moving to cali (San Francisco, August: environment, real estate, tornado)

[jessicashane]

i just got news today that my fathers company is moving to San francisco by the end of the year and since my dad only has a 9th grade education he and my mom have decided he has pretty much no choice but to move and they want me to go with them(i am 19 and still live at home) but i am torn apart because my family is here in East Tennessee and i dont know what its like in Cali can someone tell me what its like out there please

[gizmo980]

Well, I've never been to Tennessee, but I know it's extremely different from CA!! It's hard to summarize the whole Bay Area in a post, but it really is a great place to live... weather is great (though a bit chilly in the city, even in summer), the people are friendly & often unique, scenery is gorgeous, lots of entertainment/shopping, etc. The political "climate" is extremely liberal here, so it wouldn't be a great match if you're conservative. Not that you'd be tormented or anything, you just might feel out of place or intimidated. Negatives include our expensive cost-of-living, horrible traffic... and that's all I can think of! If you have any specific questions, I'd be happy to help, but hopefully this gives you some idea.

[Dedalus]

One thing I always hear back here when I tell people that I lived in SF is; were you the only heterosexual there?

That is overblown hype. There's no lack of social scenes for people of all types. You do have to be prepared to accept gay people as entirely normal and part of the scene, however. I'm a city guy, that was never a big deal for me, but it might be for some.

You cannot beat the weather! There's no winter! However, never go out, even in August, without a jacket or a sweater, or you're liable to catch pneumonia.

[jessicashane]

thanks so much for this information both of you but what is minimum wage now and what kinds of stuff is there to do for a girl that is 19 and doesnt like to go to clubs and all that stuff is it a pretty easy place to make friends or is it betteroff to stay to myself out there cause the town i come from we might have approximately 15,000 people it that and almost everyone knows everyone else and everyone hangs out in the same place its like a big family really but honestly if anyone that reads this was in my shoes what would you think: moving from a small town where you love it and had never planned to leave, spent your whole life here except for a semester where i moved to middle tennessee for school and i missed my town so much i dropped out of school to come back, and my family and friends are here, and i dont go to school so i wont be meeting alot of people

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by jessicashane

thanks so much for this information both of you but what is minimum wage now and what kinds of stuff is there to do for a girl that is 19 and doesnt like to go to clubs and all that stuff is it a pretty easy place to make friends or is it betteroff to stay to myself out there cause the town i come from we might have approximately 15,000 people it that and almost everyone knows everyone else and everyone hangs out in the same place its like a big family really but honestly if anyone that reads this was in my shoes what would you think: moving from a small town where you love it and had never planned to leave, spent your whole life here except for a semester where i moved to middle tennessee for school and i missed my town so much i dropped out of school to come back, and my family and friends are here, and i dont go to school so i wont be meeting alot of people

Minimum wage here is 7.50, and I think you'll find most jobs pay a little more than that.

And years ago, right after I married, I was in your shoes. My husband was out of work and there was none to be had. Steel died. My husband had friends out here and were willing to put us up till we got on our feet. I had to leave HOME. The area where my Dad helped create and mold as a township supervisor, the church where he was buried. My Mom and my sisters, and all my friends....

I decided that moving was this great adventure, a new place to make my own, a new life to forge. I was excited about it, when I thought of it in those terms. So kept thinking about this grand adventure my husband and I were undertaking.

It's been 27 years -- and I don't regret it. It's wonderful. Come out here with an open mind, acclimate yourself and get a job -- you'll meet lots of people out here, and in a year or so, you can start college. College is cheap here, as compared to lots of places (even though they raise the rates and every one complains!)

As for the bigness of the area -- well yeah. It's big. But it's also neighborhoods. Each with it's own flavor and style. You don't have to go to all of them, just find a few you're comfortable in. Let the rest unfold.

Frankly -- *I'M* excited for you... my favorite memory is driving up some of the big hills in December and looking at my hubby and saying -- this is going to be a pain in the winter..... and remembering IT WAS WINTER!

You're going to have a blast out here....

[sliverbox]

I can actually give you a real-life example of someone from East TN who's been in the SF Bay Area for 10 years. First of all, expense hovers over most aspeccts of the fay-to-day living. The gas is expensive. The taxes are high. and housing? well most people don't buy until they're in their 40's at least because you need to save up for around 10-15 years for a down payment.

In fact, I'd say "the house" is the most important thing to people here because of the fact that it is so hard to actually get into one. So you will hear a great deal about housing, real estate, etc etc all the time in every coffee shop and store.

There seems to be an overriding attitude that SF is far superior than anywhere else, which can be annoying. The political climate is very liberal but not that different in attitude in some ways to extreme conservatism: They're right and if you disagree... heaven forbid. People are generally laid back, but not as easy going as those back home. There is a general feeling of urgency in the air- likely because everyone is breaking their backs for that much-coveted house in their future.

The single best thing about SF isn't SF itself, but the areas outside of it. You can be in the mountains, dessert, ocean, snow, countryside, city, wineyard in all directions in less than 2 hours. The geography is actually very diverse. I just happen to find areas in the CA countryside more relaxing than the cities which for much of the year are overrun by tourists clamoring for clam chowder.

Secondly- the food is terrific. I learned how to eat out here. They even have good BBQ joints too. That and you really learn how to drink wine, which is sold everywhere including pharmacies.

The weather? well actually you'll be surprised that Northern California weather is often cooler for a good part of the year than TN. The winters can be cold to a degree, as in 40-45 degrees. The summers can be cold too, depending on what area you settle.

My conclusion: I think SF is a great place for young people who want to experience a world of different cultures, food, and exciting environments but probably not the best place for families since the cost of living can really degrade the everyday quality of life.

[caligirl1082]

I think SF is a fantastic city - and there is so much to do both inside and outside of it. you don't have to go to clubs to enjoy yourself - there are plays, coffee shops, museums, China Town, Little Italy, Japan Town, the ocean, the Presidio, the zoo, amazing restaurants on every block, and much, much more in the City. 1 hour drive north you've got rivers, wine tasting, hiking (there's other great hiking spots even less then 1 hour). SF might be a bit of a culture shock, but I think it's worth it. You're young - this is the time for you to explore, leave your comfort zone, and find yourself.

[fizbin]

The post from sliverbox is pretty much spot on.

I did the reverse – grew up in the Bay Area and then moved to TN for a couple of years. I’d say that the two things that will blow your mind when you first move out here is the cost of housing, and traffic. What would buy you a near-mansion in TN will not get you a one bedroom condo in much of the Bay Area. And even the rich folks here usually have no land to speak of – property lots of an acre or more are very rare. As for traffic, when I moved to TN (Nashville) and folks there complained about traffic jams I literally laughed at them – they had no idea what a traffic jam is all about. When I moved back to the Bay Area it took me about six months to get used to the traffic again.

Compared to TN, it is never cold and rarely hot out here, and there is essentially no humidity so the hot days are not nearly as bad as hot days in TN. Yes, politically it is a liberal area but we don’t make conservatives wear special identifying markings or anything.

Personally I’d suggest that you make the move. Like my two years in TN, you will seriously have your eyes opened to a completely different part, both physically and culturally, of the US. There is tons to love out here – that is why so many people keep moving here. You can always move back – I did, but I look back fondly to my time in TN.

And hey, we had a nice little earthquake here yesterday. You get to trade in the yearly tornado season for the occasional no-warning window rattler.

[nyasiandudeinnj]

Originally Posted by jessicashane

i just got news today that my fathers company is moving to San francisco by the end of the year and since my dad only has a 9th grade education he and my mom have decided he has pretty much no choice but to move and they want me to go with them(i am 19 and still live at home) but i am torn apart because my family is here in East Tennessee and i dont know what its like in Cali can someone tell me what its like out there please

hi there jessica,

consider yourself "blessed" that you have the chance to live in one of the greatest cities in the U.S. As far as finding new friends, it's easy. There are tons of meetup groups or craigslist group meetups that you'll eventually find someone to hang out with.

I'm also in a similar position such as yourself as my wife may be transferred to San Francisco due to her job. My whole friends and family support structure is in the NJ/NYC area, but making new friends should not be a problem for me as CA folks in general are laidback.

[18Montclair]

Ive been thrown into some really different places that are so different from The Bay Area.

In my opinion, I've learned that a lot of me being happy depended on my own personal outlook. Once I lived in this small farming town in Southern Brazil and at first I didnt think Id like it but my time there turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.

Just go with the flow and take every experience as a chance to see and learn something new and you'll be just fine.

The Bay Area is a very fascinating place that is home to every walk of life and every social and political idealogy. Not to mention there's more to see and do here then just about anywhere.

I hope the move goes smoothly and you enjoy your time in this area.