The Most Beautiful City

San Francisco is incredibly special. To me, it's the most beautiful city in the world.

Boston from the Cambridge side has the best skyline; Barcelona and Kyoto are amazing to visit; Singapore has awesome urban planning; San Diego has better weather; Vilcabamba is up there in terms of mountain pueblitos.

NYC might have more everything...but more isn't always better.

A large part of SF's beauty is the talent density. People here are compounding. They're self-actualizing in unique and thoughtful ways.

On average, the food is simply tastier than other places in the US. You can walk into a random spot and expect it to be good.

There is a sense of taste here which is uniquely American. Once you get over certain overrun public spaces, and some old-fashioned quaintness in Chinatown, you find an artistic culture in which impact (or power) comes to the fore.

The innovation ecosystem is unparalleled. Such a strong 2nd derivative means even Hollywood has succumbed to Silicon Valley as the primary exporter of American culture.

I used to think Boeing was #1 by transaction volume, but I wasn't properly considering Google, Facebook, Netflix, Youtube, Apple... clicks & eyeballs transporting far more folks than airplanes to other places. Forget the oil and gas companies—software has in fact eaten the world. Thankfully, San Francisco has good taste.

I have yet to visit Austin TX, but there are ways SF might build past its constraints other than migrating away. The All-in Podcast for me represented the resurgence of MAGA, starting with the Chesa Boudin recall and the rise of David Sacks. To anyone paying sufficient attention, he's not very ominous or nefarious at all.

I don't have much to say about the government here. Although smarter folks than me seem to dislike it, that's not unique to SF. In my experience, competence levels are currently low across various American institutions. It's unclear exactly how much this adds or detracts from what might be an even more beautiful place.

The air quality is superb. Water is fresh from the tap. Plentiful public restrooms, decently maintained in Golden Gate Park and Alamo Square at least. Many green spaces, which are generally well-spaced. Hills provide texture and a bit of exercise, without being overly laborious or treacherous.

Things can always be much better. But relative to the 3 other continents where I've resided in the past, I'm very grateful for the standards here.

I've come to appreciate that SF is relatively expensive because it's amazing. Like many things in life, you pay for value.

Oh and of course, the views...