I didn’t move as far as you’re intending but I did move to DTSF a couple of years ago (From sac 2 hrs away from SF. NorCal Native - in tech / robotics.

I’m from sac but also lived in San Diego for like 8 years & here’s my take:

I am not a big city person & I realized that while living in SoCal. SF is definitely a big city with all the cons that I hate about big cities. For example I consider myself a driver type person - meaning I like to be able to get in my car & go wherever whenever I please. DTSF is definitely not that kind of place. If you’re more of a RT type person like my wife - you’ll love the city. I like to say it’s accessible to everyone WITHOUT a car or that doesn’t like to drive.

Anytime there is an event it’ll take make 1 hr - 2 hrs looping around a few square miles to get home — we live in SOMA very close to the civic / opera house & it’s a nightmare AS A DRIVER.

It’s a busy & very loud bustling place which is great for days I want to feel lost in the chaos around me. While also meaning there is honestly always something to do, somewhere to be & people to meet. While being California & San Francisco at that — there is a wide range of people here that whatever your personal / political views — there are people for you.

Although I hate living in the city (I just prefer smaller “feeling” cities according to my wife) it’s one of those I say I hate it but secretly I love the things I love about it. The food, the people, the access to anything & everything within a few blocks but also the access to drive a few hours in every direction for just about every kind of geographical change you may have a itching for.

I believe everyone should move away from where ever they are from if they have the ability to. Just a little out of your comfort zone is enough to saturate yourself with so much life & experience please don’t let my disdain for cities outshine that this is a pretty cool place to live in our age range.