It’s the question that I’ve been getting from all my friends recently on IG and FB. My stories have consisted of me packing up and prepping to head back to the east coast.
And the short answer is, yes.
I moved out to San Francisco in 2015, and it was kind of a big deal for me at the time. I sold all my stuff, quit my job (which was a really good one), and slept on couches in the Bay Area until I could find a place to rent. That included me flying back and forth between the coasts on a monthly basis.
In this time, I’ve grown and learned much more about the people and the space. I’m still working on stuff here, but it’s time to head back to the east coast and consolidate my time and money.
Last year (in Jan 2020), I signed a lease for another year in the Bay Area, and then COVID hit. Let’s just say it’s been expensive to be locked into it. The good news is that this is my last 5 days here. In fact, in just 1 more hour, it will be t-minus 4 days.
It seems that I’ve come back full circle, returning back to the east coast. Living In San Francisco has never felt like home. While things may have become more familiar, I don’t think I’ll ever miss the smell of urine in the city, homelessness, and tech-bros. I, however, will miss the immense views of the pacific coast, the endless winding roads, and the earthy smell of redwood forests. I will always keep those moments in my memories as I reminisce.
Some people have described this to me as an end of an era for me. I think it’s been more of a transition. To give you context, Annie and I have discussed this for the last two years—where did we want to ultimately be. I think it was important for us to be be near her family as well as mine as everyone gets older.
I would prefer working in person, but at this point in history, we all have to work remotely. This is one tide that I think I’ll have to ride, versus swim against.
As I think about the future, I need to make better investments with my time and money. I need to take care of my physical and mental health so that I can take care of those around me. Over the last year, I’ve had too much anxiety worrying about california, moving, my company, people, etc. I think 2021 I will be focusing a little more on myself, so that in turn, I can give back to others and my work. As I count down the days, I realize that it’s becoming real. This may be my last time in the Bay Area for a while. I’m sure the gravity will always pull me back here, but I think that it’s time to grow roots again, and ground myself somewhere so I can develop a routine and take care of myself.