I left San Francisco and moved to LA. Listed below are the 5 worst issues about leaving the Bay Space.

• Stevie Howell is a San Francisco born and raised artist who now lives in LA.

• Howell says she misses the support system that San Francisco provided her and her company.

• She finds LA socially distant and misses SF's diverse food, art and neighborhoods.

This essay is based on a conversation with Stevie Howell, an artist and business owner living in Los Angeles. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I was born and raised in San Francisco and spent six years of my adult life there before moving to Los Angeles about five years ago. I thought it would be a very simple step, but I was surprised by some things that a big city like LA doesn't have compared to a small city like San Francisco.

People love to hate San Francisco – I recently heard the word “war-torn” used to describe it – but the truth is that it is beautiful. The city has parks and incredible views and the hills are scenic and fun to drive up and down. There's great architecture – from colorful Victorian buildings to the monstrous Salesforce Tower – and easy access to the ocean and bay.

It is a well-planned urban space and the city continues to make careful decisions to make it visually appealing and stimulating.

Although LA is much larger than San Francisco, unlike San Francisco, LA does not feel urban. Here are, in my opinion, the five worst things about leaving the San Francisco Bay Area and moving to LA.

1. LA is feeling socially distant

LA feels like a vast network of suburban enclaves. In San Francisco I feel an urban feel – this hustle and bustle and people moving around instead of staying in their houses like in LA.

San Francisco is relatively densely populated, so you can know your neighbors, walk for coffee or grocery shopping, meet up with a friend at the last minute, or walk across town for dinner rather than all evening have to spend to get there like we do in LA.

2. I miss the diverse food, art and neighborhoods

As you walk around you can hear a mix of languages ​​and taste different cuisines. There is amazing food and so many creative chefs doing great things. A few restaurants I miss the most are Flour + Water (Italian), Mandalay SF (Burmese food), Marnee Thai (Thai), La Taqueria (Mexican), and Swan Oyster Depot (Seafood).

I've heard the art world in San Francisco described as “provincial,” but it's home to both great galleries and important collections. Some of my favorites include Jessica Silverman Gallery, SFMOMA, Rebecca Camacho Presents, and Minnesota Street Project.

Additionally, each neighborhood has its own identity, personality and unique characters.

3. I miss San Francisco's support system

I loved the community I had in my studio; It's a sense of community that I haven't found in any other city.

My art studio was at the end of an old wooden building among a row of beautiful old brick warehouses and shipbuilding facilities. Other artists lived in the building and we helped each other. We referred each other to new clients, presented each other's work to the press, and shared resources for opportunities.

As an artist and business owner, I founded my eco-friendly textile and wallpaper collection business in San Francisco in 2013. I don't think I would have ever started a business in any other city. San Francisco breeds entrepreneurship that extends beyond the world of technology.

4. I miss the culture and philanthropic spirit of San Francisco

I live in San Francisco and have noticed that many of its companies have a good environmental or social mission. I miss the philanthropy that is embedded in the city. People care about the world and each other.

While San Francisco has done many things right, one thing it has done wrong is the way it has handled — or failed to handle — the homelessness crisis. It's due to how the city deals with drug addiction, mental illness and the high cost of living. Many other cities in the US are facing similar problems, and like other cities, it is disturbing to see.

But I believe that for the most part, San Francisco still has the same caring heart and soul that it has had for years. People care about their neighbors, their parks, and the world in general.

5. I miss the Bay Area's accessibility to nature

There are so many great green spaces and beaches within easy reach around the Bay Area. During your lunch break you can go for a hike. Crissy Field, Golden Gate Park, Bernal Heights Hill, Dolores Park, Ocean Beach, Stinson Beach, Angel Island and Rodeo Beach are great places.

When I lived in San Francisco, I served on a conservation committee at Golden Gate National Park and was able to learn in depth about the amount of thought that goes into each plant planted in the city and the education and research that takes place in the parks takes place in the city.

Access to nature and natural beauty is also what made the Bay Area such an incredible place to grow up. There really is a mix of indoor and outdoor learning that can't be compared to LA or anywhere else I've lived.

If you've moved to a new city or state and would like to share your experience, email Manseen Logan at mlogan@businessinsider.com.

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