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Update: I moved to Miami 
https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙃" title="Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Auf den Kopf gestelltes Gesicht"> https://twitter.com/backus/status/1260738251196739584">https://twitter.com/backus/st...
A bunch of people have asked why, so...
Thread on how I switched from loving SF to movinghttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="👇" title="Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten" aria-label="Emoji: Rückhand Zeigefinger nach unten">
Thread on how I switched from loving SF to moving
First, context: I truly loved SF.
For a while, I spent most of my time at @noisebridge hacking on software/hardware for fun.
Met tons of fascinating people organically & thru Twitter.
I& #39;m also a startup founder, so moving to the Bay Area (~2013) was a dream come true.
For a while, I spent most of my time at @noisebridge hacking on software/hardware for fun.
Met tons of fascinating people organically & thru Twitter.
I& #39;m also a startup founder, so moving to the Bay Area (~2013) was a dream come true.
Obviously everyone experienced lockdown, but my experience was:
Couldn& #39;t build things with others at @noisebridge
More friends moved away, or started indefinitely traveling, every month
Remaining social outlet was outdoor pickup basketball which was also banned for ~1y
Couldn& #39;t build things with others at @noisebridge
More friends moved away, or started indefinitely traveling, every month
Remaining social outlet was outdoor pickup basketball which was also banned for ~1y
~8mo in, I came to resent CA& #39;s / SF& #39;s COVID approach. Matter of personal pref, but my main thought was
> I don& #39;t like living in a place where the solution is, effectively, don& #39;t leave your house, indefinitely. I want to live somewhere that gives you a say in your risk tolerance.
> I don& #39;t like living in a place where the solution is, effectively, don& #39;t leave your house, indefinitely. I want to live somewhere that gives you a say in your risk tolerance.
SF politics also ate at me. Between @recallchesa, SF school board, & anti-tech ethos, I had 2 thoughts:
1. Everything I love about SF is due to it& #39;s network effects, in spite of how it& #39;s run
2. I haven& #39;t enjoyed the fruits of those network effects (people + culture) for a year
1. Everything I love about SF is due to it& #39;s network effects, in spite of how it& #39;s run
2. I haven& #39;t enjoyed the fruits of those network effects (people + culture) for a year
By 2021, I had 3 close friends who moved to Miami.
I visited w friends and it just *felt* better here. People seemed happier, places open, and I felt like I could get parts of my life back. Eventually, I thought "I think Miami could actually become a tech Schelling point."
I visited w friends and it just *felt* better here. People seemed happier, places open, and I felt like I could get parts of my life back. Eventually, I thought "I think Miami could actually become a tech Schelling point."
As of now, I have 8 close friends who have moved to Miami, which is huge. Many more considering it.
This is also the answer to "Why not Austin / New York / whatever?"
Most of my friends are moving here and it seems like the best bet for a new tech hub overall.
This is also the answer to "Why not Austin / New York / whatever?"
Most of my friends are moving here and it seems like the best bet for a new tech hub overall.
So, my main answer to questions about location are "that& #39;s where the people are."
I didn& #39;t move to SF b/c of weather, I moved there b/c I like programming computers and being around smart ambitious people.
Beyond that, yes, weather is beautiful lately. Yes, August will be hot.
I didn& #39;t move to SF b/c of weather, I moved there b/c I like programming computers and being around smart ambitious people.
Beyond that, yes, weather is beautiful lately. Yes, August will be hot.
In terms of Miami as a city, my main rec is keep an eye on @devonzuegel& #39;s blog for new posts https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😅" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit offenem Mund und Angstschweiß">
That said, I& #39;ve been pleasantly surprised how accessible my area is. Everything I need is a short walk. Good housing density. Streets feel vibrant early morning and middle of night.
That said, I& #39;ve been pleasantly surprised how accessible my area is. Everything I need is a short walk. Good housing density. Streets feel vibrant early morning and middle of night.
Feel like I could add so much more, but I need to do actual work now.
Reply with questions and I& #39;ll try to answer laterhttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😇" title="Lächelndes Gesicht mit Heiligenschein" aria-label="Emoji: Lächelndes Gesicht mit Heiligenschein">
Reply with questions and I& #39;ll try to answer later
Big detail I forgot:
Seeing @FrancisSuarez speak positively about tech was actually meaningful
I founded my startup in 2013 and watched media & gov villainize tech more every year
I work really hard on stuff I& #39;m proud of. Living somewhere where that& #39;s appreciated was appealing
Seeing @FrancisSuarez speak positively about tech was actually meaningful
I founded my startup in 2013 and watched media & gov villainize tech more every year
I work really hard on stuff I& #39;m proud of. Living somewhere where that& #39;s appreciated was appealing
Update: here is the excellent Miami city review by @devonzuegel that I mentioned! https://twitter.com/devonzuegel/status/1384986033658421248">https://twitter.com/devonzueg...
