San Francisco or San Jose? (Daly City, Campbell: fit in, apartment, house)

[greatfire]

Alright. I'm in San Jose right now, and I'm wondering which is better, San Fran or here. I haven't been here that long, so I'm wondering what the general impressions are. If I find out that San Fran is better, then I can plan a move out there before I get too settled.

I'm young, an engineer, and introverted. I'm not big into the party/going out scene (yet), so I don't think those are big factors. I say "yet" because I've never really tried going out to clubs and bars, because I've never really had an interest, and silently I don't think much of my social skills or ability to fit in. Usually I'm cool just staying in my apartment, but every once in a while I get bored and want to go out, and in San Jose (near Campbell), I'm seeing that there isn't a lot to do.

So, given that, which do you think is better for me. Also, what is there to do around here in San Jose? I don't go out much, or need to have interests as much as alot of other people, but I do need SOME, you know?

Another thing that creeps me out about living in this San Jose area near Campbell is that almost every woman I see is pushing a stroller. In a few years that will be good, but right now I'm in my early 20's and that's really the last thing I want to see. I need to get going on that girlfriend thing, heh..

[user376]

South Bay is better for introverts. You will feel like an outcast in SF where people try to be trendy and go out a lot.

[MikeSJ]

Before you decide to move, you should get involved in some group activities. You don't have to be extraverted or be any good (you can always take some lessons) at the activities to enjoy the groups. Generally the groups are formed under the name of Ski Clubs but do activities all year long such as golf, tennis, bridge, evening get togethers, hiking, bowling, camping, work weekend at their cabin in Tahoe, etc. You should try to find a Ski Club that caters to your age group. Most are singles clubs but some do accept married people.

Although the following group caters mostly to older people, it also supports people younger than 30. Although both age groups are in the same club, the under 30s have their own activities and the over 30s schedule different activities. Only a couple of times a year do the different age groups perform activities together. Most of the people in the over 30 group are 50 or older and comprise about 90% of the membership (maybe 1000) and the under 30 group consists of maybe 100 people or less. Those figures may have changed since I last was a member of the group. The name of the group is the Apres Ski Club but there are probably others in the bay area.

Après Home Page

Contact one of the e-mail links to determine if they still have an under 30 group and any other information that you may be interested in. If they no longer have an under 30 group, they may be able to give you the names of groups that cater to the under 30. You could also check over at San Jose State University to see if there are any group available that non students can join.

Before you decide to move to San Francisco, you should spend some time in downtown San Jose to see if you like the urban life. Although downtown San Jose is small (but it does have San Jose State University next to it with about 30,000 students) and lacks the charm of San Francisco, you probably won't like the lifestyle in San Francisco if you don't like the lifestyle in downtown San Jose.

[LexusNexus]

I wouldn't hesitate choosing San Francisco over San Jose if I were single. I have said before and still believe that San Jose is still just a larger version of Campbell. It pales in comparison to San Francisco for things to do and ambiance. In fact, that entire region surrounding the city is far more dynamic than San Jose. You may not feel like taking advantage of it all the time, but when you do choose to venture out, you will find a larger set of alternatives than San Jose. You're single and more able now than at any point in your life to take advantage of what SF has to offer. Don't pass up this opportunity.

It sounds like you're leaning towards SF anyway.

[mr bolo]

you will like San Francisco much better

San Jose is less metropolitan , boring

[krudmonk]

I wouldn't hesitate choosing San Jose over San Francisco if I liked actual (not contrived) ethnic diversity. I have said before and still believe that San Francisco is still just a larger version of Daly City. It pales in comparison to San Jose for things related to weather and safety. In fact, that entire region surrounding the city is far more sunny and clean than San Francisco. You may not feel like taking advantage of it all the time, but when you do choose to venture out, you will find a larger set of alternatives than San Francisco. You're free and more able now than at any point in your life to take advantage of what SJ has to offer. Don't pass up this opportunity.

It sounds like you're leaning towards SJ anyway.

[krudmonk]

And aside from San Francisco, which anyone with a brain knows has things to offer, here is why San Jose is neither "a bigger version of Campbell" or "boring:"


* American Musical Theatre of San Jose
* Artsopolis
* Ballet San Jose
* Children's Discovery Museum of San Jose
* Children's Musical Theater San Jose
* City Lights Theater Company
* Living Tomorrow (broken link)
* MACLA
* Mexican Heritage Plaza
* Opera San Jose
* Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum & Planetarium
* San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art
* San Jose Museum of Art
* San Jose Museum of Quilt & Textiles
* San Jose Semaphore
* San Jose Stage Company
* San Jose Taiko
* Silicon Valley Arts Coalition
* Symphony Silicon Valley
* The Tech Museum of Innovation
* Arab Film Festival (http://www.aff.org/archive/2005/note.php - broken link)
* Christmas in the Park
* Cinema San Pedro/Cinema St. James (http://www.cinequest.org/festival_info/cinemaSanPedro.php - broken link)
* Cinequest Film Festival
* Downtown Ice (http://www.sjdowntown.com/eve_eve_ice.html - broken link)
* FanimeCon
* Fiestas Patrias (http://www.sjgif.org/fiestaspatrias.html - broken link)
* Music in the Other Park (http://www.sjdowntown.com/eve_eve_mop.html - broken link)
* Music in the Park (http://www.sjdowntown.com/eve_eve_mus.html - broken link)
* Rock n’ Roll Half Marathon: San Jose
* San Jose Cinco de Mayo Parade (http://www.sjgif.org/cincodemayo.html - broken link)
* San Jose International Mariachi Festival
* San Jose Jazz Festival (broken link)
* San Jose Jewish Film Festival
* San Jose Obon Festival
* San Jose Pride
* South First Fridays
* Story Road Tamale Festival
* Tapestry Arts Festival (http://www.tapestryarts.org/ - broken link)
* The Metro Silicon Valley Marathon
* The NBC 11 Festival for Indepenence (http://www.ehclifebuilders.org/af/july4.html - broken link)
* Zero One
* San Jose Earthquakes (http://web.mlsnet.com/mls/about/sje.jsp - broken link)
* San Jose Stealth
* San Jose SaberCats
* San Jose Sharks
* San Jose State University
* Lincoln School of Law
* National Hispanic University
* MLK Library (http://www.sjlibrary.org/about/locations/king/index.htm - broken link)
* Metro Silicon Valley
* Metroblogging San Jose
* San Jose Inside
* San Jose Mercury (http://http//www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/ - broken link)
* San Jose Business Journal
* Soft Underbelly of San Jose
* The Wave (http://www.thewavemag.com/ - broken link)
* Alum Rock Park
* Happy Hollow
* Chinese Cultural Garden
* Japanese Friendship Garden (broken link)
* Portuguese Historical Museum
* Winchester House
* Peralta Adobe (http://www.historysanjose.org/visiting_hsj/peralta_fallon/ - broken link)
* Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
* Lick Observatory
* Sikh Gurdwara

That was all compiled from an earlier post of mine, which apparently wasn't read by anyone.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by krudmonk

I wouldn't hesitate choosing San Jose over San Francisco if I liked actual (not contrived) ethnic diversity. I have said before and still believe that San Francisco is still just a larger version of Daly City. It pales in comparison to San Jose for things related to weather and safety. In fact, that entire region surrounding the city is far more sunny and clean than San Francisco. You may not feel like taking advantage of it all the time, but when you do choose to venture out, you will find a larger set of alternatives than San Francisco. You're free and more able now than at any point in your life to take advantage of what SJ has to offer. Don't pass up this opportunity.

It sounds like you're leaning towards SJ anyway.

Took me a minute to realize what you did there.

Anyway, Daly City is like an extension of the Parkside, Outer Mission, and Visitacion Valley districts (as you go from west to east). There is absolutely nothing in that town that resembles the more famous districts of San Francisco.

Is there more to do in SF than SJ? Absolutely, and the big, great, honking difference is that it comes to you. You don't have to go out and look for it. When I was living in the Sunset, I took a walk through Golden Gate Park one day and found there was a huge hot-rod show going on. I left the house to do one thing, and it resulted in an experience I wasn't expecting at all. And that wasn't an uncommon occurrence! It instills a spirit of adventure in you when you don't know what is going to be around the corner.

[krudmonk]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Took me a minute to realize what you did there.

Yeah yeah, just some friendly ribbing.

I don't think SF's merits can be debated, bu SJ's are always in question for whatever reason.

[LexusNexus]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

Took me a minute to realize what you did there.

Anyway, Daly City is like an extension of the Parkside, Outer Mission, and Visitacion Valley districts (as you go from west to east). There is absolutely nothing in that town that resembles the more famous districts of San Francisco.

Is there more to do in SF than SJ? Absolutely, and the big, great, honking difference is that it comes to you. You don't have to go out and look for it. When I was living in the Sunset, I took a walk through Golden Gate Park one day and found there was a huge hot-rod show going on. I left the house to do one thing, and it resulted in an experience I wasn't expecting at all. And that wasn't an uncommon occurrence! It instills a spirit of adventure in you when you don't know what is going to be around the corner.

Very well stated, substantive, and correct! Thank you.