A move to San Fransisco......thoughts?

[checkmarshall]

I originally wanted to move to Southern California from Maryland....but a recent job offer near SF (closer to Sacramento) has me thinking about moving up there instead. Anyone live out there?

~Pros and Cons from people that know that area??

[ariastar]

Hell yeah people live out here. This area kicks ass. Sac is a couple hours from SF though. If your job offers are in Sac, you won't want to commute from SF. And the valley sucks. So unless you get offers closer to the Bay Area/Silicon Valley, don't bother. No, seriously, Sac sucks ass.

I'm a native Californian (rare to find in California anymore) who has moved away twice, and kept coming back. The culture, the activity, the actors we've had for governors...!

[boxcarjay]

yeah i have to say if you get a chance to live up there then take it. just like aria i have moved away from there and im gonna be moving back in a few months. but when you say closer to sac are you talking like rocklin granite bay area or the other side towards san fran. cause while sac does suck the foothills isnt half bad i like it over there.

[yashar]

Don't move to southern california, there are too many fake people over there. And if you were to move to the bay area, I would move in a suburb and not directly in the city. It's just too damn crowded there, unless you like that kinda thing. Marin County (other side of the golden gate) is your best bet, but it is one of the most expensive counties in the US to live in.

[ariastar]

Don't move to southern california, there are too many fake people over there. And if you were to move to the bay area, I would move in a suburb and not directly in the city. It's just too damn crowded there, unless you like that kinda thing. Marin County (other side of the golden gate) is your best bet, but it is one of the most expensive counties in the US to live in.

SoCal is the land of fake boobs and bleach blondes looking for sugar daddies.

[yashar]

SoCal is the land of fake boobs and bleach blondes looking for sugar daddies.
And its just disgusting :mad:, people think that if they dress and look like the people on those billboards that they will randomly be "discovered."

[checkmarshall]

Thanks for the thoughts! My first reaction to Sac was not the best. Never been there but from what I looked at and what I read....seems blah....

I couldnt find any real good stuff about the place. But I wouldnt mind being near the SF area. I live near Baltimore and DC now, Baltimore (to me) seems like one of the filthiest and most dangerous city Ive ever been in (Ive been in a lot) and DC is only really nice in the mall....unless youre RICH enough to live in a nice area. This area sucks.

The west coast feels more like home to me. If the job in Sacramento pays well enough, is the area forgiving enough for me to live in a good spot and still be close to the good stuff?

[tokenuser]

The west coast feels more like home to me. If the job in Sacramento pays well enough, is the area forgiving enough for me to live in a good spot and still be close to the good stuff?California ... the land of fruit and nuts.

Like anywhere you go, you will find pros and cons (actually, in a lot of places you WILL find pros and cons - in SF... but thats another story).

My wife and I moved from Australia to SoCal ... it was OK, but not particularly friendly. People didn't really have friends, they networked - its all about the connections (con). The upside (pro) was that I could pick up just about any type of takeout food (much of it quite healthy) in the 5 minute drive from the freeway exit to our house. Housing was expensive, both as a renter AND a buyer (definate con). Entertainment and shopping was available pretty much everywhere (definate pro).

After 6 years, we moved to North Carolina. People are far more friendly, we live in a large new house in a really nice neighborhood (for $100K less than the 60s ranch house on a tiny block we sold in SoCal). There are good restaurants around here, but you need to travel more toget to them. Entertainment options are about the same (except we no longer have Disneyland season passes - and the nearest rollercoaster is a good 4 hour drive away). Cost of living is 15% lower, and I no longer spend 2-4hours each day commuting to work (I now work from home DEFINATE pro). All-in-all, we now have a far more comfortable life style.

Point is - everywhere has good points, and bad points, and there are some things I miss from SoCal (Fry's Electronics - sad really really :) ). In evaluating Sac, think about what it is you really want out of a place to live. Ability to buy real estate? Restaurants? Social life? I think you will find the lifestyle you want pretty much anywhere - you just need to seek out the right neighborhood.

[samureye]

Earthquakes...

[starscream80]

Don't move to southern california, there are too many fake people over there.

SoCal is the land of fake boobs and bleach blondes looking for sugar daddies.

And its just disgusting :mad:, people think that if they dress and look like the people on those billboards that they will randomly be "discovered."

Wow, talk about generalization!!! You guys are pretty ignorant.

[samureye]

I'm right about Earthquakes though.

[starscream80]

I'm right about Earthquakes though.
They don't happen that often.

[mightymousewithcheese]

Earthquakes...

...and was there for the big Earthquake of '89. It's a nice place to visit but I would never live there again.

[jjallday]

Stay out of the ocean, there's sharks in there.

[xibalba]

Earthquakes...

Earthquakes happen everyday don't they? Just too small to feel them.

[yashar]

...and was there for the big Earthquake of '89. It's a nice place to visit but I would never live there again.I remember that shit. Damn. :confused:

[yashar]

Wow, talk about generalization!!! You guys are pretty ignorant.Ignorant would be me saying this without going there. I've been there many times and I know pretty well that this is damn true.

[starscream80]

Ignorant would be me saying this without going there. I've been there many times and I know pretty well that this is damn true.

Generalization anyone??? If I said Northern CA is full of weed smoking hippies and homosexuals because I've been there plenty of times and seen them, does that statement make it true for the region?

[tokenuser]

Generalization anyone??? If I said Northern CA is full of weed smoking hippies and homosexuals because I've been there plenty of times and seen them, does that statement make it true for the region?Wow ... you forgot to mention Chai swilling tree huggers ...

[starscream80]

Wow ... you forgot to mention Chai swilling tree huggers ...

Hmm. I thought they were more into black or green tea.

[checkmarshall]

Is Sacramento really that far from San Fransisco?

[tokenuser]

Is Sacramento really that far from San Fransisco?

82miles - 1:32hours ... according to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&pwst=1&sa=N&resnum=0&q=sacramento%2C%20ca&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&tab=wl).

[ariastar]

82miles - 1:32hours ... according to Google Maps (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&safe=off&pwst=1&sa=N&resnum=0&q=sacramento%2C%20ca&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&tab=wl).

Longer to drive during commute hours.

[ariastar]

Generalization anyone??? If I said Northern CA is full of weed smoking hippies and homosexuals because I've been there plenty of times and seen them, does that statement make it true for the region?


Pretty much. Either pot smoking, tree-hugging hippies who think leg-shaving is evil, gays, or chai-swilling-techie-preppies. But the best thing? The live-and-let-live mentality, and the acceptance. If I want to wear my full-length hooded cloak for the hell of it, no one cares. I'm not going to be harshly judged. And networking here is for what you know, not based on how you look.

Everyone I've ever known, except for one, who has lived in SoCal wanted to move away. My psuedo-brother wants to leave, but his wife doesn't. Everyone else I know who's from there or has lived there has moved away. The artificial culture wore on them. Now some people like that, but a lot don't.

[ariastar]

...and was there for the big Earthquake of '89. It's a nice place to visit but I would never live there again.

One little earthquake? :)

[ariastar]

The west coast feels more like home to me. If the job in Sacramento pays well enough, is the area forgiving enough for me to live in a good spot and still be close to the good stuff?

I don't think there really are any good areas in the valley. It's terribly hot, boring, a high rime rate.... I get nauseated at the very thought of driving out there for even a coupe hours. No. Not cool.

SF is too far for a commute to make sense. In clear traffic, you're looking at an hour and a half. But in rush hour traffic? Double that. There's a reason people rent couches during the week to sleep local to work, and go home on the weekends. Yes, people rent couches for a few hundred per month.

If you want to be in SF, you need a job MUCH closer.

[starscream80]

Pretty much. Either pot smoking, tree-hugging hippies who think leg-shaving is evil, gays, or chai-swilling-techie-preppies. But the best thing? The live-and-let-live mentality, and the acceptance. If I want to wear my full-length hooded cloak for the hell of it, no one cares. I'm not going to be harshly judged. And networking here is for what you know, not based on how you look.

Everyone I've ever known, except for one, who has lived in SoCal wanted to move away. My psuedo-brother wants to leave, but his wife doesn't. Everyone else I know who's from there or has lived there has moved away. The artificial culture wore on them. Now some people like that, but a lot don't.

Have you ever lived in So Cal??? If not, why comment based on assumption. Your friends don't speak for the 20+ million people that live in So Cal. "Artificial Culture"??? What are you talking about??? Define "Artificial Culture". If you mean aspiring actors/actresses, then I'm sure there's hundreds of them in the Hollywood surrounding areas (Burbank, West Hollywood, etc). If you mean getting preference based on looks, well that happens everywhere not just in So Cal. I lived all around So Cal almost my entire life and never dealt with this so called "artificial" culture.

[yashar]

Generalization anyone??? If I said Northern CA is full of weed smoking hippies and homosexuals because I've been there plenty of times and seen them, does that statement make it true for the region?I don't dispute that. Atleast they aren't fake which is good.

[checkmarshall]

What state isnt full of weed smoking hippies? Utah?

Anyway, thanks for all the input!

I dont want to move somewhere thinking the grass may be greener based on stereotypes.... ;)

I will keep considering the move. Sometimes moves like this are steps in a good direction. 2,500 miles is a good first step!

[starscream80]

I don't dispute that. Atleast they aren't fake which is good.

Again with generalizations, junior??? You're pretty thick-headed.

[starscream80]

What state isnt full of weed smoking hippies? Utah?

Anyway, thanks for all the input!

I dont want to move somewhere thinking the grass may be greener based on stereotypes.... ;)

I will keep considering the move. Sometimes moves like this are steps in a good direction. 2,500 miles is a good first step!

Sorry for hijacking your thread. The ignorance of people bothers me. What kind of job opportunities are you looking for? Are you moving here temporary or permanently?

[checkmarshall]

Its a gov job. that has been offered to me.

[boxcarjay]

Is Sacramento really that far from San Fransisco?

yeah its pretty far, but if your really gonna be working in sacramento i say move to a city thats outside of it. like Granite bay is nice or antelope. it would still be a little bit of a commute but it beats living directly in sac. and while those areas dont have nearly as much to offer as san fran do i always liked living there. You should probably come and visit the different areas and see how you feel about it first.

[ariastar]

Have you ever lived in So Cal??? If not, why comment based on assumption. Your friends don't speak for the 20+ million people that live in So Cal. "Artificial Culture"??? What are you talking about??? Define "Artificial Culture". If you mean aspiring actors/actresses, then I'm sure there's hundreds of them in the Hollywood surrounding areas (Burbank, West Hollywood, etc). If you mean getting preference based on looks, well that happens everywhere not just in So Cal. I lived all around So Cal almost my entire life and never dealt with this so called "artificial" culture.

I've spent a substantial amount of time in SoCal. As far as I know, you don't get tech jobs based on being waif-thin with big boobs. Artificial culture refers to things like boob jobs, bleach jobs, people pretending to be what they're not, hoping to be discovered.... I think most people in SoCal are "aspiring actors/actresses," then get pissed when not taken so seriously.

Honey, you've been submersed in that culture, as you say, almost your entire life. You're not as likely to see what others see. It's comparable to an accent. To yourself, you don't have an accent. You just talk and how you sound just is. But someone else who hears you hears things in how you speak that you don't. Travel a bit and you'll see what I mean, and may come to think of other places as too "natural." e.g. the hippie chicks who don't shave, etc..

[ariastar]

Marshall, have you ever visited California?

[starscream80]

I've spent a substantial amount of time in SoCal. Artificial culture refers to things like boob jobs, bleach jobs, people pretending to be what they're not, hoping to be discovered.... I think most people in SoCal are "aspiring actors/actresses," then get pissed when not taken so seriously.
Most!!! are you kidding me??? There's over 13 million people in LA county alone. Your reasoning is absurd.

Honey, you've been submersed in that culture, as you say, almost your entire life. You're not as likely to see what others see. It's comparable to an accent. To yourself, you don't have an accent. You just talk and how you sound just is. But someone else who hears you hears things in how you speak that you don't. Travel a bit and you'll see what I mean, and may come to think of other places as too "natural." e.g. the hippie chicks who don't shave, etc.
I need to travel? I've traveled across the United States and lived in other countries for the last five years. So if we apply your reasoning/stereotyping most Texans are hicks, most Southerners are inbreds, and most muslims are terrorist, right? I know better than to stereotype people based on assumptions. Please stop getting your information from TV.
Read bold. I'm done here.

[checkmarshall]

Marshall, have you ever visited California?

Well, for 5 years I lived in San Diego. Then last weekend I went to LA and SD for a long weekend.

Other than that, Ive lived all over the world.

[ariastar]

Well, for 5 years I lived in San Diego. Then last weekend I went to LA and SD for a long weekend.

Other than that, Ive lived all over the world.

LA and SD are waaaaaaaaaay different. Make a visit to Sac and SF before deciding.

[tokenuser]

Well, for 5 years I lived in San Diego. Then last weekend I went to LA and SD for a long weekend.

Other than that, Ive lived all over the world.Forgot you were heading over that way for a long weekend ... how about updating your where to go thread with where you went :)

BTW - SoCal vs NoCal is as different as LA vs SD. Personally, I would love to get a place in Napa. Unfortunately, there aren't any good schools for my wife that are colocated with wine country (except maybe Seattle, and that's a stretch).

[yourestillmycaesar]

So I was born and raised in Southern California, I live in LA county and and I want to go to undergrad in southern california. In my most humble and experienced opinion, Southern California is pretty alright.

Not everyone wants to be an actor. Hardly any more here than anywhere else in this country.

Take me, for example, I want to be an archaeologist... that's a little different than an actor.

Everyone's biases aren't even based on SoCal or LA, they're based on Hollywood.

Hollywood is ridiculous like that.

My podunk town (YES podunk in SoCal) is centered economically around farming, aeronautics and the fact that we have an airforce military base here.

BUT ANYWAYS. I feel silly defending Southern California because I want to move to the bay area for grad school. Haha. San Francisco is the most amazing city ever.

[lsman11]

i am from the east coast, i spent 2 months working remotely in southern california 2 years ago, and it was the time of my life... every day, was sunny, warm during the day, cool at nite, i never had to use the air conditioner once (which is kinda crazy)

anyway, with web2.0 in boom, part of the main reason i would want to go back is to be able to attend some of these live events, and one day make it on the list for launch parties

if you can do it, go for it ?

[tw12lve]

nocal is a big pile of suck

if a person is consistently 'fake', then wouldn't they be real?

but seriously, it depends on what you like to do for fun.. if you are pretty lame, live in nocal. on the flip side, if you are pretty awesome, socal is for you

[checkmarshall]

Well.....

After my trip to LA and SD I am very pumped to move (back) to the west coast. I know that "grass is greener" analogy applies directly to me. Change is good though. The short time I was in SoCal really had an impact on me.

I knew the minute I moved to MD, I hated it. I did it for a good reason but I never liked the area.

Well. The job in Sac was offered to me and they would pay my moving expenses. My other side tells me I would be happier in San Diego even though I would go out there with no job (as of right now).

Jobs are a mixed bag though, I can do whatever...its just nice to know that I already have one up north.

I still have some thinking to do and will keep you guys up to date. Thanks for all your input. It really is valuable.

-Marshall

[yashar]

nocal is a big pile of suck

if a person is consistently 'fake', then wouldn't they be real?

but seriously, it depends on what you like to do for fun.. if you are pretty lame, live in nocal. on the flip side, if you are pretty awesome, socal is for you
You can't even spell "norcal." This just shows how awesome people spell.