What I didn’t expect about living in New Hampshire’s Lakes Region year-round after spending most of my adult life in New York City.

I grew up in New Hampshire, so technically, moving back here in 2021 shouldn't have been a culture shock.

Except… it kind of was.

After spending most of my adult life in New York City, traveling, working, eating out, taking Ubers, ordering basically anything I wanted to my front door and generally living at a much faster pace, coming back to New Hampshire felt like stepping into a place I knew—and didn't know at all.

I expected to miss certain things about city life. 

What surprised me was how many things I didn't miss.

And even more surprising? Many of the things I disliked about NH as a kid, became some of my favorite parts of living here as an adult.

Here are 10 things that surprised me most about moving back to New Hampshire and settling into life in the Lakes Region.

1. It's actually easier to make friends than I expected.

I assumed that moving from NYC to a much smaller community would mean it would be harder to meet people. In New York, you're surrounded by people constantly. There are endless restaurants, gyms, networking events, classes, bars, coworkers and friends-of-friends.

But there's a difference between being surrounded by people and actually knowing people.

In New Hampshire, I've found that people are much more likely to talk to you. You see the same people at the gym, at the coffee shop, at community events, on the trails and around town.

It still takes work and intention to make new friends as an adult. But because the Lakes Region is such a community-oriented place, it's surprisingly easy for one introduction to turn into five more.

You might go to something because you know one person and leave knowing six.

2. Dressing wisely can actually make winter FUN.

I spent a lot of time in NYC wearing clothes that were cute, stylish, and completely inadequate for New Hampshire winter.

I've since learned an important lesson:

Winter is considerably more enjoyable when you dress for it instead of trying to pretend it's not happening.

Good boots. Warm socks. A real coat. Gloves. Hats. Shells. Moisture-wicking layers. 

Suddenly, 20 degrees seems like a sunny & warm winter day.

And once you're dressed properly, you can actually enjoy winter instead of spending four months complaining about it.

There is a whole world of skiing, snowshoeing, winter hiking, skating and walking around town that becomes much more appealing when you're not freezing.

3. The remote-work lifestyle is kind of a cheat code.

This might be the biggest one. 

If you can earn a big-city salary while living in New Hampshire, the lifestyle equation starts to look very different. 

When I moved from NYC back to NH, I kept my same remote job as a regional consultant for a large franchise. Instead of spending my days logging into Zoom in a shoebox-sized apartment, I was joining meetings from my patio with Lake Winnipesaukee an Prospect Mountain just past my laptop's screen. Instead of spending my lunch break navigating the afternoon rush at Zabar's, I was paddleboarding to a friend's house.

And, for people whose income is subject to New Hampshire's individual tax rules, there's another major financial consideration: No income tax. And as of 2025, there is no interest & dividends tax either.  

I moved to NH and automatically got a nearly $10k/year raise working the exact same job.

Obviously, taxes get more complicated if you work for an employer based in another state, own a business, or have other types of income, so this isn't tax advice. But for the right remote job? Game-changer.

And yes, there are legitimate $100K+ remote jobs out there.

Browse current $100K+ remote jobs on Indeed

4. Apparently, you can't just Uber everything (or anything).

Honestly, I'm still adjusting to this one. 

In NYC, you don't really think about transportation logistics. Need to go somewhere? Get an Uber.

Need groceries? Delivery.

Need dinner? Delivery.

Need something from a store? Walk 5 minutes down the street.

In New Hampshire, you sometimes have to… plan ahead.

Uber and delivery services do exist in some parts of the Lakes Region, but the availability and selection are nowhere near what you'd experience in most other places—and they can vary dramatically by town, season and time of day.

Keeping a frozen pizza on deck has been a lifesaver, since you can't necessarily decide at 9:47 p.m. that you're hungry and expect 10 restaurants to be fighting for your business. 

Which brings me to my next surprise…

5. The early bedtime is real.

Part of it is that there just isn't the same constant stimulation. You're not hearing traffic outside your window. You aren't walking past 37 restaurants and bars on your way home. There isn't always something happening around the corner.

And when you're spending your days outside, working, exercising, hiking, skiing, doing yard work or just generally moving at a different pace…

You get tired.

I used to think people who went to bed at 9:30 were simply missing out on life. Now? I've become an early-to-bed-early-to-rise person almost by accident.

And there's something pretty great about being up early, having coffee in a beautiful place and realizing you have an entire day ahead of you.

6. “Going out” means something completely different.

In NYC, going out could mean dinner at 8:30, drinks at 11, a concert at midnight and getting home sometime around 2 a.m.

In the Lakes Region, "going out" might mean dinner at 5:30, drinks at 7:30 and home by 9.

And I'm not mad about it.

There are absolutely places for night owls in the Lakes Region—you just have to know where to look, particularly in the off-season.

For example, Patrick's Pub & Eatery in Gilford currently lists Friday and Saturday kitchen hours until 10 p.m.

And there are other year-round bars and late-night spots around Laconia and the surrounding communities, although hours can change seasonally, so I always recommend checking before heading out.

The bigger adjustment isn't that there is nothing to do.

It's that you have to know where to go.

7. I spend my money more intentionally.

When you live in a city, convenience is everywhere—and convenience tends to create consumption. 

You walk past stores constantly. You order things constantly. You eat out constantly. You always have access to essentially everything that will make your life a little bit easier.  

But living in NH is already easier. There isn't the same need to splurge on comfort, since it's already comfortable here. I've subconsciously shifted my spending habits from those of convenience, to those of intention.

A weekend getaway in the mountains. A comfortable home. A day trip to Boston. New hiking gear. A new waterski setup. A few things to do on the weekend with friends.

8. You really do start planning your life around the weather.

This is one of those things you don't fully understand until you live here.

The weather isn't just something you check.

It determines what you're doing.

Snow coming tomorrow? Time to call up my ski buddy. 

Beautiful Saturday? I'm hiking.

It's going to rain all weekend? Maybe that's the weekend for brunch and a movie.

First really warm spring day? Let me dust off my running shoes.

And eventually, you stop fighting it.

You start looking at a forecast and thinking, Okay, what can we do with this?

That mindset makes a huge difference.

9. The seasons aren't something to “get through.”

I grew up thinking of winter as the price you paid for getting to summer. I spent it indoors, shivering, and waiting for it to be over.

Now- I truly look forward to winter. 

The Lakes Region is beautiful in summer, obviously. But winter, fall and spring each have their own personality.

Summer is boats, beaches, concerts and long evenings.

Fall is hiking, apple picking, pumpkin carving, foliage and those perfect crisp days.

Winter is skiing, snowshoeing, skating, cozy restaurants and a much quieter version of the area.

And spring—well, spring is mud season. Let's not get carried away. 

But even that has its charm.

10. My dog is living her best life.

I'll admit it: I never had a dog in NYC, so I can't really compare her city life to her New Hampshire life.

But here's what I can tell you: I have a dog who seems to think she won the lottery.

She swims. She goes boating. She paddleboards. She runs around in the grass like a maniac. Just last weekend, she spent the afternoon zooming around the yard like she had absolutely nowhere else to be and nothing else to do.

There is room to run. There are trails to explore. There are lakes to jump into. There are boats to ride on.

I may have been perfectly happy without a dog before moving back to New Hampshire, but watching her here has made me realize just how much there is to love about having a little more space and a lot more access to the outdoors.

She's happy. I'm happy. And apparently, somewhere along the way, I became a dog person.

Thinking About Moving to New Hampshire?

One of the things I appreciate most about being back in the Lakes Region is getting to see it from both perspectives: the person who grew up here and the adult who chose to come back.

If you're considering moving to New Hampshire from out of state or from across the globe, I'd be honored to help you get your bearings and learn to love it here as much as I do.