From Brooklyn, to San Fran or San Jose

[californianative63]

SD is very cool and cost less to live then Berkeley/Oakland/SJ. If you want to experience the true California beach laid back watersport culture, SD is the place. Downtown has great places to eat, decent clubs and nightlife. SJ had better salary, SD is more fun.

[Don Vito]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

SJ and SD are boring but you recommend that childish Oakland start kit they call Berkeley?

hey now be good.. you know you wouldnt be talking that silly stuff on san pablo.

[bellalunatic]

I've lived in NY CT NJ DC and SF...the transition from NY to SF if pretty easy...SF feels like a junior city by comparison to NYC...just say no-way Jose to San Jose...icky icky icky and the driving situation south of SF is a BEAR....
San Diego i hear it's purty purty and squarely SoCal (which is a whole nother topic)
I moved from westchester county to SF in 93 no job prospects and a disdain for the NE weather...survived just fine and love it here...lurk on Craigslist for rentshare rates that are the most affordable way to go...there are so many neighborhoods to choose from but I'm gonna suggest the Mission District (inner) not (outer) easily traversed via bus or subway...lower Haight (NOT upper unless you really really really love actual trapped in their acid riddled minds of 69 Hippies)
many neighborhoods in SF are different on a per clock basis (less sketchy/more sketchy) and then there are hoods that are just plain stupidly expensive and then there's some that are kinda rough....but it's a cool town with the diversity & culture...and you really don't need a car in SF at all...but you should at least have a license just because.
oh yeah and California drivers are really awful compared to the tri state area