We left New York City for the Connecticut suburbs. Our family gained way more than square footage, but it cost us a lot.

Although moving from New York City to Connecticut's suburbs has come with drawbacks, it's also brought several benefits.

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• I never thought I'd leave New York City, but after having two kids, we moved to Connecticut.
• I was unsure about living in the suburbs, but I love having more space and cheaper day care.
• Long commutes and feelings of loneliness can be tough to manage, but I'm glad we moved.

There was a time I thought I'd spend the rest of my life in New York.