>Funnily enough, I left a comparable (to Boston, in incomes, house prices, political attitudes, etc.) metro for a smaller city in a stereotypical "red state", which the residents of my former city are fond of describing as a third-world country. My quality of life has increased in almost all the ways I care about.

I'm having anxiety about moving from downstate New York to Lexington, Kentucky. I've spent time there, I enjoy the city and the surrounding area, but I keep coming back to "If I don't like it I can always move back", instead of "The upsides far outweigh the downsides. You'll like it."

Thanks for this.