Goodbye Bay Area

At least for now

I am leaving the SF Bay area

Really?

Yes

Why?

There is sooo much to it. here is just a tip of the iceberg.

I have been excited for a new adventure, and thinking about it for a while. This trip should help satiate a bit of my wanderlust and sense of FOMO, and most importantly help me better understand myself and how other cultures operate and approach the energy & climate space.

The three leading things that have held me to the bay are no longer, thus making this a fantastic opportunity that may not come around again until retirement.

Work - Myself and many amazing coworkers lost our positions at Tesla in Charging and Energy. This was a difficult blow, but after some introspection and exploration, this turned into a great opportunity.
Relationships - I do not have any kids to take care of, and do not have a partner. A few fantastic people have blessed me with their time over the past few years, but we were not quite aligned.
Housing - The home I have lived in for the past ~5 years is going on the market soon, so my housemates and I moved out.

Plus, I have fallen into a few bad habits and could use a bit of a reset.

What about life in the bay?

I have had an amazing 10 years living in the SF Bay area! Before stumbling into 10 more years here, I want to be intentional, and double check this is where I want to be.

The wonderful people I have befriended here have made this place feel like home, enriching and creating a wonderful life. I cannot thank you all enough! I am excited to stay in touch and see where we all go on our journeys, but I’ll miss you dearly.

I shall visit periodically over the next few years, and while I anticipate a meandering journey ahead, it is quite likely I’ll move back!

Where to next?

Let me know if you have suggestions!

My present set of criteria includes:

Energy - I want to work in the energy sector, supporting climate, efficiency, access, and affordability.
Engineering - I want to work with engineers (e.g. as an engineer myself or as a product/project manager).
English - My foreign language skills and associated learning acumen are not as good as my peers. Plus I have a lot on my plate, and I want to start making an impact at work right away. Thus I would likely be more comfortable in a place where I could work and help make strategic business decisions in English. This doesn’t mean I would limit myself to an English speaking country! I would enjoy the challenge and intrigue of meeting people in a new language!
Enriching - I want to be immersed in different cultures and connect deeply.
Exciting! - I thrive when pursuing new experiences and adventure

I of course have a big ol spreadsheet with thoughts about where to go next, but have a lot of research and analysis to do in November!

China First!

After a lot of deliberation, I decided to start with China! China

Connections in an interesting city?

If you/someone currently/previously live in a city that matches the description above, it would be wonderful to hear some thoughts!