My Journey to San Francisco

? San Francisco was an intriguing abstract for me when I was younger, but a desire to live there hadn’t yet crystallized.? The idealism and the emphasis on peaceful coexistence and acceptance were very appealing to me.? I could sense my world was considerably different, but I didn’t yet have the reference point to help me realize just how different.

? When I was a teenager, I accompanied my mother and her 2nd husband there, on their honeymoon, and I gained direct experience that sparked a deeper interest.? During my high school years, films, songs, writers and uncles who lived there fed my interest whenever they returned to visit our family.? Then, after I graduated high school in '89, my mother, stepmother and one of my uncles collaborated to give me a year in San Francisco and introduce me to a larger, different world than I was used to.? I lived in Bernal Heights and the park offers some of my favorite views of the city. Public transportation was fascinating. The super burritos seemed giant back then, and it was the golden era of thrash metal.

? It was a great experience that transformed my view of life and the world.? After a year, I understood I wasn’t ready to live there yet, but I knew I would return.? It was one of the most transformative periods of my life.

? I cannot adequately describe how therapeutic it is to live in an environment where there is no daily pressure to engage in, support through silence, or wage futile solitary battle against the discriminatory behavior I witnessed as a kid and young adult.? I simply didn’t have the numbers on my side in Central Florida.

? When I lived in San Francisco for that year, the energy spent navigating the volatile environment I left behind became available for self-improvement, unencumbered by people who wouldn’t or couldn’t imagine a healthier lifestyle or society.? It was liberating and the Loma Prieta earthquake was an incredibly humbling experience.? ?I eventually moved back to San Francisco in 2004, after returning to Florida, then moving to Georgia.

? The move to Georgia was an intentional move that served as a stepping stone back to San Francisco and was an enriching and fulfilling experience in itself.? I was reintroduced to the seasons and to the joy of owning a convertible in a city as green as Atlanta.? The food and music are amazing but the tornadoes and driving in the snow not so much.? I have fond memories of my years spent exploring Atlanta and north Georgia. ?It was also where I learned how rewarding community service could be. ?State Farm’s volunteer program was incredibly important to my growth and one of the best experiences during my time with them.

? When I left State Farm, I recognized it as an opportunity to return to San Francisco.? I contacted a good friend living there to discuss a move, visited family in central Florida, went to Miami for a last HOORAH! (Not knowing when I would be back) then drove from Miami to San Francisco. I returned to Miami in 2022 for Ultra Miami and it was a great return to a beautiful city.? ?But nothing compared to my return to San Francisco.

? I still remember arriving at San Francisco in the evening with the city lights and clear weather and the boats on the bay.? The excitement grew to a goose-bump inducing intensity as I crossed the bay bridge and entered the city.? Then I had to make some fast decisions based on ignorance, because the exit I wanted was lost to me in the awe I was feeling.? That was a fitting introduction to driving in San Francisco.? I sold my truck about 3 months after showing up because it was healthier for my heart.? After settling in, it was amazing to walk outside the small studio I shared with a friend, who is like a brother to me, and have San Francisco to explore.? It still inspires awe at times.? The Japanese Tea Garden became my centering spot and I go frequently.? I decided recently that I will pursue gardening as a hobby because of the impact their garden has on me.? I’m going to network with groups on LinkedIn to start my informal education.

? After the first decade of exploration, I decided spending time in Asia would be a necessity before choosing where to settle for the final chapter of my life.? I am now ready to start the 3rd career of my life and I am wholeheartedly open to relocating, domestic or internationally, for a new experience.

? San Francisco still represents the potential of America to me, even if the city is struggling to find its way back from some costly decisions.? I will always be a supporter of San Francisco’s remarkable potential.

? The pandemic restrictions reduced conference traffic, but I’m seeing it pick back up.? I’ve lived close to the Moscone Center for most of my 20 years here and I’ve seen conference attendees scuttle around from sessions to restaurants, bars, strip clubs and hotels and I wonder about the quality of their experience.? We are much more than that.

? I’m happy to share my knowledge of San Francisco and other areas of the bay if anyone is planning a visit.? If anyone has insight into international cities they would like to share, I would love to learn.? Maybe it will lead to my next adventure.