Why I Left San Francisco to Live in Austin
People who find out that I moved to Austin from San Francisco are always asking me the same question: Why would I ever move from one of the greatest cities in the world?
Inherent in the question is the assumption that San Francisco is automatically a greater city than Austin, a reputation San Francisco faithfully upholds. Forget about all the hype you’ve heard about Austin being the coolest city and the thing you’re left with is the creeping suspicion that Austin has snuck up on you and you’ve fallen madly in love.
I first visited Austin when I was still living in San Francisco 3 years ago. It was the weekend after the South by Southwest music festival and Austin was its best self.
My friend, Brett Randell, took me around to all the greatest spots. Barton Springs, Whole Foods, the East Side. He even got me into ACL Live’s Moody Theatre to see Grupo Fantasma play.
I was hooked. But I couldn’t get over this simple idea: I was going to be living in Texas. Even worse, I was leaving California, to go live in Texas.
Perhaps the transition would have been harder if Brett hadn’t introduced me to his amazing group of friends, had me taste the best BBQ I’d ever had and let on to the simplest of dreams: you could live off of your music in Austin.
Live off music in San Francisco? Forget it!
Sure, you could land a great waiting job and minimum wage was $9.78 an hour, but you were always hustling to pay your rent.
In Austin, the same rent buys me the luxury of a two-bedroom apartment to myself. I teach voice lessons in the spare room and host bacchanal Friday night jam parties where I cook and we sing all night.
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Sure, I hustle just as hard here to make my business work. Sure, I have to drive anywhere more than 3 miles away because public transit is so bad. Sure, I have to travel 3 hours to see anything resembling the natural beauty of California.
Sure.
And I’m willing to keep doing those things because when I look back at my time in San Francisco, I think only of the bad weather (and the bad weather in my head), the parking tickets, cars getting stolen, and homeless people.
When I think harder, I am blessed to remember some of the best friends a person trying to make their way in the world could ask for. But now, I can visit them and have a vacation at the same time. I don’t have to live in the walk-in closet anymore. And I’m glad to be here.
I hope this serves as a better answer to why I moved and stayed in Austin and not San Francisco because every time I explain myself, I feel I leave something out.
Perhaps that something is this: San Francisco has my heart, but my head just couldn’t take it anymore. Thanks for a great 3 years but I’m too tired now.
Want to Nail Those High Notes?
Every singer wants to expand their range. Expand Your Range Fast will show you how to finally hit high notes in your voice without straining. Expand your range by 5 notes or more!
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