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

Karen Meadows and her husband, James. Courtesy of Karen Meadows 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 conversat...