I bought a mountain condo sight unseen, and now I'm ready to leave

Diana Kightlinger purchased a condo in a Virginia mountain resort in late spring 2021, intending to care for her mother, who died shortly after the purchase. She bought the property sight unseen, securing a low mortgage rate. Initially, Kightlinger felt isolated in the community, where most properties were second homes or rentals, with only one light visible in her building during evening strolls.

The stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains provided some solace, but Kightlinger sought more connection. She initiated a Facebook post from her dog Cody's perspective, seeking friends for walks, which led to the formation of the Dog Owners Group (DOG), now with over 500 members. This helped Kightlinger and Cody find a sense of belonging.

Through attending resort events like wine tastings, Kightlinger found a close-knit community that offered support. However, she notes that the community largely consists of white, retired or remote-working empty-nesters, leading to a small dating pool and limited cultural diversity. The monthly music festival, which brings in performers of various backgrounds, highlights the broader world Kightlinger misses.

The cost of living in the mountain resort also presents challenges. Kightlinger points to the expense of maintaining a vehicle for the 12-mile drive up the mountain and the higher prices for goods and services, akin to 'island pricing.' The long drives to access amenities like grocery stores are also time-consuming and costly. To mitigate this, she stocks up at Costco and utilizes the local farmers market. She also purchased a recreational membership to the resort's social club for gym access.

Despite the drawbacks, Kightlinger acknowledges the perk of easy access to hiking trails, including sections of the Appalachian Trail. However, she is now ready to leave mountain living behind and is setting her sights on moving to Maine.