In August of 1992 I arrived in San Francisco. Within a year I was calling it home. Over the years I left a couple times, but I always knew I would be coming back. 15 Years later I love this city more than ever.

The first apartment I moved into was a nice 2br in the Nob Loin for $940/mo. (I was hoping to get a photo of the entrance from from Google Street, but appropriately enough there is a U-Haul truck in front blocking the view.) The landlord verbally shared his disbelief that he was giving a lease to two 22 year olds without jobs. The economy was that bad at the time, which is why I chose San Francisco versus any other place to be unemployed in.

After 9 months temping (and losing much self respect) I landed my first desired job at the California Council for International Trade with the inflated title of Administrative Director and deflated salary of $16,800.

The city was very different. Frank Jordan, an ex-SF Police Chief, was mayor. Herb Caen still penned his three dot entires for the Chronicle and SF was known for it’s academics, not techies.

Here’s a picture of me not long after I arrived. I bought the longer of the two necklaces with my very first paycheck from CCIT. I figured I deserved something for myself. It was $10