Why staying put can make you happier

Kira M. Newman, Greater Good.- For the past five years, I haven’t lived anywhere for more than six months. I spent 28 days in Lisbon, three months in Bali, and a random half-year in downtown Las Vegas. With just two suitcases in tow, I was lucky enough to scuba dive in Thailand, explore the ruins of Pompeii, and sing karaorke with a Korean movie star.

Moving continuously has its downsides.According to Melody Warnick, author of the new book This Is Where You Belong, that makes me a Mover with a capital M. And I have plenty of company: These days, the average American moves nearly 12 times in their lifetime, and 12 percent of Americans move in a given year.

But moving continuously has its downsides, according to Warnick. Research shows that people who like their hometown and their neighbors are less anxious and have higher well-being; they’re less likely to experience physical ailments, heart attacks, or stroke; and they even live longer. And one survey found that the happier residents are with their town, the more it prospers economically.

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