I lived in LA for 20 years. It took moving my 3 kids to a small Arizona town to find what I'd been missing.
A quiet place to return
Near the end of 2024, Podany’s family of five had once again left Los Angeles for Snowflake, about 10 hours south. The town had first been a stop during a trip to visit her husband’s family in New Mexico, and they kept returning when they wanted a break from city life.
In Snowflake, Podany said, the family could catch its breath. Each visit left them calmer, and leaving made them wish they could stay. Eventually, they bought a four-bedroom house surrounded by land, with chickens, cows and a turkey, so they would have a place to stay instead of renting an Airbnb.
Life in their Burbank duplex
Before the move, the family lived in Burbank in one half of a duplex made from two connected apartments. Their home had two bedrooms and one bathroom; Podany and her husband used the other apartment to run their separate businesses.
The neighborhood was close to a busy road, so the parents were careful about the children playing outside. Podany said she often held a child’s hand when they went out, while planes flew overhead near Burbank Airport. As the children and businesses grew, the family felt increasingly confined.
Familiar routines, calmer days
The family’s daily rhythm did not change much after moving. They still began mornings at a coffee shop, worked, homeschooled, ate meals and went to sleep. In Snowflake, Podany said, there was only one coffee shop rather than about 20 choices.
Even with familiar routines, the quieter setting has made the family feel more peaceful. Podany said the move also gave her room to think more broadly, brought new creativity and helped her business grow.
More room for the children
Podany said her children love Snowflake and did not need persuading to move. They can spend time outside without the same concerns about traffic and crime, and other children are a bike ride away.
The larger house gives the family more space indoors, while the surrounding land offers room to explore. Podany also described a town where people stop to talk and are less hurried. She and her husband still sometimes travel to Los Angeles for work, but she said returning to Snowflake reassures her that the family made the right choice.
Key points
- Jen Podany moved her family from Burbank to Snowflake, Arizona, after years of visiting the town.
- The family bought a four-bedroom home with land, animals and space for the children to play.
- Podany says the slower pace has brought calm and helped her business grow.
- The family kept its daily routines, including starting each morning at a coffee shop.