Newly single and 42, I left Connecticut for Montreal on a whim. People told me I was brave.
A 42-year-old travel journalist recounts her experience moving from Connecticut to Montreal on a whim following a breakup. Despite her extensive travel background, the transition triggered unexpected anxiety and highlighted the challenges of relocating later in life.
Why it matters
It reflects the growing trend of 'lifestyle migration' and the psychological realities of major life changes for middle-aged professionals.
Moving from Connecticut to Canada gave Erin Levi a panic attack. Provided by Erin Levi Last summer, Erin Levi left Connecticut and moved to Montreal on her own . She barely knew anyone in the city, and relocating at 42 gave her a panic attack. Moving to a new city while working for herself was hard, but it made her feel brave. Last summer, I left my life in Connecticut behind and moved to Montreal on a whim, without a plan. People told me I was brave. Really? I'm a travel journalist. I've followed a snow leopard expert across Nepal; I've lived with a family in Uzbekistan who didn't speak English; and I've had a private encounter with the King of Bhutan. Montreal is only a 6-hour drive from my hometown in Connecticut. It didn't seem brave to me. It seemed, frankly, safe.
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