I have made it out of San Francisco where I lived off and on since January
of 2001. Part of me was sad to leave the city of youth where all types of
young people go to self explore, activate, or make money. I don’t think I
will ever live again in a city with so much young energy which is really…
ok. I mean, I loved it. The endless of options of great exciting things to
do, of really “great” bars, the latest documentaries, excellent food,
interesting people doing even more interesting things, and outdoors sea and
mountain adventures at your fingertips. But for me, it is a city of
transition. That might be because it was a transitional city for me but I
think it goes beyond that. It is a city of self and movement, where people
are doing first thier thing, and when and if that encouters others,
relationships forms. Otherwise, people will flake on their committment to
you to go contemplate the meaning of compassion…. Ok, maybe it is not that
bad. I met people SF that became friends that would go the distance for
others but there is this very strong form of individualism in the area that
seems to work against certain froms of friendships.

In part, the pace of life in SF is quick and full, just as quick as NYC, it
is just mixed in with the outdoors as well as city things. There is a
certain quality of slowless and empty time that is not found in SF. One of
the most noticeable social markers of this is that people tend not to do
things at people’s homes in SF, like dinner and movies. Friends meet
outside. This is in part a function of my age group but I did a little
asking with my older friends epecially ones that have lived in other cities
and they did note that friendships are not as “domestic” in SF as in other
cities.

All in all it is an amazing city especially one to live in when you are
young and wanting to “do.” There is too much too do and learn whether it be
political organizing, ecological and martial arts, music, and the visual
arts. Exploration in the 5 hr radius to the North , South, and West is
endless. I am going to miss the easy access to beautiful outdoors
activieties which are so sparse in the midwest.