A former lifelong resident of California shares her personal story of why she decided to leave the state, citing a series of traumatic events and ongoing frustrations. After a home invasion and car theft, followed by the early release of the perpetrator, she began to question the state's policies on crime and public safety. Her family later lost their home to a wildfire, which she attributes to systemic mismanagement and bureaucratic obstacles that hinder recovery and favor wealthy developers. The article also highlights the worsening homeless crisis, high taxes, failing infrastructure, and controversial social policies as further reasons for her departure. Ultimately, she warns others fleeing California to reflect on the policies that led to these problems and avoid repeating the same mistakes elsewhere.