This is gonna be the first of a few blatherings digesting my year and a half here in the South Bay. It’s been a challenging and eventful experience and, hopefully, the last that drags me far from friends and deep into isolation. Been way too many of those this past couple decades and it’s getting fucking old, let me tell ya.

All-in all, I’m a very blessed fellow. Single, no kids and no serious obligations to keep me from living however I wish. A wealth of understanding friends who know I’ll eventually swing back through town and catch up has kept me going in the doldrums. Typically chasing jobs, education, or a change of scenery it’s always been easy to uproot and head to the next gig out of a sense of adventure. I’ve lived in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, Alberta Canada, and now California.

With the thrill of moving severely diminished after being done so many times, the primary take away of Cali is that adventure can be had anywhere, friends cannot always be made. Surrounded by 6.1 million people (the population of the 5 counties that make up the greater bay area, I’m a GIS guy, it’s my job to figure this shit out) and I can say I’ve made one possible long term friend. In a year and a half. Not for lack of trying, initially. Being the new guy in town frequently, you learn to make friends if you don’t want to end up shooting yourself in the face out of sheer isolation and loneliness. Gave up drinking a long time ago, so that option is out for dulling the feels.

It got to the point that after my GF and I broke up 6 months into my time here due to the challenges of a long distance relationship a decision had to be made: wallow in misery and treat myself like shit or do all the stupid little shit every day I know would make the time here bearable. So now I meditate twice a day most days, do some deep self reflection, work out 5 times a week, go for a stroll almost every day and eat a basic but tasty diet. Seems like simple stuff, but it has kept me going even when it felt pointless.

I NEED my friends, and for all the bullshit this experience has included, that 1 lesson has made it all worth while. Not that this has been some Trail of Tears for fuck sake. I work for the big fruit based tech company as a GIS tech, make the most $ I’ve ever made in my life, have explored places only ever heard or read about and have become prepared for the next phase of this life. Pretty damn sweet if you ask me.

The Next few posts are going to detail aspects of this place, the outdoor adventure/moto riding, the Silicon Valley mystique, and goddamn Californians.