I 'shopped around' for my dream home by living all over the US. I liked Florida, but I fell in love with the Midwest.

I tried looking for my dream home in various parts of the United States. Florida was great, but I eventually fell in love with the Midwest.

Joe Opaleski

• After college in Florida, I spent time traveling to try to find where I wanted to live long-term.
• I tried Portland, Oregon, for six months, then moved back to Tampa Bay, and then went to Wisconsin.
• I ended up buying a home here, falling in love with the outdoors and slower pace in my small town.

After growing up in North Carolina, I moved to St.