New focus, new city, same cat
Added 2019-11-06 02:48:48 +0000 UTCHi everyone,
I really appreciate everyone who's been sticking with me through this year. I've been having a rough time with mental health for a lot of it. I've also been getting more and more burned out on both the whole San Francisco Bay area and the DIY-tech-focused work I've been doing.
I can see you reaching for the "unsubscribe" button already; don't worry, I'm not giving up tech junk. I'm just really done holding it up on any kind of pedestal. I really need to be more real about the good, bad, and ugly of the whole industry, and the saccharine show-and-tell style is extremely not doing it for me any more. I've been trying to develop something a bit new; still video, but not the same format, and with a more specific goal perhaps.
This has been my goal for a while now but I keep getting stuck on "who is my audience" and "what am i really trying to say". I have some idea, but it's been hard to tune out the noise and just create something that I am actually happy with.
I finally had a bit of a mental and physical health breakthrough recently though and I've been feeling a lot better. Some new meds, some relationships modified. But best of all, a plan for the future that doesn't hit a dead-end in a year or two.
So, the plan. I'm leaving the concrete box I've been in for 5 years now. It's always been too expensive, and the rent is so high I'd never even want to set a goal for my patrons to cover it all. My plan for staying here involved using my proximity to SF to make money in some other way. I did some classes, I did some contract jobs, but I keep getting depressed by the social scene here. Wealth inequality is worse than ever, and anyone who isn't at a pricy tech job is moving away, couch surfing, living with someone in tech, or homeless. I thought I could stay close enough to this mess to help, but after years of trying I need to put on my own oxygen mask.
So! I am buying a house! And moving to Sacramento! Living in an actual city again! I'll be close enough to come back here by train a few times a month but I'll have a much more stable home-base. I'll have a somewhat more traditional house-type space with heating and cooling and walls and doors and everything, but I'll also have a garage for dirty shop stuff, and I'll even have an area that I could use for welding.
This will dramatically lower my expenses, and between the generosity of my patrons and some new work and art opportunities in a new city, I'm excited about being able to produce something I like and get involved in my community without constantly freaking out about money and feeling like my whole life is temporary.
I'm sorry it's been hard to communicate on this platform lately. I find it really difficult to be surrounded by tech enthusiasts. I had to modify the way I use Twitter several times in an attempt to stay connected with some larger humanity without getting even more burned out on tech folks. I worry that this place is like that. I think I'm okay enough now that I can handle it even if it is.
I'd really like to know more about what this community really represents and what you all think. I've been so afraid to open that can of worms, but I need to understand my audience better. I was happy for a while with just "doing what I like" and attracting the folks who are into that. But "what I like" changes, and I need to know how to adapt my communication style according to where you're at and where I'm at now.
Please stay in touch if you like, but try to keep in mind that I have a really hard time communicating in general, and especially with fans.
Looking forward to saying goodbye to Emeryville.
<3
Comments
Good luck in Sacramento Micah. I left San Francisco 2 years ago to get away from tech and my mental health is definitely better. I can't afford a lot but I will continue to support you no matter what you choose to create and whether you share it or not.
2019-12-01 18:53:41 +0000 UTCThis sounds like a great move for you. Been there with the burnout. Sometimes a space or a place just isn't right anymore and you need to find a new place to help inspire you. Also, it's perfectly fine for what you like to change and to show that off to the community. Think of it as exposing people to new things and helping the community evolve. Be well and I hope the moving goes smoothly.
ducksauz
2019-11-09 08:09:11 +0000 UTCI like seeing people work on something that they are having fun with, in whatever medium. All the best with the move, congrats!
2019-11-07 11:22:07 +0000 UTCSounds like a good move for many reasons! Glad to hear that you've found a way to a new situation.
Trevor Flowers
2019-11-06 21:51:05 +0000 UTCBest of luck, Micah! Sacramento sounds like a great home for you. Thanks for focusing on you and kicking that burnout to the curb. :)
Ben Hamilton
2019-11-06 20:42:13 +0000 UTCHi! I've only been a patron for a month or so, but perhaps "what I think" can be of use since you asked for it. ^^ I was impressed by your videos, then I looked at your website, and somehow I felt "ok, I _need_ to subsribe" (actually, that made me create a Patreon account, something I wasn't so sure about before). If it were only for your expertise I don't think I'd have done it, at least not by "gut instinct" like that. I had a feeling that you were the kind of person I'd like to see more in this world. I struggle myself sometimes to find ways to "fit" in this capitalist pile of... capitalism, so if I can help (even marginally) someone like you fit there that makes me happy. And, well, your post just reinforces all of that. :) All power to you in your new life, and I hope your health only gets better from here. Do what you like to do, I know I won't unsubscribe because there's less or no tech in it (it may very well be the opposite actually, I think there's too much electronics everywhere anyway).
2019-11-06 20:24:20 +0000 UTCI love everything about this post(well, besides the stuff about how bad things are getting in your current location). You getting a house, you being more comfortable with where you'll be living, all of it :) My expectations as a patron(which took me too long) are to at least give a bit to you, your cat, and the wonderful and beautiful stuff you create. Just seeing you work inspires my own creativity and maker soul π
RaeGun
2019-11-06 15:16:03 +0000 UTCThanks for update. I wish you all the best with moving and new house.
2019-11-06 08:55:53 +0000 UTCHi Micah, first of all thanks for the update - I'm sure we all appreciate that it's an effort for you. What are my expectations as patron? I was completely entranced with the video of your board being picked and placed and tested by lior at adafruit. I admired both your skill in designing and it and bring it to production and the simple satisfaction of seeing you as it come to fruition. My dream in being a patron of yours is that it gives you time to find interesting technical problems that you have the skill to solve, and enhance either your own artistic and craft projects or share with us people who have used yours to make their own projects. I am sure we all wish you the best on your move and that you get to be both happy and creative
2019-11-06 05:37:37 +0000 UTCI'm super happy for you! No apologies. We are all, and I suspect without exception, here for you, not for any other reason. And a happier you is a thing to celebrate and enjoy together. Allons-y!
Maggie McFee
2019-11-06 03:11:06 +0000 UTCThat sounds like a lot of positive life changes, looking forward to seeing what comes of it all
2019-11-06 03:03:30 +0000 UTCI'm so happy to hear this! It sounds like your experience recently mirrors mine a lot and I'm glad you're making moves to take care of yourself. It was hard for me to give up 'the shop,' it felt like admitting that I needed some kind of material comfort that I had always kinda shrugged off before, but I finally convinced myself that being comfortable and secure isn't antithetical to being productive, in fact it's probably necessary. I can't wait to see what you get to work on next. I may be in the minority in this but what I like most about your channel is you and the way you approach projects, so whatever that is and however you choose to present that, my subscription is locked in.
Integrated Thermionicβ’
2019-11-06 03:02:26 +0000 UTCThank you!!
2019-11-06 03:01:58 +0000 UTCSo excited for you! All the best in the move :-)
Matt Godbolt
2019-11-06 02:56:23 +0000 UTC
