She basically said, if you embrace the city and try to live the way the natives live, you will have your horizons broadened and really enjoy it for the unique place that it is. But if you try to resist change and remain stuck to your old ways, trying to live your old life, you're going to find yourself disappointed. I thought that was really interesting advice and applicable to just about anywhere you might move to.

The one thing we've learned from living in different cities is, every place is just SO different. Each one has unique things to offer that the others don't have. It's been an education to recognize that there are huge cultural differences across different regions of the US. And that there are usually good reasons behind those differences - often related to the history of the area or what local resources are available. But at the end of the day, probably 75% of your happiness in any given area is a direct result of your own choices and attitude.