Why It is So Onerous To Depart San Francisco: Pleasure, Concern, AI

I have been making an attempt to go away San Francisco since 2014. After pretend retiring in 2012, I assumed it was solely logical to maneuver to a lower-cost space of the nation, like Honolulu, to save cash and be nearer to my of us.

Sure, Honolulu is not low-cost, however it’s cheaper than San Francisco! Nevertheless, each time I attempt to go away, San Francisco pulls me again in.

Listed here are some the reason why:

• 2014: Discovered an ocean-view dwelling in San Francisco for affordable, so I purchased it as an alternative of shopping for a way more costly ocean-view dwelling in Honolulu. I by no means realized there have been ocean-view properties right here till I began to look.
• 2017: Had our first little one, so we determined to remain for continuity. As first-time dad and mom, familiarity was vital.
• 2019: Had our second little one, and in addition determined to remain for continuity. There’s loads of consolation in figuring out your medical doctors when you might have a new child.
• 2020: The pandemic compelled us to shelter in place for a number of months. Relocating to a brand new metropolis with an toddler and three-and-a-half year-old throughout a pandemic creates extra uncertainty. Staying in San Francisco was a simple determination, which did not require shifting.
• 2021: Son obtained right into a Mandarin immersion college that had initially rejected him. He is loved his expertise to this point, so it is arduous to drag him out and place him in a brand new college.
• 4Q 2023: A chance to buy a dream dwelling at a extra inexpensive worth, so we did.
• Fall 2024: The potential for going again to work full-time as soon as each youngsters are in class full-time. The job alternatives are extra plentiful in San Francisco than in Honolulu.

Having A Household Makes Leaving Any Metropolis Extra Tough

If we did not have youngsters, I am certain my spouse and I’d have relocated to Honolulu years in the past. We longed to stay an easier life close to the ocean in year-round heat climate. We had sufficient cash to stay comfortably, however not extravagantly.

I imagined fixing up my grandparents’ previous farmhouse in Waianae and consuming off the land. After breakfast, we would go to the seaside to boogie board or surf. Then we would come dwelling, eat some poké, and take a nap. Then we would go for a late afternoon hike.

Though we would lose all standing and status, we would be mentally and bodily more healthy and happier! Not a nasty commerce over simply being profitable. Alas, we had youngsters, that are a blessing.

After getting a household, inertia makes it very arduous to relocate. Your home, college, buddies, community, and healthcare suppliers all maintain you stationary.

Why I Love San Francisco

Moreover America, I’ve lived between 2-4 years in 5 different international locations. I’ve additionally visited over 150 cities worldwide. San Francisco is on my checklist of the highest 5 greatest cities on this planet.

Listed here are the the reason why:

• The climate is delicate year-round, which is nice for exercising open air.
• The town and the encircling area are stunning, particularly for those who can stay in a house with views.
• Napa/Sonoma Valley are solely an hour and quarter-hour away.
• Lake Tahoe has world-class snowboarding/snowboarding 3.5 hours away.
• Nearer to Hawaii and Asia than cities on the East Coast.
• Unbelievable universities comparable to Berkeley, Stanford, UCSF, Santa Clara, and so forth
• All the time a high three culinary metropolis in America
• Bountiful job and consulting alternatives that pay nicely
• One of the vital numerous cities on this planet
• One of many least expensive worldwide cities on this planet
• Tons of leisure, like tennis tournaments, entertainers, and artwork exhibits come right here

Why I Dislike San Francisco

After all, no metropolis is ideal. Listed here are some the reason why I dislike San Francisco:

• Some corrupt metropolis officers
• Authorities waste
• Crime and homelessness
• Excessive value of dwelling
• Intense hustle tradition in some industries
• Forms in the case of getting issues executed

However the actuality is, each single metropolis has these bullet factors to varied levels. The one factor I like about Honolulu over San Francisco is the shortage of hustle tradition. As soon as you have left an intense profession, you will not need to be always surrounded by go-getters.

Pleasure Is What Retains Me In San Francisco

I’ve gone by way of the professionals and cons of San Francisco many occasions earlier than. However what I spotted most lately is that pleasure is without doubt one of the fundamental the reason why I stay in San Francisco.

As somebody who simply will get bored, I have to be in a vibrant metropolis the place there’s one thing thrilling at all times occurring. Let me share a few examples.

1) APEC Comes To San Francisco

San Francisco lately hosted APEC, the Asia Pacific Financial Council. President Biden, China’s President Xi, and a bunch of different world leaders got here to hob knob.

As an Asian one that lived in The Philippines, Japan, Taiwan, and Malaysia till highschool, it was thrilling to see 21 APEC leaders come to city and construct relationships. Listed here are some images of who got here to San Francisco for APEC.

Not solely have been world political leaders on the town however so have been high musicians like Sting and Yoshiki serenading Marc Benioff (Founding father of Salesforce) and different luminaries at his occasion. Elon Musk got here to city as nicely.

The world’s media was targeted on San Francisco for 2 weeks. The highlight brings in additional curiosity, extra investments, extra jobs, and extra demand to go to and stay within the metropolis.

It is arduous to go away San Francisco when many individuals need to stay right here.

2) OpenAI CEO Firing Debacle

After APEC ended, OpenAI’s board voted its CEO, Sam Altman out for an unspecified purpose. After Atman’s firing, there was an enormous outcry of assist from the VC and tech neighborhood. Greg Brockton, the President give up, together with a number of senior researchers. In consequence, the board is beneath immense strain to resign and reinstate Altman as CEO.

In the event you’ve watched Succession on HBO, the whole OpenAI debacle feels just like the present on hyperspeed. Thrilling and interesting to look at!

As soon as once more, the whole tech world is targeted on what the heck is occurring in San Francisco with the most important synthetic intelligence firm on this planet.

For a fast overview of what is going on on at OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT:

1. Altman clashed with the board on the path of the corporate (e.g. income vs. non-profit, AI security, pace of improvement of expertise, Altman wanting to start out one other firm, and so forth)
2. Energy wrestle between Altman and Ilya Sutskever, OpenAI co-founder and chief scientist
3. In a coup by Sutskever, on a Google Meet, “Ilya informed Sam he was being fired and that the information was going out very quickly.” Shortly after, Brockman was informed he was being faraway from his place as chairman of the board however would maintain on to his function as president. 
4. Microsoft’s CEO Satya Nadella discovered in regards to the board’s determination similar to the remainder of us on Twitter, regardless of having invested over $10 billion in OpenAI. Apparently, regardless of the funding quantity, Microsoft does not have a board seat.
5. OpenAI workers have been on the cusp of with the ability to promote their shares at a staggering $86 billion valuation. However now that valuation quantity is trying suspect. OpenAI’s board might have torched tens of billions in shareholder worth.
6. Now OpenAI’s board is beneath strain to reinstate Altman, who’s contemplating coming again if the board is eliminated. However he’s not! Emmett Shear from Twitch is now CEO.
7. Altman is becoming a member of Microsoft to guide a brand new AI challenge. Working for giant tech looks like a disappointment for Altman, however a win for Microsoft to manage extra items and get an in-house AI expertise.

In the event you’ve lived in San Francisco since 2001, as I’ve, you inevitably will know individuals concerned on this drama. How may you allow?

Be In The Proper Place At The Proper Time To Get Wealthy

Half the battle of getting wealthy and/or getting forward is being in the best place on the proper time. When you’ll be able to simply meet decision-makers in particular person, it is a lot simpler to construct relationships. And when you might have good relationships, life will get simpler.

I am speaking about getting a job or a consulting gig, getting your youngsters into college, elevating cash to your firm or fund, beginning a enterprise, and extra. In the event you’re a useful and comparatively good particular person, you’re going to get farther forward than those that aren’t.

Onerous To Get Again In

In the event you go away San Francisco, like many did through the pandemic, there is a worry you may by no means have the ability to get again in.

The job you vacated may have been taken by a hungry colleague. Your community will overlook about you as soon as you allow. And the prime property you owned shall be scooped up by one other household and never be obtainable for the following 30 years!

I’ve lived in San Francisco since 2001 as a result of I felt the tech/web increase was right here to remain. Sure, the dotcom bubble had burst in March 2000, however the groundwork was laid for Internet 2.0.

Given I could not get a job in tech, I purchased public tech firm shares. Then I purchased as a lot San Francisco actual property as I may afford. Picks and shovels for many who’ve been shut out!

It appears apparent that synthetic intelligence will revolutionize the world once more. Nevertheless, this time, the stakes could also be even greater as a result of AI may get rid of my youngsters’s jobs in addition to yours.

Concern Retains Me In San Francisco

With Internet 1.0 and a couple of.0 corporations, there was a better risk of getting wealthy by becoming a member of these corporations or investing in them after they went public.

However with synthetic intelligence, there looks like much less alternative given fewer persons are wanted to scale. These personal AI corporations are staying personal for longer, shutting out public traders. As well as, synthetic intelligence is a direct assault on eliminating jobs in lots of industries!

By staying in San Francisco, I really feel like I am appearing as a loyal soldier of the Night time’s Watch within the Sport of Thrones. The White Walkers are coming to destroy us, it is solely a matter of time when. However once they do, I need to be right here to defend my household!

I am at all times considering 10+ years forward as a result of it’s important to if you wish to successfully plan to your future. With a 3 and six-year-old, I am involved for his or her futures.

From Non-Revenue To Mega Earnings

OpenAI went from being a non-profit whose mission was to assist humanity to being a for-profit firm value $86 billion and largely owned by Microsoft.

Huh?

It doesn’t matter what the OpenAI leaders say, the explanation why the corporate turned a for-profit firm was to make tons of cash for its leaders, house owners, and workers. That is Capitalism 101!

Give it some thought. Irrespective of how wealthy you already are, you’ll be able to’t assist however need more cash, extra energy, and extra fame.

One latest instance is Sam Bankman-Fried, his dad and mom, and FTX. Regardless of having cash and status, they have been keen to danger all of it for much more cash and status!

Hearken to all the company communicate you need from AI leaders selling a “innocent expertise” for the better good of humanity. There shall be optimistic advantages from AI for certain.

Nevertheless, there may also be negatives as nicely, together with large disinformation, fraud, and tens of millions of job losses. ChatGPT and Claude.ai already scrapes the web for information and makes it their very own with out given any attribution to creators like me.