Courtesy of Kimberly Wilkerson/Getty Images
- Kimberly Wilkerson is a lifelong Californian who moved to Austin in 2022.
- She preferred Texas’ politics and enjoyed the state’s nature.
- Wilkerson moved back to California earlier this year to be near family.
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Wilkerson, a 46-year-old self-published author and entrepreneur who moved from Oakley, California, to Austin in 2022. She stayed 2 ½ years before moving back to California to be close to family.
I was born and raised in Northern California, mostly in the East Bay. I’m a single mother to one son, who is 20 years old.
I felt blessed in California that I could go to the snow, the beach, and the mountains. I could be in any climate that I wanted within a few hours.
Our culture in California is very diverse. Growing up, I had so many friends from all different places. California is a hub for information and innovation. And that’s so beautiful.