I'm a native Floridian who left after 60 years. The high prices, traffic, and bad weather made it unlivable.

Kimberly Jones and her husband Courtesy of Kimberly Jones Native Floridian Kimberly Jones said her state has become unrecognizable. Lots of construction, traffic, and higher costs made Jones feel no longer at home. In 2025, she and her husband moved to a small town in North Carolina, where she's happier. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Jones, a 60-year-old native Floridian who moved to North Carolina in 2025. The conversation has been edited for length and cla...