Why is SF so great? (San Francisco, Berkeley: living, cost of living, farmers market)

[AK123]

Originally Posted by beone

Well said. I don't quite understand why cities in Texas are being compared to SF. They are simply incomparable. It's like comparing coca-cola to champagne.

Comparing cities like NYC, Chicago, Boston, D.C and Seattle to SF is much much much more appropriate then comparing cities like Dallas and Houston to SF. Austin is the best and most interesting city in Texas, bar none. San Antonio's is pit!

You are not very familiar with most of Texas. I've lived in both Austin and Houston. Most of Austin's arts/culture/sports revolve around the university and include such things as Spam-o-Rama and Eyore's Birthday... Not comparable to the high arts in Houston, which you seem to know nothing about.

[beone]

Originally Posted by JJP

You are not very familiar with most of Texas. I've lived in both Austin and Houston. Most of Austin's arts/culture/sports revolve around the university and include such things as Spam-o-Rama and Eyore's Birthday... Not comparable to the high arts in Houston, which you seem to know nothing about.

Actually, you're right...I don't know much about Texas. After 5 or 6 trips there, I decided I don't want to know anything more about the place. And, I wasn't talking arts, I was talking character, which both Houston and Dallas lack, in comparision to Austin and San Antonio.

[AK123]

Originally Posted by beone

Actually, you're right...I don't know much about Texas. After 5 or 6 trips there, I decided I don't want to know anything more about the place. And, I wasn't talking arts, I was talking character, which both Houston and Dallas lack, in comparision to Austin and San Antonio.

Hmm, can't speak much for Dallas but I think you should visit Montrose, West U and the Heights in Houston next time!

[gizmo980]

Hey guys/gals... let's try to get this conversation back on-topic, okay? Better yet, we could let the thread fade away altogether, LOL.

[California Dreaming]

I first visited San Francisco during October 2005. I had always heard about the city, though never visited. Upon arriving, I felt right at home. I felt as though I belonged there. There is something about the city that draws one in. The day I left to return home (New Orleans, LA) I cried on my way to the airport. I hated leaving. I will return in October for another visit to the city I hope to make my home soon.

[beone]

Originally Posted by California Dreaming

I first visited San Francisco during October 2005. I had always heard about the city, though never visited. Upon arriving, I felt right at home. I felt as though I belonged there. There is something about the city that draws one in. The day I left to return home (New Orleans, LA) I cried on my way to the airport. I hated leaving. I will return in October for another visit to the city I hope to make my home soon.

That's how I felt when I would visit while living in Seattle (another city I really love). I would be so depressed taking BART back to the airport. It's funny...I love Seattle so much, miss it at times, but I never felt homesick for it once I moved here.

You either love SF or hate it. I have a friend from NYC who hates it. To each his own. Personally, it is my single favorite place outside of Europe, and I'm glad I live here.

[Sherbear59]

I see a lot of your replys to cities and I see you are quite fond of your city, SF. Well, my city is Stockton and I see you don't care for it. I like Stockton and I've lived in Stockton since 1985 and I know it's reputation is not the greatest. But I have never been bodily robbed, raped or wittnessed a murder or had friends/relatives murdered. I've had my vehicle broken into twice the whole time I've lived here, once in a parking lot and once in my driveway.
I used to be a meter reader for our local gas company and saw/heard just about everything. Stockton is very "spotty"....you go two blocks and you are in a good area, go two more blocks and you are in a not so good area. That is what Stockton is known for. Stockton is very ethnically rich. I am now a real estate agent and I tell my clients that a good rule of thumb is to get into the better school districts. Lincoln Unified is the best with Linden coming second and Lodi Unified coming in 3rd.
Stockton is revitalizing their whole downtown area...it's so beautiful with a brand new 16 cinemaplex and all kinds of new restaurants.
A lot of people boast that Brookside is the best neighborhood but Brookside has small back yards and some people don't like that. Spanos Park West is very nice and there's a brand new shopping center right by that area as well.
There are other areas in Stockton that are nice too. I'm from another state and I heard rumors about Stockton's crime and when I got here...I thought...what's all the fuss about?? It's not as bad as people make it out to be. Lodi, which is just up the road about 6 miles from Stockton is a cute little town....it might be more of what your are looking for if Stockton makes you nervous.
Also, Stockton is centrally located...you are in the middle of just about everything, from the beach to San Francisco to Tahoe to Skiing to Napa Valley(or you can go wine tasting right here in our own area) to the indian casinos just to name a few.
Maybe you could pass that information along when people ask you about Stockton so they have better information. Also, our housing is more affordable now that it is taking a big drop. We are currently number one in foreclosures.
I'm sorry I've written a novel but I guess I'm a bit sensitive when I see people trying to drive people away from here.
thanks!

[gizmo980]

If you're referring to me, Sherbear, I apologize for talking badly about Stockton... I lived there for a few years, and it just wasn't my cup of tea! But I agree, it does have a lot to offer, and I briefly considered sticking around after college. I especially like the town of Lodi, which you mentioned, and looked into buying a small home there. But I just can't handle the heat/dry weather, and lack of what I like in scenery & culture. I grew up in the Bay Area (and spent my early childhood outside of Washington, D.C.), so I'm simply used to a different type of city. Sorry though, and I'll try to pass along your positive points about Stockton.

P.S. I too never experienced any crime in Stockton, at least not where I lived - I was on Feather River & March Lane for a while, and then Grand Canal Blvd., which are both nice areas. But I was a pizza delivery girl for 2 years, and saw my share of scary neighborhoods.

[bnkid]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

I keep hearing how great SF is...but why is it so great?

From here, all I see is (1) most expensive place in country almost (2) wacky hippie liberals (3) crapload of bums.

What is so great about that? What am I missing there? Is it just a place I need to actually visit to appreciate, the ambience and scenery and people and all that, or what?

Sounds exactly like Santa Cruz. I don't care for San Francisco myself, have not been there for nearly five years. I really agree with this guy above, and this is why I dislike Santa Cruz and San Francisco. I mean new mobile homes wil run for 500K. That is a ridiculous price, and you do not even own the land itself. What a joke!

[18Montclair]

what makes any place great?