I moved to Florida from Colorado. Things are more expensive, but I'm going to the beach a lot and already feel at home.

• Derek Edwards, 28 moved to Miami from Denver to be closer to the Caribbean.
• Life in the mountains didn't suit him, plus the community wasn't as diverse as he had wanted.
• He loves Florida's warm weather and beach access even though it's a little pricier to live there.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Derek Edwards, a 28-year-old theology teacher and soccer coach who moved from Denver to Miami this month. The conversation was edited for length and clarity.

I ended up enjoying Denver a lot more than I thought I would. I had planned to stay there for a year or two, and ended up staying for three years.

I went in with not a lot of expectations other than that it's close to the mountains and that there's lots of outdoor stuff to do.