❤️ I Love San Francisco, and I'm Leaving

Closing the books on a very formative chapter

In the iconic movie, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," the main character, Jimmy Fails, overhears two women on Muni lamenting their city. He leans in and says, "You don't get to hate San Francisco." Their response, "I'll hate what I want," prompts Jimmy to ask, "Do you love it? You don't get to hate it unless you love it."

San Francisco is undeniably a complex and multifaceted place. I won't dwell on its challenges here, as there are many. Instead, I want to focus on the remarkable gifts this city has offered me and explain why it's time for me to move on.

My journey in San Francisco began in 2018 when I took my first job as a Software Engineer at Workday. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I ever made. I began my adult life in the epicenter of American technology, and this choice led me down paths I could have never predicted. I found my way into the Pizza, Cycling, PropTech, and Venture communities, which, in turn, introduced me to countless incredible people and experiences I could have never encountered anywhere else. For example, the Hawk Hill Ventures bike ride during SF tech week, where over 30 passionate individuals gathered, reaffirmed that San Francisco is very much alive and thriving.

In San Francisco, I've had the opportunity to explore and discover more about myself. It's a city that constantly challenges you to look in the mirror and work on the areas of yourself that need improvement. I've been intellectually stimulated every day, sometimes even every hour. It's the city where I met the love of my life (now my wife), found the joy of road biking, and savored unforgettable meals at some of the world's finest restaurants.

But despite all these incredible experiences, it's time for a change. It's time for us to be closer to family, to prioritize our loved ones, and to invest in a community for the long term. It's time for a fresh start, a more permanent one. Professionally, this move is a significant change, but I'm excited to relocate to the Greater Boston Area, specifically Southern Maine. This transition provides access to an established tech ecosystem in Boston as well as an emerging community in Portland. I see the opportunity to bridge the gap between the Bay Area and the East Coast while establishing my presence in new and promising places.

That being said, I want to emphasize that I will be back in San Francisco often, especially in the coming years. I'm eager to invest in a new community while maintaining the connections and friendships I've cultivated here. If you know of anyone in the Greater Boston Area or Southern Maine that I should connect with, please don't hesitate to reach out. I'm open to meeting founders, potential friends, and anyone else as I embark on this fresh chapter.

Thank you for taking the time to read about this significant milestone in my life. I look forward to the continued journey ahead, embracing it with a newfound perspective.