Deciding between Marin county and Alameda county (San Francisco, Palo Alto: sales, insurance)

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by majoun

And don't forget this:

http://www.city-data.com/forum/los-a...angeles-7.html

Perhaps Mr. Fantastic is trying to restart the Klan in OC....

Calling Crenshaw a zoo is considered racist?

[BourneAgain]

I'm new here, just researching Oakland since I'm on the verge of buying a home there. Mr. Fantastic, I don't know much about you, but your activity here is impressive. It took me a long time just to read through these posts, so I can only imagine how many hours you've spent here. I suspect I'm just a "kid" compared to you since I'm still in my 20s, so maybe my words won't carry much weight. But I believe in full disclosure. All I wanted to say is this:

I'm originally from Texas. I was baptized at an early age, but had some problems with my faith when I realized that a lot of the boys in my church were just there to try to pick up chicks. I went to the east coast for college, which scared me because I ended up in an a very "urban" town with a very "dangerous" reputation, with lots of crime compared to the nice, rural community where I grew up. But I did it because it was my best opportunity to continue playing football at the collegiate level.

Surprisingly, it was there that I started going to church again. Fast forward to the last couple of years, where I lived in Lagunitas for a year (as an assistant coach) and then in Oakland now (again as an assistant coach). It's in Oakland, this supposed bastion of crime-infested, liberal heathenism, where I have again truly found my place with God once again.

It's quite simple. I was reminded once again that we are all God's children - criminals and saints alike. Lagunitas was wonderful, peaceful, and idyllic. Oakland has had its ups and downs for me. But I choose Oakland, for three reasons.

First, as a Christian, I'm just not that scared any more. I grew up being scared of bad neighborhoods because I heard all this stuff about them. But then I lived in one, and I came out after 5 years quite healthy and unscathed. God's way of telling me that, if I truly believe in Him, I don't have to be scared of anything.

Second, on a more practical level, I found a nice place in Piedmont where my wife and son can be very happy. It's by far the best school district I've discovered in the Bay Area, in my humble young opinion. While I actually thought the schools in Marin were quite good, I just didn't find anything there that I liked better than Piedmont or Montclair.

Third, it's a personal choice. I just didn't find much in the way of nightlife in Marin that I've liked as much as Oakland. There's a tradeoff - better nightlife usually means more crime, for whatever reason, and although as a kid I was scared of the crime, now that I'm in my 20s, I know one thing. With God at my side, I really fear nothing. So I can enjoy the nightlife of Oakland, Berkeley, and SF, the parks and easy access to Diablo and elsewhere, and still have the best high school north of highway 92 for my child.

But certainly, I plan to visit Marin, because there are some great bike trails.

God Bless.

[chinamen]

Marin county is more conservative than Alameda county. Alameda county is more liberal in terms of who lives there.

[batransplant]

Yes that is true. The bay area tea party/patriot organization is headquartered in Marin County....which actually really surprised me...since I always thought Marin was known for being the bastion of limo liberals.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by BourneAgain

I'm new here, just researching Oakland since I'm on the verge of buying a home there. Mr. Fantastic, I don't know much about you, but your activity here is impressive. It took me a long time just to read through these posts, so I can only imagine how many hours you've spent here. I suspect I'm just a "kid" compared to you since I'm still in my 20s, so maybe my words won't carry much weight. But I believe in full disclosure. All I wanted to say is this:

I'm originally from Texas. I was baptized at an early age, but had some problems with my faith when I realized that a lot of the boys in my church were just there to try to pick up chicks. I went to the east coast for college, which scared me because I ended up in an a very "urban" town with a very "dangerous" reputation, with lots of crime compared to the nice, rural community where I grew up. But I did it because it was my best opportunity to continue playing football at the collegiate level.

Surprisingly, it was there that I started going to church again. Fast forward to the last couple of years, where I lived in Lagunitas for a year (as an assistant coach) and then in Oakland now (again as an assistant coach). It's in Oakland, this supposed bastion of crime-infested, liberal heathenism, where I have again truly found my place with God once again.

It's quite simple. I was reminded once again that we are all God's children - criminals and saints alike. Lagunitas was wonderful, peaceful, and idyllic. Oakland has had its ups and downs for me. But I choose Oakland, for three reasons.

First, as a Christian, I'm just not that scared any more. I grew up being scared of bad neighborhoods because I heard all this stuff about them. But then I lived in one, and I came out after 5 years quite healthy and unscathed. God's way of telling me that, if I truly believe in Him, I don't have to be scared of anything.

Second, on a more practical level, I found a nice place in Piedmont where my wife and son can be very happy. It's by far the best school district I've discovered in the Bay Area, in my humble young opinion. While I actually thought the schools in Marin were quite good, I just didn't find anything there that I liked better than Piedmont or Montclair.

Third, it's a personal choice. I just didn't find much in the way of nightlife in Marin that I've liked as much as Oakland. There's a tradeoff - better nightlife usually means more crime, for whatever reason, and although as a kid I was scared of the crime, now that I'm in my 20s, I know one thing. With God at my side, I really fear nothing. So I can enjoy the nightlife of Oakland, Berkeley, and SF, the parks and easy access to Diablo and elsewhere, and still have the best high school north of highway 92 for my child.

But certainly, I plan to visit Marin, because there are some great bike trails.

God Bless.

Passive aggressiveness isn't your friend. Thanks for the blessing.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by batransplant

Yes that is true. The bay area tea party/patriot organization is headquartered in Marin County....which actually really surprised me...since I always thought Marin was known for being the bastion of limo liberals.

Well, Michael Savage the right wing talk radio host lives in Marin...go figure.

[batransplant]

I think people in Marin are likely socially liberal, but fiscal conservatives, especially the people moving in there now, who can afford to spend 2MM on a house. But when it comes to the environment, they will use their money and influence to keep Marin basically one big giant park/country club for the few people who live there (and keep the cost of real estate high due to the anti development policies) so while seeming like a liberal agenda, it is actually a back handed conservative agenda to maintain their home values.

Have you ever read the comments in the Marin Independent Journal? You would think everyone in Marin was actually from Orange County, based on the views of many forum posters. Its really shocking.

[jzt83]

Marin county is a weird place. It's full of wealth, but it looks like a typical non-descript middle-class suburban area. There are some pockets of uniqueness and decent character, but that's the exception.

[Mr. Fantastic]

Originally Posted by batransplant

Have you ever read the comments in the Marin Independent Journal? You would think everyone in Marin was actually from Orange County, based on the views of many forum posters. Its really shocking.

I own a vacation home in Marin and 2 of my neighbors are also OC home owners.

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by chinamen

Marin county is more conservative than Alameda county. Alameda county is more liberal in terms of who lives there.

Guess the rich transplants kicked all the hippies out EH?