I was born in San Francisco and raised in Berkeley. All of my childhood In Berkeley/Oakland of most of my adult life in SF. I am in my early 40s now and the demographic and cultural shifts I have experienced in the past 20 years Have reached the point where we simply want to get out. The work-life balance for living here has simply become too high. From our perspective things have become racially homogenous and even MORE segregated, intellectualMy overconfident, too NIMBY and we just don’t want to raise our daughter in such a competitive and macho environment. I may sound bitter but I truly believe I am not. All cities change over the course of time, SF is no different. I am very proud to have lived and learned and loved in the bay area my whole life. But that appreciation is becoming increasingly strained and we are ready to move on and try somewhere different.

Closer to new job, lower cost

Technically, we won't move within six months; however, we plan to move after our wedding next spring and are in the mental preparation stage. It's pretty cut and dry as to why we are leaving. We accept the high cost of living because of the access SF affords us. Access to the top restaurants, bars, comedy shows, concerts, and most importantly, friends. Like most folks, the move is inevitable, but COVID has accelerated this decision given the reasons above we live in SF won't be the same anytime soon, and our friends are packing up too.

Paycheck to paycheck for 500 sq feet. My employer slowly transitioning to more remote work, soon no physical ties to the Bay Area.

My boyfriend and I live on a property that is an anomaly for LA: its two acres of land in the middle of the San Fernando Valley. The property is lush with plants hybrids and multiple cottages that are spaced apart enough to give the few tenants here lots of privacy and silence. We’re looking to move ~because~ this place is an anomaly: there’s no way we could ever afford to buy something of this size in Los Angeles or the surrounding area without moving an hour inland (or further!). Our budget and desire to be near a manageable city has our sights set on Sacramento (it also helps that we have family there).