Maria Shriver talks highs, lows of being California's first lady

Maria Shriver gave a moving farewell speech this morning at the Women's Conference in Long Beach, Calif., where USA TODAY's Ann Oldenburg has been stationed since Sunday. Shriver went over what she had been wrong about and what she had been right about when, seven years ago, she stepped into the job of first lady of California.

"I was wrong to try to talk Arnold (Schwarzenegger) out of running for governor," she said. "He has loved this governor's job more than anything else in his life. It has been a perfect match. ... I've never seen him happier or more fulfilled. Even with all the ups and downs of the last seven years, he said he would do it again in a heartbeat. I never thought I'd say this, but I thank him for not listening to me."

She said she was wrong to think her four kids couldn't handle it. "I thank them for not doing anything really wildly crazy over the last four years that could have landed them in the papers or on TMZ – unlike their mother."

One thing she was right about? "The people of California. All my family thought I was nuts to move here from the East Coast years ago. People here are dreamers – creative, innovative and daring. Californians are open to people who are different. I like that. I feel comfortable here. I feel accepted here. I feel at home here."

As for what's next for her? She made no announcement: "I'm going to take a deep breath and open my heart and my mind to the unknown."