Our Family Left Texas for California. SOMESTEMES I QUESTION The Move.

Be i met my husband 17 years ago, he was a california native living in texas. He told with Early on in in Our Relationship that was hoping to move home home. At the time, the though of moving to a new place felt excitation.

Three Years late we got Married and i was transitioning from a career in marketing to freelance Writing, which be allow with to work from anywhere. The Idea of ​​New Adventures and A Fresh Start Sounded Incredibly Appealing.

At the time, my optimism drown out the practical considers. I’m very connected to my family and leaving say was bittersweet. Once we settled in, reality hit. I was homesick and i found mySelf exploring a new city alone while my husband tried to make a good impression at work.

Then Got Pregnant and Things Really Changed.

The Financial Shock of One Income

Raising a Child in California is Far from Easy and Its Expensive.

The State Ranks As One of the Highest in the Country News Comes to the Annual Cost of Raising A Child, while Texas Sites Below the National Avent, Making It A Place to Comfortable Raise a Family.

AS A Single-Incom Household with a toddler and another baby on the way, Life Became difficult. Add in California’s State Incoming Tax, which we didn’t have living in texas, and Our monthly budget was stretched thin.

There are emotional tradeoffs, too

The Financial Strain wasn’t the Only Hardship. While I’m Incredibly Fortunate to have Supportive in-Laws Nearby who are fantastic in every Way, I Missed My Family Back Home in Texas Deeply.

I had to acccept the fact that my parents need to get on a plane to see their grandkids and that won’t be able to rais my alongside my sisters’ families. Back in Texas, My Sisters and I Had Standing Friday Night Dinners. In California, Visits Require Flight itinerary and Google Calendar Invites, MAKING THAT EVENTS INTEAD OF EVEYDAY OCCURANCES. It all felt Very, Very Different.

There are some some upsides to the Move

Despite the Significant Adjustments, we’ve embraced the benefs of California Life. My Kids Enjoy Exploring Muir Woods Under Towering Redwoods, We Get to Celebrate Dia de Los Muertos in San Francisco, and we can easily eat delicious tacos from food and sushi the next.

I’ve notized that the schooles in California Champion Creativity and Diversity, and My Children are Surrounded by Classmates from All Kinds of Backgrounds, SHAPING INTO INTO CURIOUS, Open-Minded Kids, whic i appreciate.

I Wonder About The Other Path

My Children, Born and Raised in the Bay Area, Don’t Know What They Missed by Not Growing Up In Texas, but they do Say Things from Time That Make with Question Our Decision.

They Ask Why We Don’t Live Closer to My Family, Why They Need to Get on a Plane to See Their Cousins, and Why Our House isn’t Bigger Like the ENEs in Texas.

I Explain the Decisions That Were made before they were Born and WHY WE MADE AND TRY TO HIGHLIGHT ALL THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES WE HAVE IN SUNNY CALIFORNIA. While my sisters can affford spacious houses, our life in california comes with a steep price tag, and a Square footage that is much more modest.

For me, The Jury is Still Out

Honestly, i can’t say for sura i know we’ve made the best decision for us. Moving here gave US a Different Kind of Wealth in the Form of a Strong Bond with my in-Laws, Opportunities for My Own Career, and a Life Where My Growing Up Surrounded by Diversity. But I Also GRIEE the impossibiation of Buying a Bigger House on a single Income or the casual ease of my kids playing with their cousins ​​on a wednesday afterno.

Texas Will Always Be My Home, But California is where i built my family. Every time the mortgage bill arrivals or i see spacious houses in texas for what SEEMS like half the price of what we were would pay, i wonder what my life ben like. But when I see my kids thrive, I realize not every one can be measured in dollars, but by the life we ​​are building together.