• Kimberly Wilkerson is a lifelong Californian who moved to Austin in 2022.
• She preferred Texas politics and enjoyed the state’s outdoors.
• Wilkerson moved back to California earlier this year to be near his family.

This essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Wilkerson, a 46-year-old self-published author and entrepreneur who moved to Austin from Oakley, California in 2022. She stayed for two and a half years before returning to California to be close to family.

I was born and raised in Northern California, primarily in the East Bay. I am a single mother of a 20-year-old son.

I felt blessed in California to be able to go to the snow, the beach, and the mountains. I could be in any climate I wanted within a few hours.

Our culture in California is very diverse. Growing up I had so many friends from all different countries. California is a hub for information and innovation. And that’s so beautiful.

But I don’t agree with much of what California’s leadership has done, and I’ve become increasingly frustrated with the policy. Both sides have their rights and wrongs. It’s a big, ugly mess.

I worked in the corporate world related to technology for a while. I was able to support both myself and my son and we felt comfortable. But I became disabled and was unable to work for a few years.

However, around 2022, I started feeling better and got the blessing of my doctors and was able to go back to work. I knew I couldn’t stay in California once I started working because my disability meant I was only paying a portion of my rent and other costs.

I knew I had to build a new life for myself. I started writing again. It just poured out of me and before I knew it I thought, “I’m writing a book!” I was given the money to self-publish it.

This really started a new life for me. I wanted to build this new creative career for myself, so I was willing to do almost anything when it came to jobs that would provide me with an income.

Both my son and I wanted to move out of California. I was offered the opportunity to move to Texas. I took a job as a night auditor, basically a hotel manager, for a large hotel chain.

I wanted to be able to buy a house. So we said, let’s do it. And we headed to Texas.

I was excited to move to Texas

I wasn’t actually afraid. My son and I had been through a lot and needed a fresh start.

We originally moved to Austin. But as Austin continued to grow, we moved north of the city. I see this happening a lot more often. People need to spread out because parts of Texas are growing so quickly.

The state is so much bigger than we give it credit for. You can drive 50 miles and see nothing but emptiness and fields.

However, once you arrive in Austin, you feel like you’re in a mini California. I think in the last few years a lot of people have moved there and influenced the culture.

Within a year of being in Texas I saw so much growth. It just throws everything out of balance.

But overall everyone was very nice and friendly to us. We were hugged in Texas.

The first question I was usually asked was, “What brings you here?” People want to know why you are there and whether you are screwing up their state.

My normal response was, “I know a lot of people moved here from California, and I think everyone has a different reason for it.”

I went to Texas to pursue the American dream. My top priority is to build a solid foundation for my son and his future family. That’s it. I don’t need much. I just need my little part.

I think the Texans understood that about me. I now have friends there who are like family.

The nature in Texas is undeniably the most peaceful and beautiful I have ever experienced in my life.

I also felt that Texas offered policies that I favored more than California.

I stayed in Texas for two and a half years

My mother became increasingly ill. Her health had deteriorated since my departure. I was hoping to move my mother to Texas, but that wasn’t possible. It was better for me to go back to California.

However, I still want to go back.

It was a difficult decision to some extent. I came back at the end of July.

There was good and bad. It was nice to see friends and family, and I did a lot of healing in my relationships here.

When I returned to my old church, they said, “We have reserved your seat; Here he is.” It was really beautiful. I felt very welcome.

Last night I saw my mother laughing and it was so beautiful. A moment like this makes it worth being here.

But I hope to return to Texas one day. I’m waiting for the next right thing, and ideally that would be when I get married. Then the place where my husband feels most comfortable will be my home.