Trading Rocky Mountain High for Lush, Friendly Kentucky Hills

After 25 years in Black Forest, Colorado, my husband and I were ready for shorter winters, friendly people and abundant water. We've been in Eastern Kentucky, in the glorious Red River Gorge region, for two months now. We are overjoyed by the endless outdoor adventure and milder winters, with waterfalls everywhere, plenty of kayaking and endless miles of trails. We're closer now to family and my deep Revolutionary War era roots. My maternal grandfather's people were Appalachian Kentuckians, and I'm less than an hour from the town my great grandmother Sarah (for whom I'm named) hails from. We were able to obtain everything in a homestead we wanted: 50 acres, living water everywhere (multiple streams with waterfalls and a pond) and plenty of room for chickens, crops and an orchard. For the first time in years, I was able to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with my parents, well into their 80s. Waving to strangers on a two-lane blacktop and sharing warm greetings with townspeople is such a welcome return to something better. This move has been lifechanging for my household.