Why Did Everett Katigbak Move to San Francisco?

Everett Katigbak moved to San Francisco because getting to the city came first. He was choosing where he saw himself physically and which city matched his vibe, ahead of breaking into the technology industry or chasing a career move.

His dad had moved from the Philippines in the late 60s, in the summer of love, and would rant and rave about San Francisco. Visits as kids left vivid memories. He grew up in LA and Southern California and did not want to be in a car ever again. He did not see himself as an East coaster because of the weather, but he liked how mobile people were out there, and San Francisco had public transit. Culture was the other pull: density and diversity, artists, music, and counterculture at the time. He calls it arguable that a lot of the culture later spread out and moved away, and the culture was still what compelled him about San Francisco.

In design school, a mentor he looked up to, an amazing designer, told him near graduation not to move for the job. Find the place where you want to live and where you can see yourself. Focus on yourself, and leave offers and carrots aside. The advice sounded weird, and he took it to heart. He did not want to live in Southern California and work in that environment. San Francisco was where he saw himself.