"a) Will it be easier to pick up some part-time C++/Rails gigs in SF bay than Seattle? I'd really like to have some continuous source of income so I'd have mone

"a) Will it be easier to pick up some part-time C++/Rails gigs in SF bay than Seattle? I'd really like to have some continuous source of income so I'd have money to come back/extend my runway." --Probably. As a rough lithmus test, you could run searches on startuply/ craigslist for both cities and compare the number of returns. "b) Is it possible to live on $1000/month in SF? I subtract $600 for transit gas, emergency, etc." --It's possible. 100 for food seems low ($3 per day). A big expense is rent; if you could cut that down you'd be better off. "c) How is the weather down there? Is it much hotter than Seattle?" --Not sure, I'm from NYC =) "e) Am I fucking crazy?" --No. And keep us in touch!