San Mateo County scouting trip: observations, positives and a big concern (San Francisco: appointed, hotel)
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San Mateo County scouting trip: observations, positives and a big concern
As some of you all may know, I have recently accepted a job in SV and as of this weekend I found a place to live in Southern San Mateo County. Just this weekend, I traveled throughout that area of the county: Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and just outside of the county (I believe) into Stanford and Palo Alto.
I'll keep my lists brief and can elaborate further if you are interested.
Observations/positives:
Redwood City has a very nicely developed (or, as I understand it from locals, redeveloped) downtown area that is full of life, entertainment and is very vibrant. It was very hard to park, but that is a good thing as it shows that apparently RC is bringing in visitors from surrounding communities. Ate a good meal down there at Milagros.
Redwood City has a nice shopping center for basic needs at Sequoia Station at the CalTrain stop. How nice would it be to pick up basic items before traveling to or after arriving from elsewhere on the Peninsula. Combine that with its close proximity to downtown RC and you have a very walkable, low density but semi-urban suburban area.
Stanford University's campus: beautiful. I'll be biking there for sure.
I like the multitude of bike trails throughout RC, Palo Alto, Stanford and Portola Valley. I'm determined to take advantage of those.
I like the proximity to the San Bruno Mountains (I believe that's what they're called, I'm too tired and lazy to look @ the moment) and Pacific Ocean at Half Moon Bay. Highways 1, 35, 82, and 84, all of which I took, make for very nice drives in the area.
CalTrain provides a great option for climate-controlled and quiet travel into SF and SV if you don't want to drive on 101 or 280. I liked CalTrain.
Customer service was generally good to excellent everywhere I went, better than Louisville and Cincinnati for sure.
I liked Half Moon Bay. Quieter than much of SM County and I liked their city park right on the beach. Didn't care much for the HMB State Beach, though. Also had a great meal at Cameron's on PCH.
Now that I've bored you all with what you probably already know, I do have a concern: the friendliness of the people. Now, I'm sure this isn't the first time you all have seen this; in fact, I know it's not.
I took the train into San Francisco, spent several hours and that was just enough for me to know that I'm glad I won't be living there. SF and I just didn't seem to "click," although I'm open to change. People in SM County seemed, by and large, to be more laid back, less angry and not as apt to blow the horn. However, even there I noticed a more-intense-than-I'm-used-to stuck up demeanor that was prevalent in the way I was treated by a few hotel staff and how customers, particularly female, interacted with some service people. Kinda like, "I'm a $40k millionaire that wears my sunglasses inside, you got it?!" That is NOT my personality at all (I'm nice, polite and "plain-clothed" without being white trash) and am pretty much instantaneously inclined to not even acknowledge those people. That makes me wonder also whether it will be extremely challenging to make friends and good acquaintances or find interesting dates (w/o being so stuck on themselves) while living in the Bay Area.
If I have offended anybody, I apologize, the only thing I ask is that you don't attack me. I'm used to the $40k millionaire attitude having lived in other cities, they're everywhere, but it strikes me as being at another level out there. I mean, I'm a yuppie by definition, but not the "yuppie" that many on C-D, myself included, love to hate. I'm looking forward to the move, new job and being essentially forced to develop a new social network and interests, but I also don't want that to be a 5-year challenge, either.
Thanks, EE
Last edited by EclecticEars; 07-20-2011 at 10:26 PM..
It's a big urban area, you're from Kentucky I guess. People can be a little pushy in any city compared to a more rural area, and there's people from all around the world here passing through who might have different ideas about how to treat one another.
It's a big urban area, you're from Kentucky I guess. People can be a little pushy in any city compared to a more rural area, and there's people from all around the world here passing through who might have different ideas about how to treat one another.
The Peninsula is small town/suburb, SF is Big City.
Big City can be overwhelming and offputting at first if you're not used to it, but there's just a different rhythm you'll eventually figure out.
I do have a concern: the friendliness of the people. Now, I'm sure this isn't the first time you all have seen this; in fact, I know it's not.
People in bay area are unfriendly, competitive and even hostile to each other. If you are expecting southern or midwestern style politeness or friendliness, then you will be sorely disappointed anywhere in bay area, not just SF! Don't feel shy about being rude, mean and aggressive and you will adapt well-
As some of you all may know, I have recently accepted a job in SV and as of this weekend I found a place to live in Southern San Mateo County. Just this weekend, I traveled throughout that area of the county: Redwood City, Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley, and just outside of the county (I believe) into Stanford and Palo Alto.
I'll keep my lists brief and can elaborate further if you are interested.
Observations/positives:
Redwood City has a very nicely developed (or, as I understand it from locals, redeveloped) downtown area that is full of life, entertainment and is very vibrant. It was very hard to park, but that is a good thing as it shows that apparently RC is bringing in visitors from surrounding communities. Ate a good meal down there at Milagros.
Redwood City has a nice shopping center for basic needs at Sequoia Station at the CalTrain stop. How nice would it be to pick up basic items before traveling to or after arriving from elsewhere on the Peninsula. Combine that with its close proximity to downtown RC and you have a very walkable, low density but semi-urban suburban area.
Stanford University's campus: beautiful. I'll be biking there for sure.
I like the multitude of bike trails throughout RC, Palo Alto, Stanford and Portola Valley. I'm determined to take advantage of those.
I like the proximity to the San Bruno Mountains (I believe that's what they're called, I'm too tired and lazy to look @ the moment) and Pacific Ocean at Half Moon Bay. Highways 1, 35, 82, and 84, all of which I took, make for very nice drives in the area.
CalTrain provides a great option for climate-controlled and quiet travel into SF and SV if you don't want to drive on 101 or 280. I liked CalTrain.
Customer service was generally good to excellent everywhere I went, better than Louisville and Cincinnati for sure.
I liked Half Moon Bay. Quieter than much of SM County and I liked their city park right on the beach. Didn't care much for the HMB State Beach, though. Also had a great meal at Cameron's on PCH.
Now that I've bored you all with what you probably already know, I do have a concern: the friendliness of the people. Now, I'm sure this isn't the first time you all have seen this; in fact, I know it's not.
I took the train into San Francisco, spent several hours and that was just enough for me to know that I'm glad I won't be living there. SF and I just didn't seem to "click," although I'm open to change. People in SM County seemed, by and large, to be more laid back, less angry and not as apt to blow the horn. However, even there I noticed a more-intense-than-I'm-used-to stuck up demeanor that was prevalent in the way I was treated by a few hotel staff and how customers, particularly female, interacted with some service people. Kinda like, "I'm a $40k millionaire that wears my sunglasses inside, you got it?!" That is NOT my personality at all (I'm nice, polite and "plain-clothed" without being white trash) and am pretty much instantaneously inclined to not even acknowledge those people. That makes me wonder also whether it will be extremely challenging to make friends and good acquaintances or find interesting dates (w/o being so stuck on themselves) while living in the Bay Area.
If I have offended anybody, I apologize, the only thing I ask is that you don't attack me. I'm used to the $40k millionaire attitude having lived in other cities, they're everywhere, but it strikes me as being at another level out there. I mean, I'm a yuppie by definition, but not the "yuppie" that many on C-D, myself included, love to hate. I'm looking forward to the move, new job and being essentially forced to develop a new social network and interests, but I also don't want that to be a 5-year challenge, either.
Thanks, EE
I completely agree with your observations about RWC... it's done a complete 180 in the last 6 years. Downtown is now a bustling - albeit small - place in the evenings, and the rest of the city has many positives, including some of the best latino culinary and cultural offerings in the Bay Area and an interesting mix of people. It's a very middle class city that differentiates itself from other middle class peninsula cities by virtue of its vibrancy.
As far as the negatives you noticed, you learn how to avoid the particularly obnoxious people on the peninsula... living in RWC is a good way to do so lol. Those types tend to view RWC as a Mexican ghetto... all the better for the actual residents.
I completely agree with your observations about RWC... it's done a complete 180 in the last 6 years. Downtown is now a bustling - albeit small - place in the evenings, and the rest of the city has many positives, including some of the best latino culinary and cultural offerings in the Bay Area and an interesting mix of people. It's a very middle class city that differentiates itself from other middle class peninsula cities by virtue of its vibrancy.
As far as the negatives you noticed, you learn how to avoid the particularly obnoxious people on the peninsula... living in RWC is a good way to do so lol. Those types tend to view RWC as a Mexican ghetto... all the better for the actual residents.
And I agree w/ your assessment of RWC. As long as I can find my own niche and group of friends, I'm sure I'll be fine; however, I just don't have time for people who have or act as if they have something to "prove."
I think it has a little to do with the California Elitism. Too busy to be friendly. I am from CA originally, so I can say I see this within my own family as well, but since I have been away from this state since I was a child, it too is a little uncomfortable at times. But, hey, there is a lot to love about this place...
[*]I like the proximity to the San Bruno Mountains (I believe that's what they're called, I'm too tired and lazy to look @ the moment) and Pacific Ocean at Half Moon Bay. Highways 1, 35, 82, and 84, all of which I took, make for very nice drives in the area.
It's the Santa Cruz mountains that run down the middle of the peninsula from about Daly City in the north to Santa Cruz in the south. There are many open space areas with trails as well as redwood state parks. The San Bruno mountains are along the boundry between San Francisco and San Mateo counties.
I think you will find Palo Alto, Portola Valley and Woodside to be very expensive to live with just about all homes going for over a $million. Redwood City, San Carlos and Belmont are all nice suburban towns.
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