Sometimes we outgrow people, but sometimes we outgrow places. In a city full of transplants that come to claim their badge of honor at one of the many tech firms headquartered in the Emerald City and then leave abruptly thereafter, I felt like a seasoned vet after staying put in Seattle for over a decade. I knew the city like the back of my hand. I cultivated a social circle that kept me busy almost every day of the week. I was so comfortable — so much so — that it was no longer serving me to stay.
“Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started Is not the same as never leaving.”
So I packed up my life into my car and hit the road after California Dreaming my entire life. I figured I’d start in North Cal to get a feel of the Bay. I wanted to experience what it’s like to be in the Bay’s Bubble where the thinkers, the doers, and the go-getters are. Where it felt like everyone was doing something on the side; founding a company, developing an app, or scheming a solution to some world problem. It was invigorating being around all that and sometimes made me question whether I was doing enough. I left the corporate world for the startup world, and that alone felt like quite an undertaking in itself. While I’m glad I tried out the Bay, I’ll leave it to those techies to develop more apps for our world’s problems.
Choosing Oakland
After committing to digitally nomading in the Bay, I had to figure out which city. So I picked a city in which I had never stepped foot before and where I knew absolutely no one; I picked Oakland because I wanted to surround myself with diversity in people and thought. It’s obvious that the west coast is very racially segregated, and so I wanted to experience a thriving black community. It was interesting how many raised eyebrows I received whenever I told others that I chose Oakland. I get that Oakland is strongly connotated with its turbulent history and its 275% higher than the national average crime rate, but I also knew it had so much to tap into.
You cannot talk about Oakland without talking about race.
“The history of Oakland is deeply rooted in social justice and anti-racism, and so is its present day. But unfortunately, Oakland’s story is still so deeply tied to race that when you Google Oakland, a whole bunch of racist questions come up as frequently asked suggestions, like “when did Oakland become ghetto” and “is Oakland really that dangerous?” (For the record: if you’re still wondering those questions, you should read this article which will explain why associating a place full of Black and Brown people with “ghetto” and “danger” is deeply racist.) It’s important to us, both as people who call Oakland home and as travel writers, to not only help frame the mindset of visitors who might not be familiar with Oakland, but also to positively impact and shift the dominant narrative about Oakland (here’s why that matters).”
You can’t appreciate Oakland without acknowledging its role in radical social justice movements for us all. The Black Panther Party was founded in Oakland in the mid-’60s to protect the unprotected through community social services. And they still show up, today, for so many others. Like the time I passed a group of men decked out in Black Panther apparel standing outside a mosque, in protective solidarity, during Friday prayer. Unfortunately, Oakland was hit hard by the crack epidemic in the 80s whose effects can still be seen today. Depending on where you are, it can be gritty. But it can also be so enriching to be in a community where you look like the ‘other’ to unpack your discomfort and swallow some uncomfortable truths as they pertain to race. In my short time there, I opened my awareness to the beauty, struggle, and vindication of Oakland that may be just 15 mins east of SF but a world apart.
Exploring the Bay
I felt so lucky to be there, surrounded by so many inspiring people and landscapes. I’ve always appreciated living on the west coast (best coast) for the proximity to both nature and cultural hubs. It’s a privilege to live near nature while also in proximity to a metropolitan mecca. Not to mention that science shows us that living near nature is good for our health; exposure to trees, parks, and wild areas reduces stress, makes us happier, and may contribute to long-term cardiovascular health, and reduced risk of obesity and Type II diabetes.
So of course, this is science just confirming what we already know — that living near nature is in fact, Living the Dream — and is something for which to aspire.
Each week/end I picked at least two new trails to explore because I was never too far from the mountains, beaches, desserts, or lush forests. Beyond the seascapes, landscapes, and city skylines, what I love most about California is its relaxed vibe. You seldom ever feel rushed. Between the nature, the Mediterranean climate, the diverse food scene, and the colorful architecture, people in California take the work-life balance very seriously — and we’re all better for it. Maybe because they’re more balanced they’re also known to be more kind?
Exploring the people
It’s one thing to move for work, a partner, or family. But it’s another thing to move by yourself, just because. I always thought I’d have to line something up to ‘justify the move.’ But there I was just because I could. And it felt so damn good to be able to say just that.
Going into this, I knew it was going to be difficult finding people to connect with especially while working remotely since it removes the cushion of a professional network. Not to mention the slight social awkwardness that has resulted from not engaging with each other for so long during quarantine. So, I decided that I just had to show up to as many things as I could, uninvited and alone. Tap into friends of friends. Join the local run club. Find curated events. Go on dates. This stuff takes time — to find your people and places. But I really believe it just takes a few meaningful connections to make a place feel like home, even if in passing.
Exploring myself
Choosing to leave my very full social life in Seattle was hard. What I ultimately realized after time — is that the opportunity cost simply felt too high to make space for something and someone new. However, all the sudden newness can quickly turn from opportunity and excitement into overwhelm and a feeling of being lost or alone. Mindset holds a lot of power over how I approach all of the unknowns and unfamiliarity. Taking care of myself, creating routine, and making time for grounding practices really helped. For me, it’s the little things like my daily runs and jogs to the nearest body of water, daily reflection, cooking with local and seasonal produce, and phone calls with good friends.
As a digital nomad, your life is in constant flux.
So I learned to embrace being more fluid. The only unchanging thing in life is change itself, and you have to be okay with that. It felt so liberating being so untethered to things. Being able to fit my entire life into my SUV justified all the times I questioned if I should really blow more money on travel and experiences (I somehow always did). I’m so glad I collected memories over things and goods. For what is a full house with an empty life?
Nomading allowed me to tap into the deepest crevasses of my curiosities.
For I am pieces of all the places I have been, and all the people I have passed — stitched together by long drives, adventures, song lyrics, late-night convos, moonlight, and the smell of coffee.
And I hope you find days when your coffee tastes like magic, your playlist makes you dance, strangers make you smile, and the night sky touches your soul. I hope there are days when you fall in love with being alive.
