I loved Charlotte and never wanted to leave — but I'm so glad we moved to a lake town 40 minutes outside of the city

I love taking my dog near the lake by our house.

Hayley Hutson

• For years, I loved living in Charlotte, North Carolina — there's so much to do in the lively city.
• But city living wore my partner and me down, and we struggled to buy our dream home in Charlotte.
• So, we ended up moving to Denver, a lake community 40 minutes away. I've never been happier.

When I moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, to be with my boyfriend in 2018, I fell hard for city life.

After...