A Life Reclaimed: How One Mover Found Safety, Community, and Creative Freedom in Muncie, Indiana

When Tatiana relocated to Muncie, Indiana, she wasn’t just moving to a new city—she was rebuilding her life. Through MakeMyMove, she found more than housing support and a fresh start. She found peace, purpose, and the freedom to create a life on her terms.

It all started with a random click.

“I stumbled across an article in Forbes about people being paid to relocate,” Tatiana said. “I was skeptical—but intrigued.”

That article eventually led her to MakeMyMove, a platform that would change her future.

“I’ve lived in 15 different states,” she said. “This was my 16th—and somehow it was the easiest move I’ve ever made.”

That ease was a welcome relief. The support she received—both from the MakeMyMove team and the Muncie community—marked a turning point. From waived deposits to fast housing connections, every detail was handled with care. Even her job situation, which had been uncertain after a recent layoff from Apple, resolved quickly when she landed a new remote role helping others access Medicaid benefits.

“I tell everyone I meet who works remotely about MakeMyMove,” she said. “It’s a chance to build a better life in a place that’s affordable, welcoming, and full of opportunity.”

Rediscovering Joy and Creativity

Muncie didn’t just offer stability—it sparked something in Tatiana that had been dormant for years. An artist and entrepreneur at heart, she quickly became involved in the local arts scene, joining the Minnetrista Museum and Gardens as a sponsor-level member and exploring opportunities at the Cornerstone Center for the Arts and local community theater.

She’s dreaming about relaunching Fountains of Flowers, her former floral and crafting business, and is in the running to open a creative studio and coffee shop in a historic downtown storefront.

“I want it to be a space where people can stop in for a great cup of coffee, learn a new skill, or just be together,” she said. “Not everything has to be therapy—but everyone needs community.”

Choosing a City That Cares

From her first days in Muncie, Tatiana noticed something different. Whether she was attending a city meeting about a local restoration project or chatting with vendors at the farmers market, she felt a sense of connection—and of care.

“I told them the reason I chose this place is because you save your buildings,” she said. “You honor your history instead of bulldozing it. That matters to people like me.”

She’s already volunteered for several community events and is looking forward to Halloween festivities and fairy-themed festivals. The day-to-day pace here feels lighter, she says—more human.

“I feel like I belong here,” Tatiana said. “I haven’t felt that in a long time.”

A Fresh Start After a Difficult Past

Before coming to Muncie, Tatiana had been in a long-term relationship that had become increasingly unsafe. For over a year, she quietly researched relocation programs, hoping for a way out when the time was right. Then, one day, it was.

A dangerous situation at home escalated quickly, and Tatiana knew she needed to leave. Days later, an email arrived—Muncie’s MakeMyMove program had reopened, and she was eligible.

“I took it as a sign,” she said. “Everything lined up, and I knew it was time to go.”

In just two weeks, she packed what she could, brought her dogs, and left everything else behind. The move wasn’t easy emotionally, but the process itself—thanks to support from MakeMyMove and Muncie’s program coordinator Amber Greene—was seamless.

“This move didn’t just help me survive—it’s helped me thrive,” she said.

Living Fully—and Spending Locally

Life in Muncie is not only emotionally fulfilling, but financially sustainable. Tatiana points out that services she once considered a luxury—like salon appointments and manicures—are now affordable again.

“In Washington or California, I was paying over $500 for hair,” she said. “Here, it’s $180. And my nails? $45. And just as good.”

When she received her relocation check from MakeMyMove, she spent it on art from a local vendor—another way, she says, of rooting herself in the place she now calls home.

“I spend locally on purpose,” she said. “That’s the whole point of this program—reviving communities and creating new roots.”

Sharing Possibility—and a Broader Vision

Tatiana isn’t keeping her experience to herself. She’s shared the MakeMyMove platform with friends and colleagues across the country—especially fellow remote workers who are feeling stuck or priced out of their current cities.

“I talk to people in New York, Washington and California. They’re working the same jobs I am, but they’re just scraping by,” she said. “I send them the link and say, ‘Look what’s possible.’”

She believes that programs like this one have the potential to help not just individuals but entire regions, especially those facing population decline.

“In college towns, people graduate and leave. Parents move away once their kids are grown. You end up with a gap—there’s no one in the 30–50-year-old range, and that’s who keeps small businesses alive,” she explained. “That’s who has the spending power to invest in the local economy.”

By attracting remote workers in that key age group, she says, communities like Muncie can sustain themselves—and even thrive.

Looking Ahead

Today, Tatiana is rebuilding—one project, one connection, one joyful moment at a time. Whether she’s volunteering at a festival, dreaming up a new art class, or enjoying a quiet day with her dogs, she’s creating a life that finally feels like her own.

“There’s so much here I didn’t even know I needed,” she said. “And I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface.”

For the first time in years, Tatiana isn’t just surviving—she’s home.