I've lived in 4 different cities, each one smaller than the last. This pattern's been great as I've gotten older.

• I grew up living in various US cities, and once I became an adult, I also found myself moving often.
• From Mexico City to DC to Burlington, Vermont, I started moving to smaller and smaller cities.
• Now, I live in a college town, which is the perfect fit for my lifestyle and young family.

I've spent my whole life exploring new places. Growing up, my family moved all over the US, from my birthplace of Cincinnati to Boston, Dallas, and various other cities.

As an adult, I've continued that trend, moving to progressively smaller cities over the years, before settling in my current home: a New Hampshire college town of under 7,000 people.

I've never once moved because I disliked where I lived; in fact, each place was exactly what I wanted at that time in my life.

Of course, there were logistical factors involved in my decisions, like jobs, relationships, and proximity to family. Like most people, though, my interests and priorities changed over the years.

By moving to places that aligned with my interests, I felt like I could really take advantage of those changes.

After grad school, I chose a fast-paced life in Mexico City

Looking for some adventure in my mid-20s, I moved to Mexico City, one of the largest metropolises in the world, with a population of millions.

There was always something new to experience, from restaurants to museums to day trips to spectacular ancient pyramids.

Along with all the adventures, however, came the chaotic quirks of big-city life. Traffic was often so horrendous that getting out of the city took some effort, and with that traffic came pollution — if the air quality was too poor, I had to limit my outdoor exercise.

Although my time in Mexico City was exciting, after a few years, I was ready for something a little more laid-back.

Washington, DC, felt quieter but still offered the benefits of city life

From Mexico, I moved to Washington, DC, a city with a population of around 700,000.

I had good friends in the area, and it felt like a place with lots of job opportunities and tons of other young people starting their careers.

I loved the endless choice of happy hours, fun outdoor events, and movies on the National Mall. Plus, it was great being able to leave my apartment and go for a run or a bike ride through Rock Creek Park, even spotting the occasional deer or fox.

After six years, though, I began to tire of the buttoned-up happy-hour scene — and also the rush-hour traffic.

I also wanted a home with a little more space, and given my income and the price of housing in the city, that would mean moving out to the suburbs, as many of my friends had done.

The thought of dealing with a daily commute into the city was enough to make me consider my options.

When a job opened up in Burlington, Vermont, I jumped at the chance

Burlington seemed like a perfect fit: a lively midsize city with a population of around 45,000 and proximity to mountains, ski resorts, and lakes.

Unlike in DC, I was able to get a place in town with a small yard, where I could plant a little garden and throw a ball for the dog I adopted shortly after moving.

Burlington is a beautiful city with a large downtown pedestrian street lined with shops and restaurants. I loved spending a day hiking, cycling to the Burlington Bike Path, or simply relaxing on one of the town beaches.

While there, I met my partner, and we frequently visited my family, who lived a few hours away in New Hampshire. After each visit, I found myself wishing I could stay a few more days.

Now, living in Plymouth offers a sense of community and outdoor activities right outside our door

After six years in Burlington, we decided to move to Plymouth, New Hampshire, a college town of under 7,000 people. We've now been here for almost five years.

These days, I spend my free time playing with our young daughter, hiking with our dog, and enjoying any combination of biking, camping, paddling, skiing, fishing, and trail running — all just minutes from our house.

We were able to find a house with a spacious yard, where we now have a large garden, a chicken coop with three laying chickens, and plenty of room for our daughter and dog to run around.

Plus, we can still easily walk to town to grab a meal, see a movie, or catch a concert with other families on the town green.

My late nights in Mexico City and happy hours in DC have been replaced with morning hikes, evening boat rides, and quiet dinners with friends and family in my small town.

Although I never set out to live in a smaller community with each move, I've found that each environment has been perfect for my life stage.

For now, our current home is exactly where we want to be, but who knows what we'll need five or 10 years down the line? At this rate, maybe our next stop will be a cabin deep in the woods.