My family moved from Southern California to New York when I was in middle school. Here are 9 reasons why I moved back to the West Coast after college.
Melissa Wells
![My family moved from Southern California to New York when I was in middle school. Here are 9 reasons why I moved back to the West Coast after college.](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fstaticbiassets.in%2Fthumb%2Fmsid-103365883%2Cwidth-700%2Cheight-525%2Cimgsize-664946%2Fmy-family-moved-from-southern-california-to-new-york-when-i-was-in-middle-school-here-are-9-reasons-why-i-moved-back-to-the-west-coast-after-college-.jpg&w=3840&q=75)
- Born and raised most of my life in Southern California, moving to New York was a culture shock.
- Despite my love for East Coast seasons and its rich history, I found myself yearning for my roots.
The saying goes, "West Coast, best coast," for a reason.
I was born and raised in Southern California until I was 13, when my father's job uprooted my family to a small town outside New York City. The move was a shock, to say the least.
Yet, as much as I missed the SoCal sun and the proximity to extended family, I came to fall in love with aspects of the East Coast, even choosing to move to Boston for college. I was drawn to the East Coast's vast history and captivated by the changing seasons.
But as graduation loomed, so did the choice of where to move. My family, who had trudged through years of New York winters, had found their way back west. It was up to me to figure out where I wanted to be as I started my career.
There's fierce debate about which coast is better and I love them both for different reasons, but when it came down to it, I chose the West Coast. So, following graduation, I found myself on a plane away from the Boston cold and back to the SoCal sun.
Here's why I couldn't resist the opportunity to head back west.
The weather is hard to beat.
![The weather is hard to beat.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366180,width-700,height-525,imgsize-187494/the-weather-is-hard-to-beat-.jpg)
This one's a no-brainer. To us Southern California (or SoCal) natives, weather is like music: It changes the entire tone of any setting. In our case, the constant sunshine and warm weather have everybody in a good mood.
And thankfully, we get a lot of it. California is the fifth-sunniest state in the US, with the top three including other West Coast states: Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. New York, in comparison, is 43rd on that list, according to Wise Voter, which used CDC National Environmental Public Health Tracking data to rank the states.
After trekking through New York and Boston winters, I'm a firm believer that cold weather belongs in my air conditioning, ice belongs in my drinks, and snow belongs in a snow cone.
My proximity to my Mexican family was difficult to ignore.
![My proximity to my Mexican family was difficult to ignore.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366177,width-700,height-525,imgsize-53012/my-proximity-to-my-mexican-family-was-difficult-to-ignore-.jpg)
I am a proud Afro-Latina, very in tune with my mom's Mexican side of the family, which largely resides past the border into Mexico and scattered across California.
The Mexican culture I so missed while on the East Coast is woven into the fabric of the region I once inhabited. That, and you never quite understand how dear family is to have around until you don't have that support system any longer.
My nuclear family of four were the only people on both sides of my family on the East Coast. Rather than a mere 30-minute drive to relatives in California, it would take more than six hours on a plane — and that's on a direct, non-stop flight — to get from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York to Los Angeles International Airport.
I found the experience of being so far away could be isolating. Dr. Sunil Raheja, a psychiatrist, wrote in a report for TopDoctors that studies show the impact of family relationships can benefit one's mental, physical, and emotional health — from helping us create positive habits to feeling a sense of purpose to teaching us how to build empathy.
So, despite the support system of friendships I had built across New York and Boston, nothing quite compared to family, and when I returned, they were waiting with open arms.
SoCal's diversity and culture is one-of-a-kind.
![SoCal](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366171,width-700,height-525,imgsize-638698/socalaposs-diversity-and-culture-is-one-of-a-kind-.jpg)
California is heralded for its diversity. As the most populous US state, according to US News, it offers lots to do, see, and eat, and — perhaps most important to me — lots of open-minded, diverse people. Whether you're visiting the big cities of LA or San Francisco, or traveling off the beaten path, you're bound to meet people from all over.
California is also known for accepting people regardless of ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation. No matter the occasion or the culture — it could be Chinese New Year or Pride Week — we're always down for a good time.
New York is also known for its diversity: Both states are among the most diverse in the country, according to data from the 2020 census. However, the small town I moved to in New York did not reflect such diversity, nor an appreciation for it.
Conversely, I have always felt welcomed in California in a way I haven't found to be the same elsewhere — it really is a cultural thing. So, it was part of the reason that, instead of moving to New York City where I likely would have found more diversity and inclusion, I opted to return to my comfort zone of California.
The laid-back, can-do attitude is exactly what I needed for my mental health.
![The laid-back, can-do attitude is exactly what I needed for my mental health.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366165,width-700,height-525,imgsize-370444/the-laid-back-can-do-attitude-is-exactly-what-i-needed-for-my-mental-health-.jpg)
The "go-go-go" pace of parts of the East Coast makes sense for a lot of people, and at one point I thrived in it, but burnout quickly found me.
In my experience, West Coasters are true to the stereotype and are simply a lot more laid-back. It creates a relaxed atmosphere that, in my opinion, the East Coast simply can't compete with.
Whether you chalk it up to the constant sunshine or never-ending traffic, we are rarely in a rush. I like it that way.
The health-conscious lifestyle is ideal for me.
![The health-conscious lifestyle is ideal for me.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366163,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1380784/the-health-conscious-lifestyle-is-ideal-for-me-.jpg)
Southern California has a reputation for being super health-conscious, and the farmers' markets, which are packed with fresh fruit and vegetables, are an essential part of the region. We have an enormous agricultural economy — the state grows a third of the country's vegetables and three-quarters of its fruits and nuts, according to the California Department of Food and Agriculture.
Forbes recently ranked California as the fourth healthiest state, the third for healthiest lifestyle habits and health outlook, as well as its residents having the second-longest life expectancy across the nation.
As someone who battles chronic illness, this is important to my physical and mental well-being, so ultimately, California's healthy lifestyle was another factor that pulled me back.
I can't fight my loyalty to California sports teams.
![I can](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366157,width-700,height-525,imgsize-199564/i-canapost-fight-my-loyalty-to-california-sports-teams-.jpg)
I'm not a crazy sports fan — I would rather spend thousands of dollars on a Taylor Swift concert than the Super Bowl — but our state is home to five Major League Baseball teams, and three franchises each in the NHL, NBA, and NFL, not to mention high-end college programs in pretty much every sport.
I'm not going to open myself up to the criticism of Dodgers versus Angels, or LA Lakers versus Golden State Warriors, or LA Chargers versus LA Rams versus SF 49ers. California simply has so many great sports teams to follow to the championships.
Of course, the East Coast has its great teams, too, such as the New England Patriots or the New York Yankees. (Although as a Boston resident for five years, I had to be indoctrinated into the Red Sox mafia.) But I think at the end of the day, they're just not my teams. Maybe I've just always been a SoCal girl at heart.
California is home to my favorite parks, too.
![California is home to my favorite parks, too.](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366145,width-700,height-525,imgsize-435136/california-is-home-to-my-favorite-parks-too-.jpg)
And as for the best places to have fun, California always has me covered.
There's too much to choose from really: Disneyland and California Adventure in Anaheim, Universal Studios in Hollywood, Legoland California and SeaWorld in San Diego, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Santa Clarita, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, Gilroy Gardens and Castle Park near San Francisco — whether you're a thrill seeker or looking for a tamer avenue for fun, the state offers something for everyone.
If you want to go to nature's finest national parks, we've got those too: Yosemite National Park, Sequoia National Park, Redwoods National Park, and more.
The West Coast provides countless terrains within a few hours' drive.
![The West Coast provides countless terrains within a few hours](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366139,width-700,height-525,imgsize-1869744/the-west-coast-provides-countless-terrains-within-a-few-hoursapos-drive-.jpg)
This makes it an ideal vacation spot and a generally wonderful place to live.
For one, the Pacific Coast Highway follows California Highway 1 for more than 650 miles. This is the longest and the most stunning scenic route there is and can take you to pretty much every terrain you could want: from the flatlands of LA, the mountains of Big Bear, the urban labyrinth of San Francisco, the lush forests of Oregon, and even the snow-dusted peaks of Washington (if I'm really missing the snow).
You want it? The West Coast's got it.
California is so well-positioned that there's also so much just a short plane ride away.
![California is so well-positioned that there](https://staticbiassets.in/thumb/msid-103366132,width-700,height-525,imgsize-187016/california-is-so-well-positioned-that-thereaposs-also-so-much-just-a-short-plane-ride-away-.jpg)
If I somehow tire of the California sun, Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver are a short plane ride north. For international yearnings, Mexico is just south of the border. For a true weekend to let loose, Las Vegas is just next door in Nevada.
And if I really feel like a break from the West Coast, California is home to 12 large airports, including the second-largest airport in the US: LAX.
That's not to say that the East Coast doesn't have its own diversity of landscapes, and many of the highlights are within driving or flying distance.
But it's also more than just the ability to go to different places — rather, it's the actual places themselves. There's nothing like California's summers, drinking the country's best coffee in Seattle, visiting the unique landmark of Las Vegas, and so much more about the West Coast that, for me, nowhere else can compare.
So if given the choice, I think I'll stay put.
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