Kimberly Wilkerson is a lifelong Californian who moved to Austin in 2022.
She preferred Texas’ politics and enjoyed the state’s nature.
Wilkerson moved back to California earlier this year to be near family.
Thanks for signing up!
Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.
Advertisement
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Kimberly Wilkerson, a 46-year-old self-published author and entrepreneur who moved from Oakley, California, to Austin in 2022. She stayed 2 ½ years before moving back to California to be close to family.
I was born and raised in Northern California, mostly in the East Bay. I’m a single mother to one son, who is 20 years old.
Advertisement
I felt blessed in California that I could go to the snow, the beach, and the mountains. I could be in any climate that I wanted within a few hours.
Our culture in California is very diverse. Growing up, I had so many friends from all different places. California is a hub for information and innovation. And that’s so beautiful.
But I don’t agree with a lot of what California’s leadership has done, and I had grown frustrated by politics. Both sides have their rights and wrongs. It’s a big ugly mess.
I worked in the corporate world for a while in conjunction with tech. I was able to support both me and my son, and we were comfortable. But I became disabled and was on disability for quite a few years.
Advertisement
Around 2022, however, I was feeling better and got the blessings of my physicians to start working again. I knew I wouldn’t be able to remain in California once I started working because I only paid a portion of my rent and other costs due to my disability.
I knew I needed to create a new life for myself. I started writing again. It was just pouring out of me and before I knew it, I was like, “I’m writing a book!” I was gifted the money to self-publish.
That really started a new life for me. I wanted to build this new creative career for myself, so I was willing to do almost anything as far as jobs that would bring in income.
Both my son and I wanted to move out of California. I was offered a job to relocate to Texas. I took a job as a night auditor, basically the hotel manager, for a major hotel chain.
Advertisement
Related stories
I wanted to be able to buy a home. So, we said, let’s do it. And we headed for Texas.
Kimberly Wilkerson and her son moved to Austin, Texas in 2022.
Courtesy of Kimberly Wilkerson/Getty Images
I was excited to move to Texas
I didn’t really have any anxiety. My son and I had been through a lot and needed a fresh start.
Advertisement
We moved to Austin originally. But as Austin continued to grow, we moved just north of the city. I’m seeing that happen a lot more. People have to spread out because parts of Texas are growing so fast.
The state is so much bigger than we give it credit for. You can drive for 50 miles and see nothing but emptiness and fields.
Once you get to Austin, though, it feels like you’re in a mini-California. I think a lot of people in the last few years have moved there and influenced the culture.
Within one year of being in Texas, I saw so much growth. It just throws everything out of whack.
Advertisement
But for the most part, everyone was beautiful and very welcoming to us. We were embraced in Texas.
The first question I was usually asked was, “What brings you here?” People want to know why you’re there and if you’re going to screw up their state.
My normal response was, “I know a lot of people from California have moved here, and I believe everybody has a different reason for it.”
I went to Texas to have the American dream. My main priority is to have a solid foundation to leave for my son and his future family. That’s it. I don’t need a lot. I just need my little part.
Advertisement
I think the Texans understood that about me. I have friends there now who are like family.
The nature in Texas is undeniably the most peaceful and beautiful I’ve encountered in my life thus far.
I also felt like Texas was offering politics that I was more in favor of than California.
Austin, Texas.
Peter Tsai/Getty Images
Advertisement
I stayed in Texas for 2 ½ years
My mother was growing more ill. Her health had been declining since I left. I had a hope of moving my mother to Texas, but that wasn’t going to be possible. It was better for me to come back to California.
Having said that, I still want to go back.
It was a difficult decision to some degree. I came back at the end of July.
There has been good and bad. It’s been good to see friends and family, and I’ve done a lot of healing in my relationships here.
Advertisement
When I went back to my old church, they said, “We saved your seat; here it is.” It was really beautiful. I felt very welcomed.
I got to see my mom laugh last night, and it was so beautiful. A moment like that makes being here worth it.
But I hope to go back to Texas one day. I’m waiting for the next right thing, which ideally would be if I’m getting married. Then, whichever place my husband is most comfortable will be my home.
Global SEO Agency now offering deep-dive Audits, AI Ranking SEO, and Business Profile Optimization to local Austin companies seeking measurable digital growth on major search platforms.
AUSTIN, TX – December 17, 2025 – WebJi®, a leading SEO Agency with over two decades of international experience, has officially announced its expansion of service offerings to the Austin, Texas market. This strategic move brings WebJi®’s proven, remote-first strategies for digital growth to Austin’s local businesses and growing brands. The agency’s main goal is simple: to help companies show up higher in search results. This is achieved by fixing complex Technical SEO problems, growing qualified local traffic, and driving more real customers to client websites across the Austin area.
Solving the Visibility Problem for Austin Businesses
Many local businesses in the Austin area struggle to get noticed online. Their websites often face issues like slow loading speeds, poor user experience, or code that is unclear for the search engine robots. When these technical problems exist, the business cannot rank high in search results, even for customers searching nearby.
Advertisement
The WebJi® team addresses this core problem remotely and effectively. They start with a thorough study of the client’s website, the market, and key local competitors. From this analysis, WebJi® creates a clear, customized SEO plan. This plan is designed to improve search engine ranking and send valuable, ready-to-buy visitors to the site.
The team has a strong history spanning over 20 years in search engine optimization, or SEO, successfully helping businesses globally. WebJi® now actively serves the greater Austin area, including Round Rock, Cedar Park, Pflugerville, and Buda. The team, composed of expert SEO specialists, content writers, and link building managers, operates virtually, ensuring every part of the SEO plan is handled professionally and efficiently, regardless of location.
Targeted Services for Real Local Results
WebJi® offers comprehensive services focused on maximizing visibility specifically within the Austin market:
Local SEO and Map Ranking: The agency uses Local SEO to ensure nearby customers find the business first. They optimize listings and pages to boost local calls and visits. They improve Map Ranking SEO so a business’s pin shows up higher for “near me” searches on major mapping platforms.
Technical SEO and SEO Audits: WebJi® performs a deep SEO audit, a full health check of the website. They focus on Technical SEO, fixing site speed and crawl issues. This helps search engines correctly read and reward the site with better positions.
AI Ranking SEO and Content: The agency uses cutting-edge AI Ranking SEO to study search patterns. They adjust content based on real data to keep clients ahead. This process is built on detailed keyword research to find the exact terms real buyers use. They also manage safe, honest link building from reputable sites, which acts as a vote to boost domain strength.
WebJi® provides clear monthly reports on traffic, rankings, and leads, showing measurable results typically within 3 to 6 months.
Advertisement
If your Austin business needs better search engine ranking or Local SEO, WebJi® can help. The team serves all Austin neighborhoods, including Downtown Austin, Central Austin, South Congress, and Tech Ridge.
About WebJi®:
WebJi® is an established SEO Agency with over 20 years of experience in search engine optimization, offering remote-first services globally. The team of specialists focuses on Local SEO, Technical SEO, AI Ranking SEO, and building authority through safe practices. WebJi® delivers effective digital marketing strategies to ensure long-term, measurable search growth for clients in the Austin market.
Media Contact Company Name: seoagencyaustintx.com Contact Person: Anand Maheshwari Email: Send Email Country: United States Website: https://seoagencyaustintx.com/
Austin, Texas seeks offers of design, engineering, installation, operations and maintenance and decommissioning of solar projects on municipal facilities.
Anne Fischer
Image: Jan Van Bizar, Pexels
Advertisement
Last spring Austin, Texas city council members approved a resolution to put solar on the rooftops of city-owned buildings. The resolution supports the Austin Climate Equity Plan that aims for net-zero community-wide carbon emissions by 2040 with an emphasis on cutting emissions by 2030. In keeping with that plan, the city is seeking a request for quotations (RFQ) for the solar projects planned for 111 municipal facilities.
Austin plans to make use of existing infrastructure by placing solar on rooftops and over parking lots. In addition to parking lots, the City-owned facilities on the site list designated for solar include at least seven fire stations, libraries, maintenance facilities, garages, recreation centers, city hall, and more.
Quotations on design, engineering, building, operations, maintenance and decommissioning are due by January 6, 2026 at 2 p.m. CST with questions due by December 22, 2025 at 5 p.m. CST. An online pre-offer conference will take place via Microsoft Teams on December 19, 2025 at 11 a.m. CST. Teams meeting ID: 277 171 690 189 99 Passcode 45Vf2kK3. Solicitation-specific questions can be directed to shawn.willett@austintexas.gov.
Austin’s electric customers are served by Austin Energy and connected to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) grid.
Advertisement
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: editors@pv-magazine.com.
Joe Ely, a Texas singer-songwriter and guitarist, passed away at the age of 78 on Monday, as reported by Rolling Stone.
Ely, a pivotal figure in the 1970s progressive country movement, died at his home in New Mexico due to complications from Lewy Body Dementia, Parkinson’s, and pneumonia.
Ely’s influence on Austin’s music scene was profound. Known for his unique blend of country, rock, folk, and Tex-Mex, Ely was a driving force behind the city’s progressive country music scene.
ALSO| Austin Jewish community continues Hanukkah celebrations amid global tragedy
Advertisement
He was inducted into the Austin City Limits Hall of Fame in 2022, a testament to his enduring impact on the music community.
Born on Feb. 9, 1947, in Amarillo, Texas, and raised in Lubbock, Ely’s music was deeply rooted in West Texas. Despite his close association with Austin, he often returned to the wide-open spaces of West Texas for inspiration.
“Every time I start a new album, I head up to West Texas and drive around,” Ely told Texas Monthly in 2011.
Ely’s career began with the formation of the Flatlanders, a trailblazing country trio with fellow Texans Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Butch Hancock. Although their debut album, “All American Music,” was initially overlooked, the group later gained recognition as a quintessential display of West Texas country storytelling.
Throughout his career, Ely collaborated with a diverse array of artists, including Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, and the Clash. His live performances were legendary, captivating audiences from Lubbock to London. Ely’s contributions to music were recognized by the Texas Legislature, which named him the Official 2016 Texas State Musician.
Advertisement
Reflecting on his journey, Ely once said, “I made it this far. I had teachers tell me I wouldn’t make it to 21 when I was going to high school, so I beat the odds, you know?” His legacy as a songwriter’s songwriter and a musician’s musician will continue to inspire generations to come.
