In 2018,
Mary moved from a picturesque new, single-story home on half an acre, with a view of Mt. San Gorgonio, to a ranch in Oklahoma. They knew they wanted space and to stay busy in their retirement years.
“We had a ten-year plan. We knew we wanted to leave California and buy a place somewhere in the Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas area. The plan got accelerated to a 5-year plan for several reasons.”
Mary shared how the politics in California was a catalyst for the move. “California is at war with fossil fuels” highlighting how California experiences rolling ‘black-outs’ and ‘brown-outs’, not something experienced in other states; as well, the legislation to ban gas stoves. The cost of fuel and gasoline, and general cost of living, including taxes, is reason enough to leave. Other factors such as working conditions, traffic, state mandates about construction and the crowded communities lead to their departure. She expressed the state is going “backwards.”
Other factors are homelessness, illegal immigration and the presence of the cartel. She feels things are likely much worse than we realize, existing right before us, but someone is profiting so nothing is done about it. The liberal and woke mentality…allowing people to publicly defecate and urinate in front of our children, is not acceptable. If people need mental health intervention, condoning the behavior is the solution. “It starts with the State legislation”.
So I asked “How is life in Oklahoma?” I was told the people are amazing…friendly, gracious, kind and very hospitable.” There aren’t a lot of people; it’s not crowded and there’s no traffic. Lots of dirt roads and the taxes are low. It gets warm (90 degrees) and humid (60%) but “every place has 3 months of ‘bad’ weather. We just go inside in the air conditioning if it’s too uncomfortable”.
Mary grew up in Arizona and enjoyed being a part of FFA (Future Farmers of America.) She moved to Oklahoma after 30 years in California. She now enjoys a large farm with livestock, varied trees/landscape and warm and friendly people.
Her advice to those leaving California? “Leave your politics from where you came from.”