I grew up in Orlando, Florida, but never experienced summers as hot as this. That's why I bought a second home in North Carolina, and might move there for good.

• Mary Cannon, a Florida native, purchased a second home in Hayesville, North Carolina, in 2021. 
• She said the climate crisis has transformed Florida and she fears it's a dangerous place to live.
• Cannon said she's part of a wave of Floridians who have purchased homes in North Carolina.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Mary Cannon, who purchased a second home in Hayesville, North Carolina, a four-hour drive west of Charlotte, to escape the summertime heat in Florida. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I'm Mary Cannon and I am 36 years old. I'm a senior trial attorney, working remotely for a Manhattan law firm. I also have my own firm that specializes in trademark law. 

I was born in Florida and have lived there my entire life. The state technically has a subtropical climate, however, the heat has become truly unbearable.

On really bad days, my only outdoor time is between air-conditioned spaces like the car and whatever building I'm entering. It actually feels unsafe on a regular basis.

There are even days where we won't sit on our back porch, because the heat feels dangerous.

In November 2021, my husband and I purchased a second home in Hayesville, North Carolina. We try to spend our summers there and visit throughout the year. 

My family is outside more in Hayesville, which makes a big difference in everybody's mood. It is nice to actually be able to enjoy summertime again, and we are seriously considering a permanent move. 

Living in Florida is becoming unbearable 

I was born in Miami and lived there until I was 8 years old. In 1995, my family and I moved to Orlando after experiencing Hurricane Andrew.

Growing up in Orlando, I remember wearing sweaters and jackets in the wintertime. But now cold weather is a rarity. I can go all winter without needing any outerwear, and my nearly 3-year-old son has never worn anything like that in Florida. 

Months out of the year I find myself unable to enjoy being outdoors due to the heat. My family and I go to Disney World on a regular basis and I've seen things that I don't remember witnessing growing up, like people begging for ice or fainting. 

The weather is nicer in North Carolina and my son thrives here 

My husband and I chose to purchase a second home in North Carolina because of the state's beauty and its hospitable climate. 

We purchased a $775,000 home that sits on 29 acres. The home was built in 1994 and is way bigger than our home in Orlando. In Orlando, we own a three-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bathroom home that my husband purchased in 1994 for $94,500.

Our home in Hayesville has five bedrooms and four bathrooms. It comes with a basement apartment, a creek in the backyard, a 100-foot waterfall, and a porch where we can soak up the sunlight. 

There have been droves of Floridians moving to North Carolina, and the locals don't particularly like that. Nevertheless, we've started making some friends in the city. This year, we met some neighbors who we expected to be locals, but it turns out they're from Florida.

Coming from Florida, life in Hayesville feels like heaven. When my family and I come into town, I can feel a physical change. I have more relaxed breathing and tension leaves my body. 

My son also thrives in Hayesville. I'm noticing a huge difference in his development when we're here versus when we're in Orlando.

For fun, my family and I like to hang out in Hayesville's downtown area, which has a historic town square. When it comes to outdoor activities, we go for walks or hang out in our own backyard. The wildlife here is incredible and we've seen bears, pigs, turkeys and deers at our house. 

I think for our mental health, it's important to be outside in nature versus being cooped up in a box all day.