Take a 1 week vacation without your laptop or cell phone. Go backpacking or something. Lay on a beach. Sounds like you're wrapped up in a lot of different things. Cool off before making a decision.
SF would be great, especially for startups. You can drop in at a pub and chat with a dozen other entrepreneurs over a pint as often as you wish. But moving to SF isn't going to make you work less (or more). Thats something only you can control.
Ultimately, if a change will make you healthier and happier, it's a good one to make.
And one more thing-- One thing I noticed during the week we were there: I was able to get a whole lot done during the working day, and after that... I did not want to talk about or think about work.
Being around other startups is really validating. You probably felt satisfied with your work because you knew that others around you were up doing the same. There's something that just feels good about waking up early on a saturday morning and going to a coffee shop to hack on your laptop with a dozen other bootstrappers. Humans are communal.
I actually did a one week trip to silicon valley where I had a lot of relaxing fun. It was work, but not 'work' work - I was doing research for writing, and my wife was my camera-lady. I can't much afford another vacation right now.
You're absolutely right about the communal thing.
I don't think SF will make me work less. I think I could have an interesting single job there - that would satisfy my intellectual needs and my financial needs, either as a founder or an early employee of a startup.
Take a 1 week vacation without your laptop or cell phone. Go backpacking or something. Lay on a beach. Sounds like you're wrapped up in a lot of different things. Cool off before making a decision.
SF would be great, especially for startups. You can drop in at a pub and chat with a dozen other entrepreneurs over a pint as often as you wish. But moving to SF isn't going to make you work less (or more). Thats something only you can control.
Ultimately, if a change will make you healthier and happier, it's a good one to make.
And one more thing-- One thing I noticed during the week we were there: I was able to get a whole lot done during the working day, and after that... I did not want to talk about or think about work.
Being around other startups is really validating. You probably felt satisfied with your work because you knew that others around you were up doing the same. There's something that just feels good about waking up early on a saturday morning and going to a coffee shop to hack on your laptop with a dozen other bootstrappers. Humans are communal.