We Moved From California to Texas; We Make Rather a lot a lot much less however Love the Life-style

• Gerardo and Tomi Ruiz moved from San Bernardino, California, to San Antonio, Texas, in September.
• They moved with their two youthful sons after a close-by hearth destroyed their rented dwelling.
• The couple loves Texas for its cheaper worth of dwelling and the fogeys however misses California’s meals.

This as-told-to essay is determined by a dialog with Gerardo Ruiz, 29, and Tomi Ruiz, 26, native Californians who moved from San Bernardino, California, to San Antonio in 2024. The next has been edited for dimension and readability.

Gerardo: My accomplice, Tomi, and I are from San Bernardino, California. We met at a celebration in 2019 and married final April.

San Bernardino is simply not just about pretty much as good on account of it was. Many factors, like homelessness and gang practice, appear to have gotten worse at present.

Tomi: There have been factors we hottest about California. I had household solely about an hour away. I cherished being all through the snow or on the seashore every time I wished.

We had been speaking about leaving California for some time on account of the worth of dwelling was dramatically rising. We had talked about Texas, Arizona, or in all probability Utah, however we weren’t excessive about it.

A fireplace lastly pushed us to go away

Tomi: In September, the Line Hearth broke out in Highland, California, subsequent to my grandparents’ home.

We had been renting a home on the opposite side of metropolis. The Line Hearth wasn’t straight threatening our home at first, however our neighbor’s dwelling caught hearth. They talked about it began from an ember from the Line Hearth.

It was terrifying. We had been asleep, and immediately, my husband woke as quite a bit as what appeared like an infinite explosion. I felt him pushing me and yelling.

After I sat up, I noticed flames coming by our mattress room window, not even six toes away.

Gerardo: We have now two kids, Anthony, who’s 3, and Charlie, who’s 1. We grabbed them each and ran open air.

Tomi: We each ran out in our underwear on account of we did not have time to get garments.

The hearth destroyed about half of our home, plus there was smoke harm in all places.

Gerardo: We misplaced nearly every little think about our mattress room and the consuming home.

Tomi: We had been merely in shock. We sat open air staring on the home for a very very very long time.

Gerardo: The Pink Cross gave us some cash for a resort.

We wished to restart our lives someplace

Tomi: Numerous days later, our landlord instructed us they wished to terminate the lease on account of they won’t estimate how extended the repairs would take and could not put us in a single completely different place all through the meantime. We had been homeless and realized that we’d have favored to begin one different time.

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We talked about staying in California, however beginning a mannequin new lease all through the state is costly with a deposit, the primary month’s lease, and all the charges.

We figured if we’d have favored to begin over utterly, we might be better off beginning in Texas.

Gerardo: My brother has lived in San Antonio for about 10 years. We acquired proper right here out to go to numerous years as soon as extra and simply fell in love with the town.

Tomi: We packed up what we had left, my husband took out his 401(okay), and we drove to Texas.

Texas is hundreds additional low-cost

Gerardo: Our first impression of Texas was how low-cost the lease is. We paid about $2,350 in San Bernardino for a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom rental. We’re now in a two-bedroom, two-bathroom place in San Antonio and pay $1,250.

Tomi: We first utilized for numerous homes, however the wait took endlessly. We determined to utilize for an rental and bought permitted the following day. We stayed in a resort for 3 weeks till we acquired permitted for the rental.

Along with lease being cheaper, fuel is cheap, which is sweet for us on account of we now have fairly big cars.

Gerardo: Automotive registration is, too.

Tomi: Groceries, nevertheless, appear to be regarding the same.

Whereas the worth of dwelling is additional low-cost correct proper right here, the pay is decrease.

I am a licensed phlebotomist, and in California, I used to be making about $25 an hour. Correct proper right here in Texas, I acquired some affords starting from $16 to $20 an hour, and I accepted one. I am making lower than I used to be in California, however with the cash we’re saving, it is not too big a distinction.

Gerardo: I am a tow truck driver. I labored two driving jobs in California, making $21 an hour and $24 an hour.

I anticipated to have the ability to discover a related job in Texas, however as shortly as I acquired correct proper right here, it was tougher than I assumed. The easiest-paying towing job I may uncover was for barely larger than $15 an hour.

For now, I have been holding off on getting a job to have a look at the youngsters since we do not know many individuals correct proper right here in Texas who may babysit.

The state has exceeded our expectations

Tomi: We merely fell in love with Texas. It is quite a bit greener than we anticipated. We thought it may presumably be all desert and cowboys, however San Antonio has many good parks and playgrounds. It feels very family-oriented.

Gerardo: The surroundings out correct proper right here is sweet. My accomplice has some PTSD from the fireplace, and it is good that it’s not as dry.

Tomi: You undoubtedly truly actually really feel the Texas warmth, although. It was nonetheless so scorching on Halloween. We’re used to a breeze in October.

It furthermore snowed since we have been correct proper right here, which is rare for San Antonio. We love the snow.

There have been some challenges, however we made the changing into selection

Gerardo: The toughest adjustment has been the meals. Even the McDonald’s correct proper right here tastes totally utterly completely different. Texas freeway tacos aren’t like California freeway tacos in the slightest degree.

There was unimaginable Hawaiian barbecue in California. Since we moved, I’ve on no account been capable of finding related meals.

Tomi: Texas has been so good to us. I felt like I used to be dwelling instantly. I truly actually really feel like I’ve related to the fogeys. All people seems to be so variety.

Gerardo: Our purpose is to remain in Texas long-term, however we wish to change to Amarillo, Texas, lastly. It snows there additional usually, and we love the chilly.

Tomi: I am so glad we moved. It was scary as quickly as we determined to do it, however we had nothing to lose and made it work.

Gerardo: The current fires in Los Angeles had been horrible, and we’re praying for everybody concerned.

The reassurance of not having to fret about wildfires correct proper right here like we did in California has been an infinite plus already.