I went to a house party tonight in San Jose. This is my first time to a suburban house party in years (except the ones hosted by my family) with a room full of married couples and their children. I totally don't fit in.
Not trying to be snotty about it but ever since I moved north and close to San Francisco last year my life style has completely changed, in a good way. I used to enjoy the suburbia, especially when I was in a relationship (maybe not, in retrospect). Growing up in a tiny city with 7 million people (Hong Kong is not even a quarter the size of New York), the first thing I was thrilled about is the space and privacy I had when I first came to North America. After 16 years living in the burb I made a bold decision to move to Emeryville (where everyone in the south bay thinks it's Oakland and it stinks) .
Emeryville is not the most glitzy place in the area and it's steps away from the ghetto part of Oakland. I had never lived in an area where most people think is unsafe. But after living here for a bit over a year, I am totally in love with it. Yes, it is not "in" San Francisco but it's close enough - 12 mins drive and 17 mins BART to the financial district. I could have afforded a place in the city but I would not be able to maintain my lifestyle (traveling and eating out all the time). For me, it's definitely a reasonable compromise. A friend recently told me I should live in San Francisco because the East Bay doesn't fit my style, which I disagreed. Yes, some parts of my hoods are not fancy, but they definitely have characters and a different vibe that I appreciate. Every place I visit and live changes me. And I think this was definitely a change that I was unknowingly longing for.
This is the part of the Bay Area I never knew that was so different. It was the contentment with the tranquil environment I was in and just didn't know better. I used to love driving, but now, I take public transport whenever possible even our public transportation system here is not the most efficient one. Everyone drives just doesn't work. It's not good for the environment; it makes traffic worse, and gas is expensive. Aside: I always meet interesting people on trains, either when I am at home or in foreign countries.
I love big cities. I love cities that are metropolitan yet parts of it are old and run down. It feels unreal that everything looks so perfectly clean and structured. Have I told you I freaking hate Las Vegas and the Marina district in SF? Pretentiousness drives me nuts.
My life is sorta going in reverse from the norm in recent years. People live in cities when they are young; they date a lot when they are in their twenties. Many who are in the tech industry usually start their career as software engineers and move on to be product managers or do product marketing then business development; they commit and settle (get married or have a serious relationship) with their partner in their late 20s or early 30s, and move to homes away from the city. I am going the complete opposite way as I age. I started my internet career doing advertising and product marketing; did product management and sales, and now I am starting to code again. I sold my house in San Jose and bought an apartment, ended a long term relationship in my late 20s, and haven't had a serious relationship for 3 years...
Regardless, I fucking love my life now. Why does everyone have to go down the same path as everyone else does anyway?!
