I was born and raised in the Bay Area of California. Until this week, that remained my residence.
Through the years, it’s been no mystery that living in the Bay Area of California was a gift. The progressive politics, the things I took for commonplace, the mild weather, the delicious food. Yet, like so many others, I’ve also been faced with the fact that staying in my home state was becoming less and less feasible.
I don’t take relocation and migration lightly and it’s hard to think about my life in terms of someone being displaced from their home. Hearing a recent report that those making $120,000 annually in California are considered “lower-class,” I reconsider, slightly. The truth is, in being financially forced out of the life I’ve come to know, I must relocate, which in turn directly contributes to displacing others. I still hold ample privilege in this situation and wanted to relocate as ethically as possible. In college, I made a life for myself in Northern Nevada for four years before returning to the Bay. When looking at my relocation options, I hoped to stay as in-community as possible--which led me to Reno.
As of today, January 18, 2019, I am a resident of Nevada. I have traded in the Golden State for the Silver State. My license plate now reads “Home Means Nevada.”
I don’t take relocation and migration lightly and it’s hard to think about my life in terms of someone being displaced from their home. Hearing a recent report that those making $120,000 annually in California are considered “lower-class,” I reconsider, slightly. The truth is, in being financially forced out of the life I’ve come to know, I must relocate, which in turn directly contributes to displacing others. I still hold ample privilege in this situation and wanted to relocate as ethically as possible. In college, I made a life for myself in Northern Nevada for four years before returning to the Bay. When looking at my relocation options, I hoped to stay as in-community as possible--which led me to Reno.
As of today, January 18, 2019, I am a resident of Nevada. I have traded in the Golden State for the Silver State. My license plate now reads “Home Means Nevada.”
I thought I would have more time. More time to transition. More time to come to terms with the relocation before I would hand over my license to be hole punched to say “VOID” across my home. The man checks my papers, “Ah, another refugee! Well, welcome! You’ll like it here! It’s no Napa, but when you get used to our mountains, those valley hills will pale in comparison.”
I had dreamed of renewing my California license this year with the newly passed opportunity to have a nonbinary gender marker. I enjoyed not having to plan my day around the snow forecast. This isn’t to say I’m not excited and looking forward to the adventures awaiting me in my new home. I'm just reconciling what it means to give up a piece of my identity to do it. People do it all the time--and many are forced into leaving their homes for much more serious reasons than I will ever face. It was all so simple, too. It took me a three-hour drive, some paperwork, and 45 minutes total at the DMV. (You know, in the Bay Area the DMV wait would have been easily three times that--so it isn't all bad.)
Throughout this transition, I’ve held onto one thing: my vote matters in Nevada. Nevada is a swing state and my radical politics can make a difference here. Instead of Gavin Newsom, I now have to check up on Steve Sisolak, who is the first democratic governor Nevada has elected in 20 years.
As I walk out of the DMV this morning, there is a young man with a petition. I have just registered to vote, so I am particularly excited to have this opportunity to engage in local politics.
With kind eyes, he asks, “Would you like to a sign a petition to protect your gun rights today, ma’am?”
As I walk out of the DMV this morning, there is a young man with a petition. I have just registered to vote, so I am particularly excited to have this opportunity to engage in local politics.
With kind eyes, he asks, “Would you like to a sign a petition to protect your gun rights today, ma’am?”
