You're right, you can't have anything like that in SF. (Well, there are some pretty nice forests nearby.) You also can't have any of the culture and city life

You're right, you can't have anything like that in SF. (Well, there are some pretty nice forests nearby.) You also can't have any of the culture and city life that a major city like SF has. You see easily 10x as many people in a day in SF than you see all week in a semi-rural town in the Midwest. There's 10 cafes within a 10 minute walk. The nightlife is extensive and amazing. The restaurant scene, world class. And that's fine if it has no value to you. But clearly for many there is more to consider than just cost of living and space. There is a reason startup hubs happen in major cities.