I moved from New York City to a small Italian town with fewer than 5,000 people. My life looks so different.

"I grew up in New York City, where I went to the theatre and opera every month, and knew the best dim sum in Chinatown. I truly took advantage of everything the city had to offer and lived a life that most people would dream of. But by the time I was 24, I knew I needed a change. The hustle and bustle of the city was exciting, but I craved a slower pace of life."

"Being of Italian heritage, I always dreamed about moving to Italy. So, in 2014, I packed up and moved to Guardia Sanframondi, a small town in southern Italy with fewer than 5,000 residents. I chose the quiet town after seeing it featured on an episode of "House Hunters International." It looked like it had everything I was looking for in a home: beautiful, peaceful, and welcoming."

"Instead of skyscrapers and yellow cabs, I'm now surrounded by medieval buildings. I like that I can still walk to my favorite stores to run errands, but unlike in New York, there are very few major franchises here. Instead, mostly everything is a small, locally run business. I can't call an Uber at the end of the night, and unlike the constant subways I was used to in the city, the buses tend to run sporadically throughout the day."

I grew up in New York City, attending theatre and opera monthly and knowing the best dim sum in Chinatown. By age 24 I sought a slower pace and, drawing on Italian heritage, moved in 2014 to Guardia Sanframondi, a southern Italian town of fewer than 5,000 residents. Medieval buildings, locally run shops, and limited tourism provided an authentic Italian experience. Transportation is limited, with sporadic buses and no Uber, but daily errands remain walkable. I bought a house for under 50,000 euros, joined a welcoming community, and consider the move the best decision I've made.

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