Breckenridge Texan

By Desirée Powell

In 2023, my husband John and I got very frustrated living in the Dallas area. Traffic had gotten so much worse, and no matter which direction you went to leave town, it took an hour and a half just to get out of town. He worked from home with some travel and I hadn’t worked in years, so moving somewhere with work available wasn’t relevant. We just knew we wanted to go west to be somewhat closer to my family in Odessa. We found the perfect home that had everything we were looking for in Breckenridge. And that’s how we began our “living in the country” phase of life!

Living in the country is a little like stepping back into the last century, when families were a priority, but nowadays we have cell phones, computers and Facebook. Here, families are still important. Big families are common; families with 4 or 5 kids. Kids still go outside to play. They ride their bicycles and take fishing poles to the nearest watering hole. They join the FFA and the 4H. Even though it’s a little like being on the outside and looking in since we are childless, it is one of the things I was pleasantly surprised to see after moving here.

Moving from a population of over 1.3 million to one with fewer than 6,000 was enlightening, for sure. I’ve been asked many times if I experienced culture shock, and the truth is, no. I knew what we were getting into. Mostly. Now, don’t get me wrong; it was a big change from what I was used to. The first shocking thing I learned about small-town living was how almost every restaurant in town closed daily at 2 p.m. This was disheartening after a long day of moving. Some reopened for dinner, but most did not. This was not something we’d considered before moving here, and of course, we now know it’s the norm.

I also learned how much small towns rely on Facebook. Almost every restaurant puts its daily specials on Facebook. Local businesses do not have websites but instead rely on Facebook to promote their businesses. If you want to know what’s going on around town, you only have to check out your local Chamber of Commerce’s Facebook page. I firmly believe that if you want to keep up to date in a small town, Facebook is vital. When you don’t have a local TV station, you rely not only on Facebook for events and activities but for news as well. You never know when wildfire will break out, when a water pipe will burst, or when a zebra is on the loose!

I’m frequently asked if I miss living in Dallas, and, honestly, not so much. Of course, I miss live music, restaurants, the occasional fine dining, same-day Amazon deliveries, and DoorDash with more than a few options. What I miss most, however, is our circle of friends and the lifelong friendships that were made in Dallas. Moving somewhere where you don’t know a soul is lonely, especially for an outgoing extrovert like me.

There are a few things that have been surprising as well. My husband and I used to enjoy traveling; nowadays, we have no desire to be in traffic or crowds. Also, I used to hate driving; now I don’t mind so much. There’s something about country roads where you see cows instead of cars. Just the other day, I was coming back from Graham and had to brake to avoid hitting a roadrunner, and about 500 feet later, I braked for a coyote. I kid you not. They were headed in the same direction, too. That was most definitely a first! I digress. I especially love the fact that we can get anywhere in Breckenridge in about 5 minutes.

The absolutely very best thing about small-town living, though, is the people! I was told Breckenridge could be cliquish, and that has not been our experience at all. I’ve met all types of people from all walks of life. Everyone I’ve met is so welcoming. If someone loses a family member or their business burns down, this town comes together and rallies around that family. Within days, there will be a raffle or Facebook auction to raise money. It truly warms my heart.

If you want to integrate well into a small town and meet people, you have to become involved. Volunteer where you can and as often as you can. For me, being involved keeps me busy and sane. In 2024, I signed up to be a mentor for Virginia’s House; this is something I had also done in Dallas. Then I began volunteering at the Breckenridge Fine Arts Center, and that’s really where things changed for me and I began meeting people. Around that same time we thought joining the Elks Lodge would allow us to meet new people, so we did (and I became Secretary in November of 2024). Next, I became a CASA with Dr. Goodall’s House. Toward the end of 2025, I was asked to join the Board at the Chamber of Commerce, which I proudly said yes to. In January 2026, I began substitute teaching. Now, I’m busy all the time, as you can imagine. It has been great and a little wild going from not knowing a soul to seeing someone you know everywhere you go!

Everything about our lives has changed since leaving Dallas. I do think moving to a small town is one of the best things we’ve ever done, and I wouldn’t change a thing!

The Breckenridge Texan welcomes columns, essays and other stories by our readers. Contact us at news@breckenridgetexan.com.