Escaping the Tyranny of California

[Kowalskiii]

Leaving the dire circumstances of my home state behind has brought immense relief to my family and me. For years, we wrestled with the decision to depart from what had evolved into a repressive regime, holding onto hope that the situation would improve. We convinced ourselves that the awakening of the populace would lead to positive change, that our rights would eventually be acknowledged and upheld in the Golden State. However, as time passed, the decay became undeniable: rampant crime, a paralyzed law enforcement system, politicians who preached distorted interpretations of our founding principles, and a leader more preoccupied with personal ambitions than the welfare of the state's residents.

Seeking refuge in a state that cherishes freedom, embraces American values, and prioritizes family was a breath of fresh air. Though we left behind cherished relationships, the newfound sense of liberty was invaluable.

I feel compelled to share our experience, believing there are others teetering on the edge of departure, hesitant for various reasons. It pains me to admit this, having once envisioned a lifetime in California. Yet, for the well-being of my family, my own sanity, and the preservation of our freedoms, we are grateful to have avoided that fate. If you have the strength to leave, I urge you to do so without hesitation. Consider the potential for a better life for your family outside the confines of the state's decay.

To my fellow Californians who remain bound by circumstance, I empathize deeply. I hold hope that one day you will find your way out from under the oppressive shadow of California's decline.

Find a way out, fellow Cal-Gunner.

Best,

Kowalskiii

[mshill]

I still intently watch the 2A Litigation forum hoping someday to see the AWB and Magazine ban fall as I still feel connected to the state even after 4 years of being gone. I want so badly to see citizens rights restored thinking that it will put a damper on my thought that the US is in decline... no such luck, thus far.

[BAJ475]

I still intently watch the 2A Litigation forum hoping someday to see the AWB and Magazine ban fall as I still feel connected to the state even after 4 years of being gone. I want so badly to see citizens rights restored thinking that it will put a damper on my thought that the US is in decline... no such luck, thus far.

Somewhat the same here, except more than the AW and Magazine bans need to fall. To me, it is not so much feeling connected, but stopping and reversing the US decline. For me, permitless carry should be the universal rule, but I would gladly accept licensing schemes, such as exist in the State of Washington, where the only criteria is a set of fingerprints to allow law enforcement authorities to verify that the applicant is not a prohibited person.

[olddirtygerm]

I watch a couple channels on youtube to see what's going on with California gun laws and lawsuits, but I have little confidence in things getting anything buy worse. Great to live where people are actually proud to be american.

[oddball]

Congrats on your escape. My wife and are going on 7 years since we moved to Texas, but for the prior 10 years, we hated life in CA, we were stressed and miserable almost on a daily basis, all due to living in CA. The passage of Prop 47 in 2014 was the kick in rear, the last straw that jumpstarted our plans to move. We were determined to move before Newsom was elected, we knew 100% it was a foregone conclusion. And guns was not even in our top 5 reasons to move, even if gun ownership was a bit more relaxed, we would have moved anyways. Our only regret is that we did not do it sooner.

We actually became outcasts with many friends and family because of our support for Trump, even our Republican friends. Our new friends here are incredible. Again, congrats.

[beerman]

All the best Oddball. Looking forward to hoist a beer with you again. I have 10 months till retirement. Looking at Northern Nevada.. for now.

[BAJ475]

All the best Oddball. Looking forward to hoist a beer with you again. I have 10 months till retirement. Looking at Northern Nevada.. for now.

Southern Idaho, where there are fewer Dems, is not that far from Northern Nevada.

[twinfin]

Leaving the dire circumstances of my home state behind has brought immense relief to my family and me. For years, we wrestled with the decision to depart from what had evolved into a repressive regime, holding onto hope that the situation would improve. We convinced ourselves that the awakening of the populace would lead to positive change, that our rights would eventually be acknowledged and upheld in the Golden State...i

My sentiments exactly when I left 10 years ago. Was born and raised in the Golden State but finally admitted that it would get much worse before it could possibly get better. And indeed, it has gotten much worse. Ain't got time for that! Getting out was the best thing I ever did.

The improvement in quality of life is something you just have to experience to completely understand.

[Sutcliffe]

Even if we get favorable outcomes in the courts regarding gun rights- does anybody foresee the one party state doing anything but expand their stranglehold on the taxpayer?

[calgns3]

Leaving the dire circumstances of my home state behind has brought immense relief to my family and me. For years, we wrestled with the decision to depart from what had evolved into a repressive regime, holding onto hope that the situation would improve. We convinced ourselves that the awakening of the populace would lead to positive change, that our rights would eventually be acknowledged and upheld in the Golden State. However, as time passed, the decay became undeniable: rampant crime, a paralyzed law enforcement system, politicians who preached distorted interpretations of our founding principles, and a leader more preoccupied with personal ambitions than the welfare of the state's residents.

Seeking refuge in a state that cherishes freedom, embraces American values, and prioritizes family was a breath of fresh air. Though we left behind cherished relationships, the newfound sense of liberty was invaluable.

I feel compelled to share our experience, believing there are others teetering on the edge of departure, hesitant for various reasons. It pains me to admit this, having once envisioned a lifetime in California. Yet, for the well-being of my family, my own sanity, and the preservation of our freedoms, we are grateful to have avoided that fate. If you have the strength to leave, I urge you to do so without hesitation. Consider the potential for a better life for your family outside the confines of the state's decay.

To my fellow Californians who remain bound by circumstance, I empathize deeply. I hold hope that one day you will find your way out from under the oppressive shadow of California's decline.

Find a way out, fellow Cal-Gunner.

Best,

Kowalskiii

Congrats on your move and thank you so much for being such an inspiration!

I came to the Expatriates section with the intention of starting a thread here, but, after reading your post, I just realized that you have already so articulately expressed what I wanted to say and that my sentiments about life in California in the present political climate coincide very much with your own.

I am still a California resident (in the Los Angeles area) and have recently started to seriously think about and plan my escape from this very saddening environment. As some others have pointed out, it's not just about our 2nd Amendment rights that are being repressed here. It is that constantly tightening feeling of suffocation in the day-to-day practical expression of what we believe our Founding Fathers meant life in America to be... To me, life here and especially in this town does not feel like being in America any longer. It is also reflected in the way people think and act with one another, seeming more and more robotic and focused on personal materialistic, ephemeral gain at the expense of the true, lasting and important values in life; it is as if they have lost their humanity, with that important feeling of social cohesion that also finds expression in civil manners having become more and more fragmented and appearing to have been permanently lost.

For a time, just as you and others, I thought that the situation could be made better and that my place was here, contributing to that potential positive change. I did not want to feel that I was cowardly running away without a fight. But it has become hopeless, so increasingly worse and overwhelming. Enough is enough.

A couple of questions for Kowalskiii and other expatriates reading this thread: How did you go about selecting the state and town in which you live now? What are the benefits compared to your old life in California? Any negative consequences that you would like to mention, or regrets?

[colossians323]

OP, could not agree more.
After settling in, I wished I would have done it 10 years earlier.
Other than weather, the quality of life out of California is so much better.

[BAJ475]

...To ..... Californians who remain bound by circumstance, I empathize deeply. I hold hope that one day you will find your way out from under the oppressive shadow of California's decline.

Find a way out, fellow Cal-Gunner.

Best,

Kowalskiii

I fixed it for you. You are not totally free until you stop referring to yourself as a Californian rather than an Ex-Californian.

[jarhead714]

[twinfin]

A couple of questions for Kowalskiii and other expatriates reading this thread: How did you go about selecting the state and town in which you live now? What are the benefits compared to your old life in California? Any negative consequences that you would like to mention, or regrets?

[BAJ475]

Coeur d'Alene

Congrats on your move and thank you so much for being such an inspiration!

I came to the Expatriates section with the intention of starting a thread here, but, after reading your post, I just realized that you have already so articulately expressed what I wanted to say and that my sentiments about life in California in the present political climate coincide very much with your own.

I am still a California resident (in the Los Angeles area) and have recently started to seriously think about and plan my escape from this very saddening environment. As some others have pointed out, it's not just about our 2nd Amendment rights that are being repressed here. It is that constantly tightening feeling of suffocation in the day-to-day practical expression of what we believe our Founding Fathers meant life in America to be... To me, life here and especially in this town does not feel like being in America any longer. It is also reflected in the way people think and act with one another, seeming more and more robotic and focused on personal materialistic, ephemeral gain at the expense of the true, lasting and important values in life; it is as if they have lost their humanity, with that important feeling of social cohesion that also finds expression in civil manners having become more and more fragmented and appearing to have been permanently lost.

For a time, just as you and others, I thought that the situation could be made better and that my place was here, contributing to that potential positive change. I did not want to feel that I was cowardly running away without a fight. But it has become hopeless, so increasingly worse and overwhelming. Enough is enough.

A couple of questions for Kowalskiii and other expatriates reading this thread: How did you go about selecting the state and town in which you live now? What are the benefits compared to your old life in California? Any negative consequences that you would like to mention, or regrets?

Selecting Idaho and the Coeur d'Alene area was easy. First, my cousin, who ran a business in LA, had a home in Coeur d'Alene and another in La Quinta. He convinced my brother to move from Mancos, CO to Post Falls, ID. Then my son moved to Hayden, ID. After my father and my wife's parents passed, her sister was the only relative living relatively close. We were living in Chico, CA when the CAMP fire occurred. This made housing prices in Chico jump. So, we started looking for a new home in the CDA area. We considered Eastern Washington, because of no personal income tax. But they make up for it with higher property and sales taxes. Idaho seemed like the best compromise, and, of course, Idaho has some of the best, if not the best 2A laws. The CDA area also had all of the stores that we had in Chico. And, Idaho is a super red state! While winters are colder, summers are much cooler than in Chico. Electric power is also much less that what PG&E charges.