After 14 years abroad, I moved back to my home state of California. I'm happier now than I've been in years.

The author said she and her dog love hiking near where they live in California. Courtesy of Rebecca Mendoza. I lived abroad for 14 years and built a nice life for myself. I came home to care for my sick aunt and realized how much I missed life in the US. I'm back in California , connecting with friends and...