I'm mulling over a professional move to the Bay Area -- hopefully within the next year. I love the area, and it offers many resources for many of the things I've got planned.

But, honestly, I'm intimidated as hell. It's so EXPENSIVE there!

So... how do you do it? Do you find wages proportionate there? Do you have to cut major corners? How comfortable are you in the Bay Area, and what are some of your complaints other than financial?


[Edited 7/2/05 10:03am]

It IS EXPENSIVE. I moved here from the midwest in 99. Right before the Dot crash. SF was really hurt by it and it is still reeling fromt he effects. Though rents have come down a bit.

A studio is between 900 - 1100
1br is 1200 - 1600

It may sweem like a lot, but you do get paid more out here. I left Chitown making 31K and started here at 39K. So you are compensated.

Things I like:
It's really pretty here.
You can get to almost any climate within 4 hrs driving.
No food tax.
Mild weather, which at first may seem cold, but you do get used to the NO HOT DAYS and NO FREEZING DAYS.
Good Public Transportation
It's pretty liberal here
It's pretty diverse, though I have to say there are not a lot of african americans here in the city, it's a bit noticeable
You can live out your artistic dream while working. They may not have a lot of museums but they love art.
It's ok to be gay...anywhere.

Things I dislike:
The Homeless...HUGE problem. It also creates other issues, like dirty streets and sidewalks, drug dealings on the street(though that's not just homeless) and general loonyness like someone screaming at the top of their lungs at 2 am.
High rents
The lack of Italian Beef Sandwhiches and other greasy spoon places.
Pizza sucks and Hot dogs are grilled
Job Market is tough...depending
Lack of Museums
Constant rain in the winter.
It's a transient city. Very hard to make lasting friends...but you'll make tons of acquaintences.

DOn't get me wrong I do like SF. I have just seen it at it's peak and seen it slide downhill too. When I got here it was the greatest thing in the world. ANd it feels like it sometimes. It can be done. Just have a job and a little money saved up before comeing here. And I recommend watching Tales of the City. If that doesn't convince you, then not sure what would.

Good Luck!!!

Wow SuperSpaceBoy! What a great response! I didn't even ask the question and I'm diggin' the information.

I try and help when I can. I wish I had gotten this kind of info before moving. But all I would have gotten is "It's a BLAST!" and during the dot com party...that's all it was.

I have done the gamut here I think...

Got a place
Got a job
Got Evicted with the famous "owner sells his house for a cool mil and new owner evict prev tennants"
Had an Eviction Party
Moved wayyyy out on the edge of SF on the top of a hill into another house that rented for 3K (it think) with 3 other strangers...and in a 2 years time had roommate from hell and saw the rotation of 4-6 different folks moving in and out.
Went to Burning Man.
Fell in love. Still in love. Moved in with my love.
Started DJ'ing. Got a crew together. (we're all superstars here)
Got laid off.
Got rehired back
Moved into a much nicer place and am in the best financial place I have ever been.

So it's been bad...it's been good...it's be a lot of the inbetween. Hey we have GREAT FRESH produce out here

Lammastide said:

Lammastide, you're from Cleveland, Ohio like I am, I believe. Don't blame you for wanting to move out of here, it sux, dude! The Bay Area would be a great move, I say go for it.

same as long island apts...

You rock, Superspaceboy. You should work for Frommer's or something.

Actually, I wouldn't be living in SF proper. I'd be one of those liberal elite Berkeley snobs. But I'm sure the story's pretty much the same there on everything you said. Thanks, man!

psychodelicide said:

Yeah. Cleveland is killing me. I can't do this for much longer. I just read we already have the lowest population since 1900, and people keep leaving in droves. (Geez, I wonder why?!)

Cleveland has so much potential, but it NEVER gets realized. And I ain't the man to save it, I'm afraid.

Lammastide said:

I hear ya! Now they're talking about MBNA being bought out, and even more jobs being cut! Living here is fuckin ridiculous, if I had a college degree and more money saved up, I would be out of here in a heartbeat, no looking back. My three older brothers have all moved out of Cleveland because they got better jobs somewhere else. More power to them, I don't blame them one bit.

Lammastide said:

I don't blame you.

Are you looking to move to SF specifically or just to the Bay Area? Rent is a bit cheaper across the bridge (Oakland, Berkeley, etc.) just consult someone here before nabbing a place - some areas are definitely skanky & you wouldn't wanna be there. Check Craigslist.org, GREAT for apartment listings! I was looking recently & saw stuff ranging from the high $700's to $1400 for a 1 br. Anything below $900 is cause for concern though, just an FYI

I have to touch on what Superspaceboy said about there not being many Blacks in SF - I'd say there are a good amount of Blacks in SF but it's still pretty segregated (maybe there aren't many where he lives, I dunno). Just depends on what part of town you're in. Oakland has a better mix of people in various neighborhoods IMO.

And don't let Oakland scare you People make it sound like it's awful but there's some great neighborhoods here! The only drawback is if you work regular 9-5 hours you're looking @ at least an hour to get across the bridge in the morning (probably 1.5) & about an hour to get home. I work odd hours so it's worth it for me. I get from Oakland to work in anywhere from 10-20 minutes unless there's some weirdness

Good luck making your decision, it's a great place to live

What do you do for a living? Is your industry going strong here?



.
[Edited 7/2/05 22:25pm]

Lammastide said:

its funny..i get the impression the entire bay area dislikes berkeley....sure, its great for food and what not...but its "extreme" politics are really laughed at....

we'd love you as a neighboor lam.....i actually prefer the east bay to san francisco itself...the weather out here in oakland/berkeley is a lot more neutral then sf.....the traffic isnt as bad....the homeless problem isnt as bad....and we are only 15 minutes away from the beautiful sf.....

and the food.....east bay offers a much more diverse pool of treats to eats....from oakland bbq to berkeley thai...anything your heart desires is within a 15 minute radius.....



and the best of all? NO WALMARTS!!! ANYWHERE!!!

sosgemini said:

Why?


SF is probably the one US-city I could settle in, great place!

I live down in the South Bay - San Jose. Rents have gone down a bit ranging from the $800s to the $3ks depending on what your looking for. The job market is getting better.

sosgemini said:

That is another plus about being in the East Bay - you gain a few degrees & pretty much skip the fog

But there IS a Walmart just outside of Oakland, sorry to say

LadyFunkSoldier said:

But San Jose sucks salty nuts

Lammastide said:

I worked with a union for $20 an hour for 12 years and got along ok in the 1990s, with the help of roommates. I finally got into Real Estate last year, and I live pretty damn comfortably now. Just about to purchase my first home finally. The only problem is that I'll have to buy a condo for half a million dollars, or buy some large single family in the shit part of San Jose for cheap.

Some of my complaints:

Yes, the population, people on the roads.
Other than that, it's beautiful here.

Oh, and I'm renting a 4 bedroom, 3 bath home for $1500 a month. Beat that!
[Edited 7/3/05 7:05am]

superspaceboy, sos, and Ms. Square pretty much covered all the bases on this topic.
[Edited 7/3/05 9:08am]

gemini13 said:

not bad at all.

Stax said:

One of the perks of the business. Lucky, really. I still want to own my home!!!!

gemini13 said:

perk? how so?

sosgemini said:

It's who you know.

My boss owns many homes, and he offered it to me for a great price.

gemini13 said:

ahhh..ic.....thats cool....good luck on your home buying....its a fun yet scary experience....

sosgemini said:

I'm not looking forward to it.

del
[Edited 7/3/05 23:58pm]

del
[Edited 7/4/05 0:18am]

del
[Edited 7/4/05 8:23am]

LadyFunkSoldier said:

Hey Girl,

I live downtown San Jose. You, Davideye and I should have coffee one day.

MIGUELGOMEZ said:

Man I would love to live in Cali, even though it is expensive. Can't beat the ocean and the mountains (my two favorite things in life).