I loved living in Florida. The natural disasters and constant flooding drove me out.

Homes in Bradenton, Florida. zimmytws/Getty Images Lorraine English, 72, loved living in Florida, but hurricanes made life there difficult. In 2025, she moved from Bradenton — a city along the Manatee River — to Asheville, North Carolina. English says that with fewer natural disasters and lower housing costs, her quality of life has improved. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lorraine English, a 72-year-old Floridian who moved to North Carolina in 2025. The conversation ...