When Brenda Duncan Cusick packed up her life in California, she wasn’t just chasing sunshine — she was running from a storm.
Sky-high living costs, wildfires creeping closer to her doorstep, and a broken insurance industry had left her burned out.
But in a twist worthy of a feel-good movie, she found peace, purpose, and financial freedom in a mountain town straight out of a Hallmark film.
Leaving the Fires Behind for Good
For nearly 20 years, Brenda lived in Moorpark, a town about an hour outside Los Angeles.
It had been home — until it started to feel like a threat.
After the devastating Woolsey Fire of 2018 came dangerously close, she knew it was only a matter of time before another blaze could reach her street.
Working as an insurance agent only made things worse.
She watched her clients’ premiums skyrocket as wildfire risks grew, and she struggled to convince homeowners to stay properly covered.
But people were desperate to cut costs, and her job became more about warnings than wins.
“People didn’t want to hear they needed more coverage,” she said.
“They’d have a million-dollar home and a business, but they just couldn’t afford what they really needed.”
Financial Reality Hits Hard
It wasn’t just wildfires pushing Brenda out — it was California’s punishing cost of living.
Her mortgage in Moorpark was a staggering $3,309 a month.
Add in pricey gas, outrageous utility bills, and vehicle registration fees, and retirement started looking like a pipe dream.
When COVID-19 opened the doors to remote living, Brenda and her husband saw an opportunity.
They decided to take a leap and find a place where they could breathe again — financially and emotionally.
Starting Fresh in Arizona’s Mountain Charm
They sold their California home and headed to Prescott, Arizona — a scenic mountain town surrounded by national forest and full of Western charm.
Their new 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom home slashed their mortgage nearly in half, down to $1,672 a month.
Utility bills dropped too — they now average just $373 per month in total, including HOA fees.
Back in California, they’d routinely paid between $400 and $1,200 just to keep the lights on and the AC running.
“The financial relief was instant,” Brenda said. “We could finally breathe.”
A Town Straight Out of a Movie
Prescott isn’t just affordable — it’s downright picturesque.
With its quaint downtown, historic buildings, and cool summer climate, it reminded Brenda of something out of a Hallmark movie.
“It’s a very western town in the mountains of Arizona,” she said.
“Everywhere you look, it feels like a movie set.”
And it’s not just for show. Prescott is a real community — one that celebrates its roots with an annual rodeo on the Fourth of July and draws thousands of visitors thanks to its prime location between Phoenix and the Grand Canyon.
Reinventing Herself After Retirement
Brenda didn’t just find a new home — she found a new life.
After walking away from the insurance grind, she dove into her local community and launched the Prescott Food Tour, showing off the culinary gems of her new hometown.
“It’s completely the opposite of selling boring, impossible insurance,” she laughed.
“I’m not making the kind of money I used to, but when you’re retired, you get to do things that make you happy.”
A Reminder That There’s Life Beyond California
Brenda’s story is part of a larger trend. Hundreds of thousands of Californians have packed up in recent years, citing everything from natural disasters to economic strain.
For Brenda, it wasn’t just about money — it was about peace, freedom, and a better way to live.
“Leaving California was scary at first,” she admitted. “But once we did it, we realized there are so many beautiful, welcoming places in this country.”