I was born in San Diego, and I always thought of it as home... We moved here when I was little, but everything I did in my teens and early 20s were geared towards getting out of this Podunk town and going back to San Diego.

And when I finally did? The grass wasn't greener after all. My roots we're all here, my quality of life (based on income) was better here, the woman I loved but was too afraid to go after was here. So I came back.

I've also lived in Idaho and San Francisco, and I've worked everywhere between San Jose and Ventura County, but this is home for me... At least at this point in my life. My kids are thriving here (believe it or not, there are genuinely good and friendly people here, and that backwards small town mentality we have here actually makes them much easier to meet and connect with). It took a long time to land a job, much less a job I could make a career out of, but I found it and for all its Bakersfield​ small-business shortcomings, it's an opportunity I don't think I would have found anywhere else.

One day, when I don't need the security, I may roll the dice with perhaps Monterey county or trying San Diego again. But as far as a place where I could grow a retirement account, own a house, and still comfortably raise a family of four on one income... This is the right place for me at this point in my life.

I just wish it wasn't so goddamn hot this week...