My (unique) take on San Diego and/vs. San Francisco (San Jose: city hall, house)

[nmguy]

For those who are uncertain of the definition of town vs. city . . . I used to live in Albuquerque, NM. It was considered to be a large town until six or seven years ago, when it became home to an Apple Store. Ha.

[oddstray]

Originally Posted by Losfrisco

...
This was intended to be a why thread and not a vs. thread. I can see through the hype of San Francisco but don't understand the parochialism of San Diego.

We're saved (for some versions of 'saved) from Los-Angeles-ization by Camp Pendleton. San Diego was a small town in the 60's when we visited a cousin who lived in National City. I suppose the powers-that-be liked that small town feeling enough to hang on to it, despite the growth.

[The Flying Dutchman]

I feel like I should apologize for inciting civil unrest... I chose to compare SF, SD, and NYC to each other because it was the most efficient choice of cities to both contribute OP's discussion prompt, while driving home a point.

I did not choose them because I consider each to be in the same leagues with one another, because they are each very different cities. (Which makes our world a more interesting place!)

I grew up in the Bay Area, currently live in San Diego. Personally, I think California as a whole could lose a little of it's provincialism and just be proud to be the best state in the Union.

[elchevere]

Dutch:

I think the other cities comparisons point was aimed at me.

The point that Losfrisco made about not being 'vs' is taken but one should also note the development of the other outlying areas of the San Francisco Bay Area (note: not San Jose Bay Area, Silicon Valley Bay Area, etc) was accelerated and sprung from the initial existence and prominence of the region by San Francisco in the first place. This doesn't diminish SF's greatness or importance as a city as far as I am concerned.......SF remains a focal point--maybe not THE exclusive focal point any longer-- of the region....the question I have to ask is where is the focal point of San Diego? (downtown, Kearny Mesa, La Jolla, elsewhere???)....until there is one, it will maintain its 'small city' or "city with a small town feel" identity--which is fine by many.

[The Flying Dutchman]

Heh, y'know, I'm really glad you brought that up. It's a great point to make and one I will have to think about more in the future... How do cities function as hubs for their surrounding counterparts? What makes them excel in this regard? How has their role shifted in the 21st century? and so on...

I personally believe that the tech boom we have seen in San Francisco is the natural spin-off of the boom that occurred in Silicon Valley, which in itself occurred thanks to cheap land (in the early days) and a couple of remarkable turns of history. See this: Silicon Valley . American Experience . WGBH | PBS

Still, the fact that SF was there only 30 minutes away didn't hurt... what with the financial capital and all.

Gun to my head, San Diego doesn't have that 'focal point' feel that is immediately apparently in SF or other major metros, and I think it has a lot to do with my original point regarding density. Still, even in a city like SF, people commute to their jobs outside the city a la Google. Is that focality?

[elchevere]

I suppose it's focality if they still choose to remain and live in SF (with all its accompanying great culture, arts, restos, entertainment, diversity, etc.) rather than picking up and moving closer to where they work.

Originally Posted by The Flying Dutchman

Heh, y'know, I'm really glad you brought that up. It's a great point to make and one I will have to think about more in the future... How do cities function as hubs for their surrounding counterparts? What makes them excel in this regard? How has their role shifted in the 21st century? and so on...

I personally believe that the tech boom we have seen in San Francisco is the natural spin-off of the boom that occurred in Silicon Valley, which in itself occurred thanks to cheap land (in the early days) and a couple of remarkable turns of history. See this: Silicon Valley . American Experience . WGBH | PBS

Still, the fact that SF was there only 30 minutes away didn't hurt... what with the financial capital and all.

Gun to my head, San Diego doesn't have that 'focal point' feel that is immediately apparently in SF or other major metros, and I think it has a lot to do with my original point regarding density. Still, even in a city like SF, people commute to their jobs outside the city a la Google. Is that focality?

[The Flying Dutchman]

Ah, but what if you could work and live within easy distance of each other? Makes us city planners drool...

[elchevere]

I might have had that when I lived in Marin County when I first moved to CA 31 years ago....I worked at One Market Plaza in downtown SF, commuted to work by ferry, yet was only 20 minutes from Mill Valley--an almost magical, Alice in Wonderland paradise that was so remote from yet so close to a major metropolitan city with all its offerings. Too bad my first job out of school sucked (bunch of hyper ex-Proctor and Gamble workaholics with no people skills).

[The Flying Dutchman]

Marin County. Talk about having it all, haha!

What changed, might I ask?

[elchevere]

Edited before you posted.... after first job--which did not work out-- switched companies (remaining in Marin) before I was promoted and transferred to OC. Got to live there my first 3 years after moving out West from business school and it is arguably my favorite place I have lived in my 31 years in CA....Marin was something special and it was not uncommon for me to run into celebs ( rock stars--ran into Bob Weir many a time at Marin Joe's in Corte Madera, actors, and even Joltin' Joe) on a somewhat frequent basis or have a deer come up to me when I was leaving my apartment for a morning run just 20 minutes outside a major city.