Making a Life, Then Letting Go

After 8 meaningful years in Las Vegas, I’m heading back to California—a move that feels both exciting and bittersweet.

Las Vegas has been the place I’ve lived in the longest as an adult. It’s the city that gave me space to breathe, dream, and build a life I didn’t know I was capable of. It made so many things possible that once felt out of reach.

Searching for Something Different

Before living in Las Vegas, moving was almost a yearly ritual. In an earlier post, I shared how my partner David and I had moved 10 times in 10 years. Most of these moves were driven by sharp rent increases and the constant scramble to find something more affordable.

That’s what initially brought us from the Bay Area to Las Vegas.

While I loved my job in California, I was living in a constant state of stress and anxiety. I was still paying off my student loans. The daily commute wore me down. I spent so much time just getting to and from work that I rarely had energy left for anything else. Life felt like survival mode with no room to rest, dream, or grow.

(Pictured below is me, likely contemplating what hell I’m about to face on a crowded BART train home.)

Even socializing became a mental cost-benefit calculation. Gas. Parking. Eating out. I was constantly running the numbers in my head. I loved being close to family and friends. But beyond those relationships, I felt stuck, with no clear path forward. The place I once loved no longer loved me back.

I remember asking David, “What if we just up and left and started over somewhere new? Somewhere that would allow us to save up and actually be able to enjoy life?”

A small part of me wondered if that meant we were giving up. That maybe if we just kept pushing, we’d eventually “make it” in California. And maybe we would have…but at what cost?

A New Chapter in the Desert

We were lucky. David’s dad owned a condo in Las Vegas with a stipulation that it could only be rented to family members. We proposed the idea (it was mutually beneficial) and soon after, we set off on a new adventure.

(Pictured below is me with our entire life packed into our car.)

We didn’t have jobs lined up, but I had a feeling things would work out. And they did.

I connected with one of my alumni communities out here, attended a brunch, and two weeks later, someone I met called me about a job opening that aligned perfectly with my skills and background.

The Magic of Las Vegas

Las Vegas has always felt a little magical to me. It fascinates me that someone once looked at a desert and imagined building a vibrant city smack dab in the middle of it.

I’ve heard people say it’s a city with a small-town feel, and I’d agree. I’ve often run into friends while running errands and discovered unexpected shared connections. It’s a place where people carve out community in surprising ways.

Before moving here, I only thought of Las Vegas as The Strip. But there’s so much more to it: diverse communities, incredible food, and activities for just about every interest from hiking to aerial fitness. 

Some of the Most Unexpected and Beautiful Things Happened Here:

• We won a home makeover contest (that I entered on a whim!) that helped us fix up my father-in-law’s condo, sell it, and use some of the proceeds toward our current (soon-to-be-former) home.
  
• I paid off my student loans. Thanks to Nevada’s no state income tax and lower cost of living, we reached our financial goals much faster.
  
• We took our first real vacations—Hawaii and a cruise to Mexico.
  
• I made some close friends who’ve walked through different life stages with me.
  
• We had our son—something I never imagined would be part of our story. I’d once felt absolutely certain I wouldn’t have children, mostly because I didn’t see how we could make it work financially in California. Moving here made space for that possibility.

Living here gave me something I hadn’t had in years: space to slow down. I was able to explore my interests, try new things, and rest (like, truly rest) after years of being stretched thin.

So… Why Move Now?

Sometimes you outgrow places. You grow in ways that call for a different environment—one that better aligns with who you are now.

And I think it’s important to give yourself permission to change course when the one you’re on no longer serves you.

Now that I have a child, being closer to family and living in a more temperate climate has become a priority. I want to raise my son in a place where he can grow up surrounded by extended family and where we can spend more days playing outside. Thankfully, we’re in a very different place now. California no longer feels like a stretch of survival, but a place we can return to with intention and stability.

I’ll miss my friends here. I’ll miss the desert sunsets and our favorite restaurants. I’ll miss the first house we made a home—the one where we welcomed new life and grew into who we are now. 

Las Vegas gave me space to breathe, lifelong friendships, the courage to slow down, and proof that choosing a different path can lead you right where you’re meant to be.

Thank you, Las Vegas—for the memories, the lessons, and love.