San Francisco is like sea salt chocolate (work IS the party)
*(This is Day #5 in my 30-day microblog challenge. You can and should still join! A few new people have started today. Find more info here)*
San Francisco is a bit like sea salt chocolate: you either love it, or it makes your skin crawl.
Most people bond by sharing new experiences together in the physical world. They crave a life away from their computers: catching the breeze on the beach, trying the latest Insta-famous restaurant, or Netflix and chill. Leisure time is for casual, relaxing activities – anything to rest and disconnect from work.
By contrast, in San Francisco, “social time” often looks more like a tech meetup. People tend to bond through intellectual banter, riffing on technical ideas or visions of the future, and exchanging Twitter memes (or group chat gossip). They crave a life spent building cool things (on their computers!), launching startups, and playing around with “SotA” tech gear. A great party in SF is one where you can find high-quality discussions on the latest AI papers, the wildest sci-fi startup launches, or a viral essay from a contrarian VC or CEO.
You can tell someone is new to the city when they show up at a house party and ask about the alcohol. If they ask where people go club, you know they’re not going to last long…
For people who seek more “traditional” forms of fun, San Francisco might feel lifeless and robotic. They wonder “Do these people just not have any interests outside of work?? Don’t they like doing anything fun?”
But they’re missing the point! YES, those people are genuinely having fun, because they’re sharing an obsession. They get to live their mission 24/7 and be surrounded by others who share their intensity and passion for their own crazy, ambitious dreams. They know that the future is being built right there and then, and they’re getting to be part of it.
It’s exciting! It’s motivating. The city is like fuel. Why would they want to disconnect?
I get why it might feel transactional, especially when the first question you’re most likely to be asked at most parties is “What do you do?”. But my experience is that SF is way less elitist than people make it out to be. Sure, some folks will lose interest if you say “B2B SaaS” or have a boring job, but genuine intellectual curiosity and skill frequently cut through status barriers in a way that I’ve never seen anywhere else.
At random house parties, you’ll find unicorn founders intently listening to some 20-year-old who just moved to the city and has spent the past three years figuring out how to make 3D-printed jet engines work. Cross the hallway and you’ll find another notable founder in their third hour of conversation with some random internet intellectual who specializes in mind uploading.
And everyone’s having fun! San Francisco is the dream environment for many. It’s the only place in the world where you’ll consistently get to talk to world-class experts on BCIs, genetic engineering, and satellite launches in the same afternoon. All in the same room, at a random house party on a casual Friday night.
So, no, the parties in San Francisco don’t have alcohol; they have La Croix. Yes, this is a party. And yes, you have to take your shoes off!
*(The Bay Area actually has an extremely unique party/fun scene, even within but especially beyond the usual tech scene. I hope to be able to cover this in some of next microblogs!)*