From CA to OK: How a CA Native Found His ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ Away from Disneyland!

What if the “Happiest Place on Earth” wasn’t a theme park, but the place you called home? 

Anaheim, California, is home to Disneyland, the most iconic of all theme parks. While former resident De’Andre Fahie enjoyed the fairy dust sprinkled throughout the city, the real-world cost of living was anything but enchanting. So, when an opportunity arose to relocate his family, Fahie left the home of the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ to find his own!

Shifting the Mindset

“Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where life is as welcoming as you need and as affordable as your dreams.” Against his previous notions, Director of Talent Attraction De’Andre Fahie found this statement to be true.

The year was 2018, when the uncle of Fahie’s son, who relocated from CA, suggested the family consider relocating and invited them for a weekend experience in Broken Arrow. Originally, Fahie was in protest of relocating due to his visions of a cowboy town filled with tumbleweeds. Well, after his weekend visit, he said,

“When we arrived and were greeted with all the great amenities and beautiful downtown, my initial thoughts were thrown out the window. Another selling point was how much cheaper everything is compared to CA.” 

Yes, Fahie was immediately sold, and upon their return trip, plans were in motion. Months went by, a job offer was accepted, and in February 2019, Fahie and family left the fairy dust in the past and moved to the good life! 

Life Repositioned

"Broken Arrow is the place to connect ... and truly feel at home." Once the move became official, Fahie and family lived with Broken Arrow family members for a few months before purchasing their new home. After enrolling his son in the Broken Arrow Public Schools district, he found it to be a great educational experience with top-notch faculty and strong community support. 

Regarding building a supportive network, Fahie acknowledged the effort needed to create new connections in a new location. He attributes his proactive attendance to networking events, sporting groups, and mixers.  

Living the Good Life in Broken Arrow

“Broken Arrow is a Top 100 City,” and living here since 2019, De’Andre Fahie understands why! When asked to describe his move in one word or phrase, he replied, respectively:

• Exciting.
• You Only Live Once!

Fahie’s advice to future Broken Arrow residents: 

“It can be tough when most of your family is in your original state. However, Broken Arrow is a great, safe place to raise a family. You are also able to do more because of the cheaper cost of living, especially in comparison to CA.” 

“With regards to relocating in general, it would be good to know the different places and events to check out. Broken Arrow has a multitude of activities and events that you can take part in once you find them! Again, you must be willing to put yourself out there and join your new community.”

Ready to #BeInBA? 

If you want your own success story like Director of Talent Attraction De’Andre Fahie, start by visiting BeInBa.com, where opportunities to live and grow abound.