I moved to Denver and regretted it because it was freezing, expensive, and hard to make friends. I'm much happier now living in Spain.

• Eric Michiels moved from Atlanta to Denver in 2021. 
• He was excited about more opportunities to be in nature, but hated the unpredictable weather in Denver. 
• Michiels then moved to Spain and finds it easier to make friends. 

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Eric Michiels, a 51-year-old a former resident of Denver, Colorado, about his experience living in Denver. It's been edited for length and clarity.

I moved to Denver, Colorado in May 2021 from Atlanta, Georgia because of a job decision. I have a wife and two kids in their 20s and we all moved together.