NoCal or SoCal ? (San Francisco, Pasadena, Pacifica: crime rates, neighborhoods, salary)
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I prefer the LA area although we lived in Westlake Village (a suburb of LA). Traffic is bad on the 405 but NorCal traffic can be just as bad. I have lived in Santa Barbara (loved it) but it is very expensive. Now we live in a suburb of SF. I don't care for NorCal. The winters are colder than SoCal and the summers get HOT in the burbs but SF summers are the most depressing, you don't see the sun due to the fog! Prices can be high in both. I could give a better recommendation if I knew what you want in the move (nightlife, suburbs, money, excitement, weather). SoCal has the movie star wanna-bees and the NorCal Bay Area is extremely liberal.
To the guy who mentioned the horrible weather, I'm considering moving to California when I get out of school here in Texas...either the L.A. or S.F. area...is the weather in the bay really that bad?! I ask because I have heard about people going to the beach in San Francisco (and a Monk episode about a bunch of nudist beach goers that the title character was investigating)...I'm just curious because I thought both the Bay and LA/SD areas were supposed to have great climates...that's the excuse for the jacked up real estate...I might go to Oakland/S.F. for spring break because a friend has an uncle there...I was just curious...
Thanks.
To the guy who mentioned the horrible weather, I'm considering moving to California when I get out of school here in Texas...either the L.A. or S.F. area...is the weather in the bay really that bad?! I ask because I have heard about people going to the beach in San Francisco (and a Monk episode about a bunch of nudist beach goers that the title character was investigating)...I'm just curious because I thought both the Bay and LA/SD areas were supposed to have great climates...that's the excuse for the jacked up real estate...
Ok, let me just start by saying if you are a nudist beach goer in Northern CA., you are only such once, because your bootie will be frostbitten after that incident! Not a pleasant thought. Having said that, it is so untrue that the weather in the Bay Area is that bad! Sure, if you are in SF, you WILL see plenty of foggy days in the summer, and sometimes no sun at all. However, areas just across the bridge such as the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, Lafayette,Pleasant Hill , areas thru the tunnel) have stunningly beautiful weather in the Spring -- sun, crisp days that warm up nicely. Real estate in all of these areas for the most part is expensive, but nothing you aren't used to seeing in NY City. Traffic in and out of SF and down to the South Bay can be strangulating, so you are best locating yourself in a reverse traffic situation, or commuting in off hours, or taking BART, if possible. Summers in the East Bay can be quite hot (we're in Pleasant Hill and summer days get into the high 90s sometimes), but the rest of the year is great -- we get very little fog. The South Bay (Santa Clara, San JOse, etc ...) has horrific traffic and is a nightmare in my opinion.
I have also lived in LA and spent a lot of time in San Diego. IMO, LA is a pit. Traffic was many times worse that most of the Bay Area (not all), and after 4 years, I couldn't get out fast enough. In all fairness, there are areas ("suburbs" if there is such a thing in LA!) that are more liveable -- Pasadena and the OC area come to mind, but I HATE getting in, out, and throughout LA. You can travel twice as far to the beach in Northern CA. in less time that you can from many areas in LA. San Diego is a great town, but verrrrrrry laid back -- I got frustrated with the slowness of it all, but if you can adapt to that after Manhattan, then it may be the place for you! San Diego in recent years has gotten more superficial than it once was, but many would say that all of CA is that way. Good Luck!
To the guy who mentioned the horrible weather, I'm considering moving to California when I get out of school here in Texas...either the L.A. or S.F. area...is the weather in the bay really that bad?! I ask because I have heard about people going to the beach in San Francisco (and a Monk episode about a bunch of nudist beach goers that the title character was investigating)...I'm just curious because I thought both the Bay and LA/SD areas were supposed to have great climates...that's the excuse for the jacked up real estate...I might go to Oakland/S.F. for spring break because a friend has an uncle there...I was just curious...
Thanks.
LA and the Bay Area have different weather (since we're 400-some miles apart), but they both have "good" weather - at least compared to other parts of the country, where they deal with ice, snow, hurricanes/downpours, tornadoes, and stifling heat & humidity! We are still among the most comfortable climates in the world, and are often (in San Francisco) compared to climates of the Mediterranean countries.
SF isn't nearly as warm & sunny as Los Angeles or San Diego, but we have mild temps through most of the year... highs in the winter are generally 50-60 degrees, with lows in the 40s, and summer can range from 60-80+ degrees, depending on exactly where you are. The Bay Area has a ton of micro-climates, so it can be foggy and cold in mid-August in San Francisco, while it's warm and sunny on the same day in San Jose! We do get the heavy fog in certain areas, and a good bit of rain during the winter, but it's still nothing an average person can't handle - I personally LOVE our weather, clouds and all. I kinda miss having snow around, but it would wreak havoc in the city with those hills.
Move to Redwood City (which is between SF and San Jose)... voted "Climate Best by Government Test," or so they claim.
P.S. There is a nude beach in San Francisco, called Baker Beach... I' only seen one naked person there, and of course he was old and wrinkly. But hey, at least he was enjoying himself! Fishstix is right though, you're likely to freeze your bum off going nude on our beaches.
LOL :-) "Bone Chilling Cold" I was telling my friend about this post because I am moving out there from Cleveland . . . if you want bone chilling cold...come visit. I am welcoming the weather out there!
I have heard a lot of wonderful things about OC - Huntington Beach and Newport Beach to be specific...oh, and Laguna Beach (sp?)...but have also heard their streets are very narrow and congested. I'd love to visit though. I've heard the people there are very outgoing and friendly.
Ok, let me just start by saying if you are a nudist beach goer in Northern CA., you are only such once, because your bootie will be frostbitten after that incident! Not a pleasant thought. Having said that, it is so untrue that the weather in the Bay Area is that bad! Sure, if you are in SF, you WILL see plenty of foggy days in the summer, and sometimes no sun at all. However, areas just across the bridge such as the East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, Lafayette,Pleasant Hill , areas thru the tunnel) have stunningly beautiful weather in the Spring -- sun, crisp days that warm up nicely. Real estate in all of these areas for the most part is expensive, but nothing you aren't used to seeing in NY City. Traffic in and out of SF and down to the South Bay can be strangulating, so you are best locating yourself in a reverse traffic situation, or commuting in off hours, or taking BART, if possible. Summers in the East Bay can be quite hot (we're in Pleasant Hill and summer days get into the high 90s sometimes), but the rest of the year is great -- we get very little fog. The South Bay (Santa Clara, San JOse, etc ...) has horrific traffic and is a nightmare in my opinion.
I have also lived in LA and spent a lot of time in San Diego. IMO, LA is a pit. Traffic was many times worse that most of the Bay Area (not all), and after 4 years, I couldn't get out fast enough. In all fairness, there are areas ("suburbs" if there is such a thing in LA!) that are more liveable -- Pasadena and the OC area come to mind, but I HATE getting in, out, and throughout LA. You can travel twice as far to the beach in Northern CA. in less time that you can from many areas in LA. San Diego is a great town, but verrrrrrry laid back -- I got frustrated with the slowness of it all, but if you can adapt to that after Manhattan, then it may be the place for you! San Diego in recent years has gotten more superficial than it once was, but many would say that all of CA is that way. Good Luck!
Well, I was curious about swimming in natural water in California...that is why I would want to move there...if I could find a suitable job that could sustain me...(I am about to finish up a Political Science/History degree)...I would like to be able to swim in the Natural waters of California whether that be around LA/SD or the SF Bay, I was even interested in attempting to surf.
California Is Beautiful And She Has The Nicest Weather In U.s.
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Fishstix is right though, you're likely to freeze your bum off going nude on our beaches.
