When we considered our big move from California to Texas, we talked about the “big stuff”…..

*The sacrifice of leaving loved ones…

*The importance of securing jobs…

*The need for a new home….

BUT, there were a few things that never crossed our minds.  We want to share these with you, to give you a bit of an edge in case you’re thinking about a big move:

*Healthcare:

You must start over with all your doctors.  This is a hassle, especially as you are trying to learn a new area, what doctors take your insurance, etc. God forbid you are injured or get sick before you have a general practitioner. That’s what happened with us! Liam became ill, and we had to default to an urgent care. Fortunately, the clinic doctor recommended a pediatrician to us, and she was accepting new patients. I highly recommend finding doctors, and having your records transferred as soon as possible.

* Allergies:

Apparently, you can develop new allergies when you move? Billy, Liam, and I are all dealing with either a virus or allergies to something—possibly Cedar which is everywhere here. We are going on 3-4 weeks of sniffles and coughs. Here’s a great overview about why allergies may develop…

When Allergies Develop Suddenly

*Drivers License and Car Registration:

Every state is different! Prior to moving, be aware of the time frame you have to change your drivers license, car registration, and check state car insurance requirements. We did some extra running around because Texas requires that you deal with your car registration PRIOR to changing your drivers’ license. Also, car registrations are dealt with at the Tax Assessor’s office not at the DMV.

*Proximity to Shopping:

We knew we were moving to a more rural area, but what we didn’t fully comprehend is how spread out everything in Texas is—I mean, it’s a HUGE state. With that said, it’s easy to hop on the freeway and arrive in another town within 15+ minutes. Some of these towns/cities have GREAT dining and shopping selections, which was a very pleasant surprise!

Weather:

Okay, so we knew about the humidity, extreme summer heat, and possible tornadoes, BUT, we didn’t know how bipolar Texas weather is! Within one day, weather can run the gamut! So, we dress in layers, and throw sweaters and jackets in the car LOL.

*Landscaping:

If you want to improve the curb appeal of your new home, you need to know about weather, soil, and WILDLIFE. We planted gardenias only later to find out that deer supposedly love them. Thankfully this hasn’t been an issue yet even though deer are literally everywhere in Salado. We had also heard that plants bought from certain stores are native to the area, and survive better compared to non-native plants purchased at big box stores, which tend to die once planted.

*Social Etiquette:

We knew about “yes, ma’am” and “no, sir.” In fact, we had started to teach Liam some Southern manners prior to our move. Fortunately, his great grandma had just bought him a HUGE Charles Schultz Peanuts book with comic strips from the 1980’s LOL. What we didn’t realize- how fast our speech patterns were, and our tendency to cut people off or finish their sentences! So, we have had to adjust that to avoid offending our new Texan friends.

***This concludes our four-part series, Leaving California! We hope you enjoyed tagging along with us on our big Texas adventure! Maybe you will decide it’s time for an adventure for you as well! Let us know if you feel inspired to make a big move or change! We’d love to hear about it!