After years of home ownership, I decided to rent. It was the best decision I could've made.

I now rent an apartment after years of owning a home.

Stacy Boe Miller

When I was a homeowner, I spent many mornings tending to my chickens in the yard and evenings playing Monopoly with my kids by the fireplace.Owning a home felt like the quintessential American dream, and I bought my first property at 22. By the time I was 33, my then-husband and I sold our first home and bought another. Over the years, however, I learned that owning a house came with a lot of stress and financial pressure.Now, I'm 47 and divorced, with a steady corporate job and a higher salary than I've ever had. My kids are grown and have moved out, and I have great credit.Yet, despite the cultural expectations for people at my stage of life and with my income, I've chosen to rent for the last five years.When my marriage first ended, I thought about buying again. I even asked a friend in real estate to keep an eye out for a home that fit my needs. But as time went on, I realized that renting better fits my lifestyle and makes me feel more secure than buying ever did.These days, my partner and I live in a downtown apartment, a choice that sets me apart from many of my friends my age, but has come with lots of perks.