Shel - I am a native Floridian - born in Miami, grew up in South FL and now maintain residence in CW. It is a very intriguing place - very connected to G-d and guns. I am pleased to hear you found a community to connect with - and I do as well, whenever I return. Fear seems to be the poison in our communities; fear and belief that others look down upon us. By being part of the community and sharing in our strengths and sorrows within them, the community is stronger for bringing others together. And I know that is what the other "Bay Area" does so well.
Shel, Clarise and I left the San Francisco Bay Area for much the same reason. After Clarise’s level 5 cerebral aneurysm (between the time we first met you at the TechCrunch part for Naked Conversations and the last time we got together in Belmont) and then the years I took away from consulting to care for my parents … well, changing adult diapers doesn’t leave a lot of time to research, write or consult on sensor analytics ecosystems 🤷🏽♂️ We were planning to travel up and down the West Coast hoping to find someplace affordable, near a tech scene, and with ocean breezes, much as we enjoyed in the Half Moon Bay Area. Unfortunately, CoVID stopped our exploring, and we stopped where we were when lockdown happened. We were able to build a home to our specifications, two blocks from the Pacific on the Washington Coast, nearly equidistant from the Tech Scenes of Seattle and Portland. There are advantages and disadvantages to where we are, but overall life is good.
The one thing that you didn’t mention in your considerations was healthcare. We stayed within the KP system, and the transfer had been seamless, though there were hurdles we had to jump to make that happen.
We are glad to read that you and Paula are happy with your choice.
Thanks for the kind words, Debbie. If your daughter wants, I'd be happy to have lunch with her to share what I know. Ask her to connect via shel@shelisrael.com.
Definitely interesting and humorous and a great read. And I’m filing this idea away for the future too so it might very well just end up being useful some day. Thanks for sharing!
Shel, as I read this I’m visiting Healdsburg and having conversations about why my wife and I still live in Florida. Have you checked out Lakeland and Florida Polytechic University? It isn’t Silicon Valley but they are trying. The University of South Florida is also tech friendly.
Thanks, Thomas. I am still learning my way around Tampa Bay, and my comments were limited to what I have personally experienced. I have heard favorable comments about Florida Polytech before and will check it out at some point in the future.
I am familiar with Healdsburg. It's a great town and less expensive than the area south of Petaluma, where we lived. The biggest negative I know about it is the proximity to potential wildfires.
Shel - I am a native Floridian - born in Miami, grew up in South FL and now maintain residence in CW. It is a very intriguing place - very connected to G-d and guns. I am pleased to hear you found a community to connect with - and I do as well, whenever I return. Fear seems to be the poison in our communities; fear and belief that others look down upon us. By being part of the community and sharing in our strengths and sorrows within them, the community is stronger for bringing others together. And I know that is what the other "Bay Area" does so well.
I tend to agree with the Dali Lama who has often said, "We are all alike."
Shel, Clarise and I left the San Francisco Bay Area for much the same reason. After Clarise’s level 5 cerebral aneurysm (between the time we first met you at the TechCrunch part for Naked Conversations and the last time we got together in Belmont) and then the years I took away from consulting to care for my parents … well, changing adult diapers doesn’t leave a lot of time to research, write or consult on sensor analytics ecosystems 🤷🏽♂️ We were planning to travel up and down the West Coast hoping to find someplace affordable, near a tech scene, and with ocean breezes, much as we enjoyed in the Half Moon Bay Area. Unfortunately, CoVID stopped our exploring, and we stopped where we were when lockdown happened. We were able to build a home to our specifications, two blocks from the Pacific on the Washington Coast, nearly equidistant from the Tech Scenes of Seattle and Portland. There are advantages and disadvantages to where we are, but overall life is good.
The one thing that you didn’t mention in your considerations was healthcare. We stayed within the KP system, and the transfer had been seamless, though there were hurdles we had to jump to make that happen.
We are glad to read that you and Paula are happy with your choice.
Very valuable piece. And I agree that if you want something to change you have to get in there and change it yourself.
Shel, I loved your comments on why the move (they were honest and inspiring) when I interviewed you a year ago for the podcast. So glad it’s working out one year later! BTW, our daughter is moving to Tampa to begin working as a pediatric surgeon. I told her about you! https://debbieweil.com/blog/podcasts/s5-ep2-veteran-blogger-shel-israel-on-reinvention-writing-and-moving-across-country-at-78/
Thanks for the kind words, Debbie. If your daughter wants, I'd be happy to have lunch with her to share what I know. Ask her to connect via shel@shelisrael.com.
Definitely interesting and humorous and a great read. And I’m filing this idea away for the future too so it might very well just end up being useful some day. Thanks for sharing!
Shel, as I read this I’m visiting Healdsburg and having conversations about why my wife and I still live in Florida. Have you checked out Lakeland and Florida Polytechic University? It isn’t Silicon Valley but they are trying. The University of South Florida is also tech friendly.
Thanks, Thomas. I am still learning my way around Tampa Bay, and my comments were limited to what I have personally experienced. I have heard favorable comments about Florida Polytech before and will check it out at some point in the future.
I am familiar with Healdsburg. It's a great town and less expensive than the area south of Petaluma, where we lived. The biggest negative I know about it is the proximity to potential wildfires.
Thanks Uncle Maven
Watch it young fella, or I'll lock you in a room with Auntie Sadie!