- I loved living and working in Belfast and took advantage of all the city had to offer for years.
- Eventually, I grew tired of the fast-paced, cramped feel of city living.
- I left the city to move to the quiet, coastal town of Bangor. I have more space, and I’m happier.
I moved to Belfast, one of Ireland’s most bustling and famous cities, in 2010.
I was working my dream job with some of the greatest people in the industry on one of the biggest shows in the world, “Game of Thrones.” Life was good and busy for years.
But after about a decade, the city’s buzz started to fade, and I yearned for a slower pace of life.
Eventually, I found sanctuary by the sea in a quaint coastal town just 25 minutes from the outskirts of Belfast.
I loved city living for years until I got sick of the constant buzz
Belfast has everything you’d expect an Irish city to have — lots to do, tons of bars and restaurants, and super-friendly people.
I shopped in bespoke boutiques, ate at expensive restaurants, and drank in fancy cocktail bars while also attending parties and events.
Between my long days at work and social engagements, I rarely spent any time in my own home. Life was full-speed ahead, and I had little time for myself, family, or friends.
Although I was busy, I felt like I was living the dream and taking advantage of all Belfast had to offer. But after a few years, I felt like I’d maxed out on city living.
What had attracted me to Belfast started to push me away. Tired of the constant buzz of people, lights, and traffic, I began yearning for a slower pace of life.
In 2020, the coronavirus pandemic gave me the final push I needed to leave. For months, I found myself cooped up in my tiny city apartment with no outdoor space. Leaving my home wasn’t much comfort since Belfast still felt as busy as ever to me.
As I walked past queues of people waiting 45 minutes just to buy groceries and local parks teeming with people, I felt my inner voice say, “If not now, when?”
I found sanctuary in an Irish seaside town
In 2021, I took the leap and abandoned city living to move to Bangor in County Down.
I had friends and family in the peaceful seaside town, plus I’d grown up next to a beach in Ireland — a part of me had always longed to return to the sanctuary of the sea.
When I drove up to my new house in Bangor, I felt a wave of tranquility wash over me. I didn’t hit any traffic on the drive, something I rarely experienced in Belfast.
Going from a tiny apartment on a busy city street to a spacious home with luscious green trees, a garage, and a garden, felt like a dream come true.
Immediately, I embraced a slower pace of life. I installed a hot tub in my garden and started growing my own vegetables.
I wake up every morning to the sound of the Irish ocean lapping at the shore and visit the beach for daily walks so I can bask in the sea air.
I’m still grateful for my time in the city, but I feel much happier living in a town where my neighbors often stop to say hello and I don’t have to struggle to find a parking space.
Plus, a 25-minute drive can still get me to Belfast if I ever crave a taste of the city.
I think anyone contemplating leaving a busy city for a quieter town nearby should give it a try, too. After all … if not now, when?
