Gawd, this is an amazing city. I remember that feeling I had when I first moved here…it was pure excitement. Between the colourfulness of the city, the geekiness and freakiness of it’s residents and the complete essence of hope that pulsates through San Francisco, there is no other place in the world like it. It’s a fantastic city. A real city. A small yet large city. People learn how to fly here every single day. And, unlike other fantastic launchpad cities like New York, you can fall from the sky and survive it here. San Francisco will always have my heart.
So, why am I leaving? Why am I taking a karaoke road trip across America to settle in my new home in Montreal? Because it is time. And it’s been time for just over a year now.
Like any good catalyst, San Francisco isn’t meant to be where someone settles. It would be the antithesis of what the pull of San Francisco is for to be a settling ground. It’s more of an unsettling ground. The place where I questioned everything that I had come to take for granted as the way the world works and is supposed to work. It unsettled the notion of everything I am and what I could do. And once I had that answer and found my new reality, I felt I was unnecessarily holding onto the key that needs to be passed along to someone else who awaits the experience. It would be futile for me to learn so much and then not bring it somewhere else with me. It would be like staying in school forever…getting smarter, but not being able to bring that knowledge to real-world issues. It’s necessary that I move onto my next adventure.
Of course, there are the practical things that most people understand like the cost of living (really high in SF), the lack of public health care, the awful public schools (for my 16 year old son), and the fact that I’m a Canadian citizen and cannot live here without a job to sponsor me and, well, I don’t want a job…I want to write my next book and do all sorts of great entrepreneurial things and keep spreading the message of whuffie and changing the world and stuff. But those are practical bits that I’ve dealt with since day one of living here. If it weren’t for the ethereal stuff, I’d continue working around the impracticalities of living in this city.
If I were to compare San Francisco to a geeky reference, I’d say that SF is like Dagobah, where I got to be Luke Skywalker, learning from the many Yodas here. But even though I want to stay, I know I have to leave and face the Empire. And even more importantly, I have been trained in the Jedi ways, so I can transfer my skills to others. I know…too much geek.
So that’s why I’m leaving San Francisco. Of course I’m going to miss it. And there are tons of great things people get in America that I’m going to miss, too. Like Pandora and Virgin America and Trader Joe’s. I’m going to miss the sheer choice I have. The lack of limitations on delivery. But I’m going to an amazing city. A different city. Montreal is charming, even though there is 5x the population of SF. The architecture is similar, with rows of Victorians to choose from. There is a vibrant technology scene there with venture capital, cool companies and people who really get it. There is also a brilliant coworking space. And an opportunity for me to learn new experiences and share my current ones with others.
Oh. And I can write my next book (proposal is still in progress). That’s what I’m most excited about.
So, on my birthday, July 15, I’m leaving San Francisco and will arrive in Montreal at the end of July to move into my new home for August 1. I hope everyone comes to visit.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:02 am
wow! congrats on the move. i’m very proud of my hometown, and hope you enjoy it. i’ll give you one year to become a real Habs fan.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Have a nice trip and enjoy your life in Montreal.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:03 am
Best of luck, Tara — will be nice to have you back in the Great White North
May 29th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Tara,
The thing I love about you is that you are never unafraid to do change and do the thing that your heart tells you is the right thing to do.
Keep in touch
May 29th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I’m thrilled that you’re taking your experience, talent, attitudes, and wisdom out to the “real world”. There’s no place like SF, nor the Valley — but almost all of the world’s people don’t live there. My proudest achievements have been of using what pioneers have created to empower the masses.
Speaking of Luke Skywalker and Yoda, here’s a quote:
Luke: What’s in there?
Yoda: Only what you take with you.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Good luck with this new chapter of your life.
Looking forward to following your adventures.
- Neil.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Awesome news Tara. Canada will be that much better to have you back.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:39 am
Hi Tara,
I’m in Montreal today and it’s waiting for you -)
Go Whuffie !
@fredericguarino
May 29th, 2009 at 11:57 am
wow. i’d given up on san francisco after many bad experiences (i live in los angeles) but this piece made me understand the city better and want to visit it once more. thank you and good luck.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
Way to go on the move and welcome back to Canada. I’ve always loved Montreal but Toronto is my home. We’ll have to do lunch again next time we are in the same city.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
Forgive me if you’ve covered this elsewhere, but can I assume that Citizen Space will continue to operate after your departure?
I’ve only visited Montreal once, but I enjoyed it. I hope everything works out for you there.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
Hi Tara,
Good for you!
As you probably know, I’m outta here around the same time as you (July). Although the places we are going couldn’t be more different — I’m off to sunny San Diego!
I agree with you that you just know that it’s time. And also that SF/the Bay Area is a place most eventually grow out of. I think it’s awesome that you brought your kid here, as this isn’t a place I would want to raise kids. I respect that decision of yours in part because I know it must have been difficult.
Wish you the best of luck, hope you are throwing a going-away party, and hopefully we’ll be able to hang out with each other in our respective new homes!
-Erica
May 29th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I wish you all the best for this new step in your life, and hope to see you/talk to you/read you as much as possible
May 29th, 2009 at 12:33 pm
Congrats in the move! As always, I can’t wait to hear what mischief you raise and minds you change there in charming Montreal.
Sam
May 29th, 2009 at 1:42 pm
I *just* heard about your move this afternoon while hanging out with Sean Power. I’m thrilled that you will be here with such a cool group of brilliant people. I’m sure that there will be at least one Welcome To Montreal party in your honour. I can’t wait to buy you a drink and welcome you here with open arms.
Safe journey, see you in a few months.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Totally cool, Tara. You blazed in, shook things up, and are now moving on for something bigger and better for you. I hope you rememeber your friends here (both in SF and at Intuit) and keep in touch!
Personally, I am looking forward to your tweets from the karaoke road trip!! I just wish I could join you. It sounds like a huge laugh.
May 29th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
SF’s lose is our gain. Bonne chance et bon voyage.
May 29th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Thanks for the insight into all of this. In the maddening rush to get everything done on time I neglected to probe you about the specifics.
I love SF and I actually stayed out there for an extended visit when I was working as a US Gov’t contractor back in the mid to late 1990’s. The draw for me was the vibrant music scene as most of my musical influences cut their teeth in SF. Great town.
Thanks again, Tara, for allowing me to help you with this project. I am honored and I hope to continue helping you spread the whuffaoke love across the land for as long as you keep it rolling.
May 29th, 2009 at 5:54 pm
((((Tara))))
Welcome home, Tara, welcome home.
There are 2 songs you need on your road trip playlist – Mon Pays by Gilles Vigneault and then the pure fromage Patsy Gallant bastardization of same – New York to LA.
“Ma chanson ce n’est pas une chanson, c’est ma vie.”
Bon journee!
May 29th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
Thats a big move Tara …. best of luck to you in your future endeavours.
May 29th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I adore people who embrace change. Many say they can do it, but few do. Moving across the country–and into another country–is change. Kudos! I’m near Boston, so maybe we can meet up sometime halfway or such.
May 29th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Montreal! I love that city. I’ve been there twice for the Canadian GP (hope they get that back next year) I’m reading Whuffie now and good luck with your next project.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Congrats on your move. Change is good. I hope you use the force like the super Jedi you are. Super stoked you are passing through LA on the way to the great white north. DTLA is a good spot for Karaoke
May 30th, 2009 at 3:39 am
Congrats!
Here’s a quick question: What are the best places in Canada for a web developer/designer? What are the top cities you feel contain that ‘web spirit’?
May 30th, 2009 at 4:34 am
I’m sure you’ve picked a path that has heart. I wish you all the good things you want and deserve, including rawkous karaoke and all your other bad habits
May 30th, 2009 at 4:34 am
WOW. Just wow. Good for you! I’m excited for ya!
May 30th, 2009 at 7:39 am
Welcome to Montréal and to Station C! There are a few San Francisco ex-pats here who will be happy to share some Bay Area memories with you.
May 30th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Hey Tara,
Currently watching your preso at WordCamp. Sorry to here that you’ll be leaving ‘teh city”. Best wishes on your journey. Thanks for all that you share.
May 30th, 2009 at 5:55 pm
Well, the Bay Area will always be here with open arms when you decide to visit! Good luck in Montreal…and I hear ya on the public schools (I was a first/second grade teacher for 5 years). I’m hoping as my son starts Kindergarten this fall that I can utilize what I’ve learned via social media to raise some awareness (& not to mention funds) for crucial programs that are being cut (namely music & tech).
Looking forward to my autographed copy of “The Whuffie Factor” to arrive home shortly! Thanks again!
May 30th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
I’m “lucky” in that I have my Green Card.
What I can say is that it will be hard to come back to the Boston area after two weeks in Victoria BC in June/July.
Good luck in Montreal.
May 30th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Godspeed.
Thanks too for taking a few minutes to converse at 140/The Twitter Conference about being open on the social networks.
May 30th, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Good luck. Dont worry, montreal will be equally good to you.
May 30th, 2009 at 10:48 pm
Hi and good luck.And I wish amazing things for your new life.Why? I don’t know you.But I impressed form your words.Good wishes from Turkey/Istanbul,good wishes from my bad life.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:09 am
Best of luck in Montreal, and i’ll look forward to your next book (as i finish reading Whuffie).
Sincerely, from the San Francisco of Europe (that is Lisbon),
all the inspiration for a new journey.
May 31st, 2009 at 7:44 am
I feel fortunate to have met you while you were in your West Coast/Dagobah period. Montreal will be richer for your presence but I’m also hoping you continue to travel around the world so we can all see you again.
Right on!
Betsy
May 31st, 2009 at 8:29 am
Not surprised. Feels right for you. Montreal is a fabulous city. Great subway, beautiful sculptures… Now they have you. Both will be benefited. All the best.
May 31st, 2009 at 8:52 am
Your appeal transcends borders! So does your writing and contribution to the community.
Montreal’s crisp air and uber-cool vibe are as good as any a place to plant seeds for your next big big thing.
Like any Jedi, knowing and loving what you do, makes it so much easier to serve the community from wherever you and your family are happiest. You’re a global citizen to all the cool coworking cities around the world because of what you’ve done.
And what say you of the creative thrill of bumping into Leonard Cohen in some quaint Montreal cafe while penning your next book. From one Canadian to another, welcome home.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:15 am
Ah Tara, though I never lived in SF itself, I was there most days when I lived in the Bay area and still miss it so. Sounds like you are making a great choice for yourself tho and the city will always be there to welcome you back. have a blast on your roadtrip and let us know if you are coming up Seattle way on your way home.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:40 am
We will miss you. It has been great talking, working, chatting, drinking (hey we didn’t do that) with you.
May 31st, 2009 at 10:19 am
omg noooo don’t come here! noooooooooo
ok maybe.
May 31st, 2009 at 12:47 pm
I am glad that we will get a chance to chat at tech events across Montreal. See you then.
May 31st, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Looking forward to meet you in Montreal in one of many tech events!
As a matter of fact, there will be a WordCamp Montreal on July 11-12 during the Jazz fest. http://wordcampmontreal.org/
I will be in the San Francisco area between June 21 and 27 with Kim Vallee. Maybe we’ll drop by Citizen Space to see if you are around.
May 31st, 2009 at 9:00 pm
Too cool, Tara! Guess even us Torontonians will see more of you now ; )
June 1st, 2009 at 4:00 pm
Welcome home
June 1st, 2009 at 8:01 pm
Merci bien for all the heart you brought to SF. You are the first person to make me reconsider my home and native land possibilities, and only just now.
a bientot
heather
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:12 am
At least you’ll be closer to our office here in Waltham!
I’ve visited Montreal twice – a crew is going again in August, but I won’t be able to make it, unfortunately. I love wandering around Old Montreal on a Friday night, or sitting outside a hostel in the early morning, playing a guitar. Going up to the park and just enjoying the city vista – it’s a lovely town.
- Matt H
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:30 am
Wishing you well on your adventure!
I just recently moved to SF from Phoenix, for many of the same reasons you mention about what it is like to be/live/work in the Bay Area. I changed and am rethinking, learning much about myself in the process. Moving to this new place has lead to great transformation.
This really is a place to “learn to fly”, to my point:
I am grateful for your perspective on this place: physically, mentally emotionally, and feel like I am sharing it with you – I’m coming into SF just as you are leaving, wishing you all the best!
Julie
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:32 am
I love the reference to SF as an “unsettling ground”!
I don’t know whether Montreal will prove to be a settling ground for you, but I hope you enjoy the next stage of your journey!
June 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 pm
Knowing when it is time is a hard thing to do — congratulations to you, and I can’t wait to see what adventures await you in Montreal!
June 3rd, 2009 at 1:03 pm
Good luck with everything, Tara! What would you recommend to a person new to the bay area? What are the best advantages SF offers? Also, private schools in the city are amazing and out of public, Lowell is one of the top best in the country… the rest are bad, I agree.
June 3rd, 2009 at 7:23 pm
Your made me choke and almost cry. You are truly amazing. I knew that when I met you at SXSW. I’ve been struggling with the same thing for awhile now. Ha, I wanted to move to SF, but the city doesn’t have the infrastructure to support my passion for fashion.
I’ve been grappling with the fact that I most likely have to move to New York, or even more scary, Italy or France. But am starting to find the only solace I get is in my industry, and I need more of support network in it. That takes me one of those three places. Please be well and I our paths will cross again.
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I’m crushed to hear you’re leaving! I’ll be in San Francisco for the summer again after graduation (and before I go back for a year for my Master’s) – do you think we could grab that coffee we chatted about once, but never happened?
I’ll be in town starting June 11 and will be working in SOMA – I’ll follow up with you via email if I don’t hear from you by then. Hopefully before you leave you can find an afternoon free to chat with an excited(-able?) young CS student
June 3rd, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Hey Tara it was great to meet you tonight at your first YULBlog – and I look forward to helping welcome you to Montreal. We have a great community that will embrace you with open arms!
June 4th, 2009 at 10:39 am
San Francisco will miss you. I’m so glad I got the chance to hear you speak at WordCampSF this year and also glad that I picked up a copy of your book. I’m really enjoying it and your talk was very inspiring.
Love this quote about SF! “The place where I questioned everything that I had come to take for granted as the way the world works and is supposed to work.”
It happens to me almost daily here.
June 4th, 2009 at 11:04 am
It will be great to have you back in Canada, and Montreal seems to be buzzing with great ideas in every area right now. I just finished a documentary filmmaking workshop in Ottawa and almost everyone cool I met was from Montreal. I haven’t been there for 15 years but I’m now eagerly planning a long-overdue trip.
I hope you’ll find it a great place to recharge your creative batteries and I know you’ll invigorate the web community there.
June 5th, 2009 at 4:48 am
i really loved your entry. thanks for sharing. best of luck with your future endeavors. keep moving.
June 5th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Tara- Ive followed your blog for ages now.
If you ever randomly decide to move to England and want to work with a software company with way too much work to do and (way too) big ambitions – be sure to drop me a line
Good luck – moving anywhere is always exciting (or should be).
June 6th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Wow, this is a huge move! It’s really weird for me since I think of you as an icon of SF. Anyway, I wish you the best of lucks for both your personal and professional life.
I still hope you manage to free some time up and visit Buenos Aires on the other side of the world. I don’t have to say that you’re more than welcome to drop by
- Fernando
June 9th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Hi Tara, we met a while back at WineCamp, and just wanted to leave a note that I’m sorry to hear you’re leaving our SF Bay Area community, but I know you’ll continue to contribute to many many people from your new home base. Best wishes in Montreal!
Patrick
June 10th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Can’t wait to have you here. Does your son babysit?
June 10th, 2009 at 9:00 am
You are so amazing!! I was all excited to try & visit you in San Fran now that I am on the west coast too… and here you are heading back to the other side of Canada! But I love Montreal and think it will be a great city for you. Hugs & roses, Becky
June 10th, 2009 at 9:20 am
I salute you, Tara. For your insight and how you will carry everyone you’ve touched and inspired with you…all over the world if that is what you choose.
You arrive in Montreal on my 56th birthday; August 1. This distant connection I have with you..rather ghostly since I “see” and listen to you and you don’t know me..enlivens me and I consider it a gift to have you shifting and sharing and re-creating your power on that great day, August 1.
My distant-cyber-spiritual best wishes to you!
June 10th, 2009 at 10:26 am
Tara – You will be badly missed in SF, but your legacy will live on in so many amazing groups and friendships that you have established here. As a former Canadian I understand the pull back to some of the amazing cities and people there… and I also understand the perception of San Francisco as a catalyst. I am sure that Montreal will be another fantastic adventure for you and although you will be far away – I for one will be following you online and meeting up when possible…Ottawa is just 2 hrs from Montreal and I am there several times a year. Bonne chance à Montréal!
June 10th, 2009 at 9:48 pm
Here’s to new beginnings!
But I really think you should consider joining us in Vancouver instead. You can be back in Canada, but still have the west coast vibe AND a Trader Joe’s within driving distance!
June 12th, 2009 at 4:18 am
WOW, that just sums up San Francisco, as I left my heart there too. It is an awesome city and nearby Santa Rosa becons my mind as I think of the roses. Heard you speak at the SES Toronto, you were great, loved your outfit, and now I know why? Must be from San Fran! Enjoy Montreal.
June 12th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Tara,
We do hope you will stop in Detroit as you traverse North America. A whuffaoke Tweetup would be awesome. Please consider Detroit as it looks like your planned route will bring you very close.
Thanks to @SugarJones for linking to this post, bringing it to my attention.
Best,
David
June 14th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
Best of luck, Tara! You continue to be a huge inspiration for me! xo
June 18th, 2009 at 8:27 am
nice bridge
June 18th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
Goodbye my friend. You will be missed.
June 22nd, 2009 at 3:17 pm
We will miss you Tara! It has been great getting to know you over the past year, and in the short time we worked together, I learned so much from you. I have a feeling that although you’ll be miles away, we’ll stay in touch. I’ll keep following you for the latest on your move and your next book. Good luck!
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:35 pm
So I guess you’re leaving Intuit. Good Luck on your adventure.
June 24th, 2009 at 11:51 am
Godspeed, as a word, is a wish for a prosperous journey, success, and good fortune (from Middle English God speed you, meaning “May God help you prosper”).
I feel the same way, I came to Phoenix one person and now I am another, I have a little girl and a little boy and I’m married not the same person and its been wonderful for my career.
I wish you the best and I hope you keep this site up.
Thanks, Jason
June 25th, 2009 at 8:45 am
“Between the colourfulness of the city, the geekiness and freakiness of it’s residents and the complete essence of hope that pulsates through San Francisco, there is no other place in the world like it. It’s a fantastic city. A real city. A small yet large city. People learn how to fly here every single day. And, unlike other fantastic launchpad cities like New York, you can fall from the sky and survive it here. San Francisco will always have my heart.”
pure poetry, loved it!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:23 am
Awww Tara, I’ll miss you.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Tara, thanks so much for sharing. I admire your courage, strength, decisiveness. Best of luck in Montreal. I love it!
And keep up your great posts. Thank you.