really bored, and there wasn’t that much to do.

However, over the time we lived there, it became more popular.

Many people move to Florida to retire because it’s quiet and has a slower pace of life. But for me, I wanted to move somewhere with more energy.

In 2024, my husband and I moved to New York. It’s funny because the first thing everybody says about our move is, “Oh my God, you did the opposite.” And they’re right.

To be honest, at first, I was afraid to live in New York. And I’ll tell you, most days I’m still a little bit afraid. But I’m a huge believer in the idea that your brain is your central governor; it rules everything, and that the second you start restricting yourself because of fear, or thinking you should slow down, you will.

In New York, there are so many people to see and things to do. I’m more active, and living here is keeping me positive about aging.

We moved to be closer to our children

Moving to New York was definitely driven by our children. In 2020, my son was accepted to Columbia University. My daughter also attended Boston University and now lives in New Jersey. My husband and I really wanted to be closer to them.

We did have some issues selling our house in Florida. It was a really pretty home, but it also had a lot of quirky touches. On top of that, there was so much new construction that we were facing a lot of competition.

I took the first decent offer we received. By that point, I didn’t care about trying to squeeze out more money — I felt like my mental health was worth more than that. We made enough from the sale to put some money in the bank and feel like we could downsize comfortably.

There’s such a big contrast between New York and Florida. It made it pretty stressful trying to figure out where to live. But my son introduced me to Williamsburg in Brooklyn, and I liked that it had plenty to do while feeling a little less hectic than Manhattan.

When we first moved to Williamsburg, we lived in an old converted loft building. When our lease was up there, we moved to Three Williamsburg Wharf in 2025. We live in a two-bedroom, two-bath unit and pay around $8,700 a month. Our corner unit has a view of the Brooklyn skyline and overlooks the Brooklyn Navy Yard, which I love because you can see so much going on.

Coming from a big house, a two-bedroom apartment is a huge downsize. And while I thought I wouldn’t like renting, I’ve never been happier. There’s a lot less to worry about; there are no property taxes, and everything gets done for you. I also love the sense of community here, from wine tastings and Super Bowl parties to the people I’ve met in the building.

Moving to New York was a risk, but I’ve found a new community

I’ve always been a bit of a risk-taker, and I think it’s important to challenge yourself.

That’s part of why I’m such a dedicated runner — I regularly train for marathons, and I’ve run the New York City Marathon and the Boston Marathon many times.

Still, moving to a new place comes with plenty to worry about.

Some of the fears I’ve had to overcome in New York included learning to use the subway — my son showed me how to use maps, which made it much less intimidating — and getting comfortable driving in a busy city.

The way I got over that fear was by driving more. I also started volunteering with North Brooklyn Angels, a nonprofit food delivery service. Doing that community work has also helped me become more social.

In addition to volunteering with North Brooklyn Angels, I’ve joined the North Brooklyn Runners Club, started a book club, and recently begun volunteering with City Harvest, a food rescue organization. These groups have been especially important to me because I left behind my whole life and many of my friends in Florida. I also love helping people in need.

I know I probably could have moved somewhere more laid-back, warmer, and with lower taxes, but I love New York. I’m almost 63, and I feel better and more alive than ever. Life feels freer, I’m more engaged, and there’s still so much to explore.