Woman who left California for Georgia says she's 'never going back' as she explains key differences
Ben Thompson
Featured Image Credit: Calli Edington/Denise Taylor/Getty
A woman who left California behind for Georgia has explained why she would never return to the West Coast state - despite earning less money after the move.
Calli Edington and her family originally lived in a small town called Magalia, which is located 90 miles north of Sacramento.
Edington enjoyed her job working as director of a sober living environment and was surrounded by friends and family.
So why she did move across the country?
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She told Insider: "There were things about California that I enjoyed, but due to the high cost of living and the increase of crime in our local area, we decided it was time to leave for good."
Douglas, Georgia was where she and her family settled down.
Her new town was around the same size as her home town, but she noticed a huge difference.
Edington explained: "The people here are more welcoming. I lived in Magalia for almost three years and barely knew our neighbors.
"But Douglas has that small town feel: everyone is inviting you to their church or they are stopping by to bring you something they have grown.
"We're now roughly three hours away from Atlanta, and only two hours away from the beaches of Florida."
Before they made the big move, Edington and her family had to downsize.
This meant donating a lot of their clothes, furniture and kitchen gadgets.
Despite shifting many of their possessions, making the move cross country still proved pricey, with a U-Haul being rented.
Taking that and food, gas and hotels into account, the process cost $8,000.
So, it's a good thing that Edington is happy with the move and isn't looking to do it again.
Listing the flaws of California, she said: "California is known for being very expensive, and things like insurance, taxes, and gas were all so pricey.
"Before we left California, gas was over $5 a gallon. We obviously have to pay for each of these things in Georgia, too, but it's cheaper and more affordable.
"Right now, the average fuel prices range between $3.15 a gallon and $3.60 a gallon, and it feels like such a big difference."
Obtaining a house in California was difficult for Edington and her husband, despite the both of them working 9 to 5s.
Despite earning less money in Georgia, their money was able to go further and they have bought a five bedroom house for $300,000.
Crime is also something that concerned her about California: "The crime was bad, and we were constantly seeing small businesses getting broken into.
"I know that it's easy to get sucked into the wrong crowd, and as a mom of two teenagers, it was my priority to find a city that was safe, yet affordable."
And that famed Southern hospitality? It's apparently the real deal.
Edington wrote: "I was shocked by how nice their manners are. It's unbelievable, really.
"Every child you meet, no matter the age, calls you ma'am, or sir."
Despite her gripes with California, she does miss some things about it - the snow capped mountain ranges and the weather namely.