Berlin

I moved to Berlin in April of 2013 with the intent of getting in early in what, at the time, seemed to be an up-and-coming startup ecosystem. I thought I’d stick around for a few years and then return to my native California and that would be that.

Nope. Not what happened.

The Airbnb in Kreuzkölln

I had done very little research into what Berlin was like as a city before moving in. I’d literally never heard of Brandenburg Gate, and if you asked me to name five notable people who’d ever set foot in the city, I don’t think I could have done it.

So when I emerged from the Hermannplatz U-Bahn station and immediately saw people with all kinds of piercing and tattoos, I immediately felt a sense of relief to see what seemed to be a healthy alternative culture.

I headed to my room on Pflügerstraße, dropped my stuff off and met with my soon-to-be business partners by Kottbusser Tor. It was a warm Spring evening filled with optimism and joy.

The Big Room on Seestraße

That Airbnb was never meant to be a permanent solution, so after learning of wg-gesucht.de I found a more stable living situation across town by U-Bahnhof Seestraße. It ended up being a wonderful location, as I’d end up frequenting the newly-licensed Vagabund Brauerei, whose American founders and hoppy pours helped alleviate my newfound sense of homesickness.

I had a few different housemates here during this time, but the one that sticks out was the ethnic German gentleman from Brazil who introduced me to the national dish of Brazil, Feijoada.

The Room at the Old Wedding Fire Station

I lived in this joint between U-Bahnhof Osloer Straße and S-Bahnhof Bornholmer Straße for five years, and saw many friends come and go.

I don’t think I learned more during any given period of life than I did while living here. About technology, but also, about people, about life, about humanity. It wasn’t the most comfortable place, but I will reflect on this period of my life as one where I really became me for me and for no one else.

The Apartment in the Schweizer Viertel in Reinickendorf

Within a short period of time, and after years of making just enough to survive as a startup co-founder, I was granted permanent residence in Germany and also suddenly started getting paid really well. Combining that with a promising relationship meant it was time to get a place of my own, so by lucking into the good graces of an extremely lovely couple’s opening on what was then called eBay Kleinanzeigen, I did just that.

I did quite a few round trips between the Old Fire Station and my new place two stations up the U8 at U-Bahnhof Residenzstraße. The apartment didn’t have any light fixtures installed in the bedrooms, but that didn’t matter – I spent my first evening there listening to radio in the dark and wondering why I of all people was the recipient of such good fortune. Kygo’s “Stargazing” came on as I pondered there in the dark and empty living room, and that song will always evoke that special memory to me.

I ended up living there until I got married.

COVID and Cohabitation in Wilmersdorf

This phase of life by U-Bahnhof Hohenzollernplatz only lasted a few months, as it became clear beforehand that we were moving to Tokyo for my wife’s job. As we were all asked to stay indoors, there wasn’t much of note to discuss, other than perhaps my bike seat getting stolen then quickly rejected and left close by my bike.

I stayed at my in-laws and, at the height of the pandemic, we flew out of Tegel one last time.

Zehlendorf

We returned from Tokyo with a kid in tow, and my resulting desperation for greenery combined with our new family structure meant it was B zone or bust.

We lucked out with a wonderful place between U-Bahnhof Oskar-Helene-Heim and U-Bahnhof Onkel-Toms-Hütte.

And this is where I am now and for the foreseeable future.

Posted July 27, 2026, Last Updated July 29, 2026