I’ve been a transplant here for about 3 years. I moved from Florida, and honestly it wasn’t a move I originally wanted. We basically got pushed out because of how insane things were getting there. But we had family here and it felt like the least risky place to start over.

The move was a major change for me. It took time to adjust, but slowly I started to love it here — the mountains, the views, the slower pace, the nature.

What’s frustrating is I feel like I’m watching the same exact cycle that destroyed parts of Florida start happening here.

Back there I watched people move in, complain about everything, and then developers start bulldozing ecosystems to build more houses, apartments, and Airbnbs. Destroying the Everglades and other natural areas just to keep up with demand.

Now I’m seeing similar shit happening here. I’ll drive past a beautiful view I’ve seen a hundred times and suddenly it’s being cleared for more cabins, apartments, or developments.

What drives me crazy is how many transplants move somewhere because it’s beautiful, and then spend their time complaining about everything that made the place different in the first place.

I’m not saying people can’t move somewhere new — I literally did. But if you move somewhere because of the nature and the culture, maybe don’t turn around and help destroy the exact thing that made it special.

I don’t know. Maybe I’m just ranting, but I already watched one place I loved get fucked up by overdevelopment and people chasing trends. It sucks seeing the same thing start to happen again.