I'm a Nashville local. It's expensive and overrun by tourists, but it's still the best city in the world.

• Bryan Clayton is a Tennessee native who moved to Nashville a decade ago to build his company.
• He used to love the downtown area, but it's become overrun with bachelorette parties and tourists.
• He avoids crowded areas but still loves the city's soul and plans to stay.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Bryan Clayton, a 43-year-old who has lived in Nashville for a decade. The following has been edited for length and clarity.