I'm a conservative who moved from California to Texas during the pandemic, but I only stayed 2 years before moving back to Orange County.

Sat, 07/13/2024 - 08:26

Heather Nickens poses for a photo on the beach and poses in a photo holding an American flag — Heather Nickens moved from Orange County, California, to Dallas, Texas, in 2022 and returned to California earlier this year.
Courtesy of Heather Nickens

Heather Nickens is a conservative Christian who moved from California to Texas in 2022.
Nickens had grown tired of California's high cost of living and pandemic response.
But after getting to Texas, she realized she missed California's beautiful weather and sunny beaches.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Heather Nickens, a 52-year-old radiation therapist who moved from Orange County, California, to Dallas in 2022 after growing frustrated by California's pandemic restrictions and high cost of living. But Nickens only stayed in Texas for two years before returning to California because she missed the weather and access to nature.