A NJ Teacher considering a move to SF (apartments, renting)

[Girlinacafe]

Hello everyone!

I am a NJ Teacher with certifications in teaching Visual Arts, English, and Elementary K-6. I hold a MAT and have five years teaching ESL at a Community College.

My husband who has 22+ years in high end construction, and I are thinking of moving to SF. We visit there often and have come to love the city, its people and their respect for nature and animals, which does not really exist her in Northern NJ, never mind NYC. I digress.

I have a few questions:

What is it like to live in the Outer Sunset area for SF? (We will be renting)

What are your top 3 Elementary Schools and why?

What is your take on the educational system in SF?

If you are a transplant to SF what were the +'s for moving there? (this question is not for tech people.)

Is there a bias to Easterners in SF in terms of employment?

Any other constructive thoughts, comment and suggestions are welcome.

Kindly,
Beth

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by Girlinacafe

Hello everyone!

I am a NJ Teacher with certifications in teaching Visual Arts, English, and Elementary K-6. I hold a MAT and have five years teaching ESL at a Community College.

My husband who has 22+ years in high end construction, and I are thinking of moving to SF. We visit there often and have come to love the city, its people and their respect for nature and animals, which does not really exist her in Northern NJ, never mind NYC. I digress.

I have a few questions:

What is it like to live in the Outer Sunset area for SF? (We will be renting)

What are your top 3 Elementary Schools and why?

What is your take on the educational system in SF?

If you are a transplant to SF what were the +'s for moving there? (this question is not for tech people.)

Is there a bias to Easterners in SF in terms of employment?

Any other constructive thoughts, comment and suggestions are welcome.

Kindly,
Beth

Prepare to swallow a gigantic quality of life cut.

[Girlinacafe]

What does that mean?

[eureka1]

Your costs will double. Your salary will not.

[Girlinacafe]

I live in Ridgewood NJ. I think the move is lateral.

[Perma Bear]

Originally Posted by Girlinacafe

I live in Ridgewood NJ. I think the move is lateral.

Be ready for 4000 a month rents for 2 bedroom
Apartments in mediocre areas.

[Lockdev]

Originally Posted by Girlinacafe

I live in Ridgewood NJ. I think the move is lateral.

Do you want advice or not?

If your salary will increase 150%, then you'll be fine.

There's no reason to move here as a school teacher.

None.

If your husband was moving here for work, that's one thing. Moving to SF to be a teacher for no other reason would be beyond stupid. You have two people moving in and out of the area: rich people moving in, everyone else moving out. Rents in the city are over $4000/month.

We visit there often and have come to love the city, its people and their respect for nature and animals, which does not really exist her in Northern NJ, never mind NYC. I digress.

Oh lawd. Visiting and living here are two completely different animals. SF is a city, and a very dirty city at that. There's no more "real" love for nature than you'll find in NY. The environmental BS is political posturing to pander to the liberal nutjobs in this town.

[Chuck5000]

Beth, I'm from NY. Moved out here in 2003 for a change in scenery, wanted access to outdoors more (still a benefit, though the traffic has become horrendous, making getting to the outdoors much harder.)

It is not worth relocating to the SF Bay Area anymore for anyone other than very highly paid, career-driven people. The financial pressures are intense, much like NYC. Sadly, the area has also become more materialistic. That said, there are still plenty of great people here. I like NY/NJ people, too; people wasn't the reason I left. I came here working in communications, and only later got into tech.

Since you're from NJ, imaging moving to a prime Manhattan neighborhood, and living in a non-prime building (probably a walk up) That's how expensive it is going to be even in the Sunset district. It's a grind.

I'm pretty rooted now, and don't plan on leaving, but it is a thought that we entertain. Housing is all everyone talks about these days. BTW, I lived in SF for 10 years, moved to burbs. It's nearly as expensive in the suburbs. (In NY area, there are many more burb towns and more less-expensive ones that are OK)

SF public schools are overall not bad given that it is a US city. However, pay is far from adequate.

Really, it just doesn't make sense to move to SF given your career. However, if you *really* want to live in Northern CA, I'd look into becoming a teacher elsewhere outside of the Bay Area (outside of commuting distance to SF, then it would be cheaper though still not cheap). Then you'd still get some of the CA benefits, like access to the coast, the Sierra, etc. However, your weather will be hotter (but still sunny, still mild in winter).

[Girlinacafe]

Thank you Chuck5000, for your very kind words and insight. I will consider outside the Bay Area in my research.
Kindly,
Beth

[Chuck5000]

"There's no more "real" love for nature than you'll find in NY. The environmental BS is political posturing to pander to the liberal nutjobs in this town."

Truly a ridiculous, angry and uninformed statement. Every word, every thought contained within, is wrong. But I'm sure Lockdev would call me a nutjob. Up is down, wet is dry, hot is cold, etc, in that thought-universe. Must make getting by every day easier.