I moved from Connecticut to the South chasing a cheaper, simpler life. It wasn't at all what I expected, so I moved back.

Sandra Bonola moved to Charleston, South Carolina, in 2021. Courtesy of Sandra Bonola/Getty Images Sandra Bonola left Connecticut for the South in search of a cheaper home and more excitement. After living in South Carolina, she realized the South wasn't as affordable or fun as she'd hoped. Now back in Connecticut, Bonola said costs are higher, but she's happier. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Sandra Bonola, 56, who moved from Connecticut to Charleston, South Carolina...