Brit wanting to move to SF area - Help!!! (San Francisco: low crime, homes)

[icklepoyser]

Hi all
For many years I've had the dream of moving to California and a trip to visit relatives an asounding 17 years ago (jeez has it been that long?!?!!!) lead me to fall in love with SF. The city cast me under its spell and I've longed to be back there ever since.
This morning I woke and decided to make a realistic 5 year plan - very proactive of me.............

I am currently an assistant psychologist, which means I have a 'good' degree in psychology and work in a clinical/forensic setting and will be starting a doctorate qualification this time next year which will leave me a Dr of Clinical Psychology in 2012. This is the point where my pan to become a CA citizen starts to form.......... I have emailed the American Psychological Association to enquire about qualifications etc so i have/will have that wrapped up shortly.

What i need is advice on how i choose a really great place to live. I am realistic about the affordability of living in SF itself and don't mind living 45mins/and hours drive outside. I want something suburbian, a nice pace of life with all the ameneties - and not too far from the ocean!!!

Oh and if there are any Psychologists reading this - some advice on how to make my way into the US system would be appreciated - over here we have the predictable NHS which has a clear training structure - the pathway is very straight forward. I have NO idea how to go about getting a job in the US as the provision of psychological services is unclear to me.......

So - HELP would be greatly appreciated - remember this is the very first stage of my 5 year plan!!!!

Ickle

[sonarrat]

I know nothing about how the APA would get you work here, but I can tell you where to look for a home. I'm going to stick to areas where you won't have to cross a toll bridge; others could tell you about the North Bay about which I know little. The major coastal cities within an hour's drive of San Francisco are Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. The weather in these towns will remind you of Liverpool, but with less rain and even more fog. They are fairly quiet suburbs with low pulse rates and low crime rates. But the climate puts a lot of people off, because you get all the disadvantages of living near the beach, but the beach itself, while beautiful, is not suitable for swimming unless you really like cold water.

As you go closer in, you might encounter Daly City, South San Francisco and San Bruno. They are not bad towns, but professionals usually pass them by, because the demographics of the towns are more blue-collar. Also, large parts of all three cities are in the airport flightpath. There are some very desirable parts of all three, though.

As you go south from there, you get Burlingame, which is an intimate, upscale town lined with eucalyptus trees, and Millbrae, which is very hilly and has a great number of homes with spectacular views of the bay. Then there is San Mateo, which has several different sections with different characters - the western hills, a quiet area dotted with wild deer; the El Camino Real corridor, which is urban but not too huge-feeling; and the eastern housing tracts, which range from sketchy borderline slums to very nice waterfront properties.

[icklepoyser]

Hey
Thanks for that - a perfect starting place for my continuing research over the next few years. I guess a few trips over are called for so I can try places 'on' for a few days each.

Thanks
Ickle