Best place to live in East Bay for 40y old single

[kgbnsf]

Originally Posted by houstonview

No do not look at fremont, opposite of what you're looking for

Fremont is not going to provide you with many entertainment options although it is better than Pleasanton. As another poster mentioned, strip malls with diverse food offerings is what you are looking at in Fremont. For social nightlife, you are looking at SF and Oakland. If entertainment is the only factor in your decision, don't go there.

For me, if I "had a job in Pleasanton, but the job will also require substantial travel to Santa Clara, San Jose"- If substantial means one day a week, shuffling down to San Jose is not a big deal from Oakland. If it's much more than that, 880 sucks - 7 days a week. I live in Alameda, I know this commute well. It's not bad 24x7 but you can count on slowdowns any day of the week and for substantial time spans of the day during the week. Right now, at 3:15 pm, solid red on google from Oakland to Fremont.

It begs the question- at 40, do you want to live in cool areas that offers much to do outside your door and then suffer a bad commute on weekdays, or reverse that equation. I would probably make do with living in Fremont and entertaining in the Southbay while I am there 'substantially'.

[jade408]

Originally Posted by Alex-Gee

Thank you for all the replies: I went to Lake Merrit yesterday (just drivethrough) - wasn't impressed too much.
Will check out Rockridge & Walnut Creek.

BART Access is important for me to get to SFO airport & SF downtown without a car ( Don't drink & Drive)

Warning - Bay Area neighborhoods do not generally look very impressive. Especially if impressive is new and shiny. Driving through tells you not a whole lot. You'll want to stroll around the main streets. In Oakland - College Ave, Lakeshore, Piedmont Ave, Grand Ave (near lake park).

Walnut Creek is suburban with a good main street shopping area. Along Main Street and the adjacent areas. The rest is typical burb.

[Ruth4Truth]

Try north Berkeley, as well.

[likealady]

Originally Posted by kgbnsf

It begs the question- at 40, do you want to live in cool areas that offers much to do outside your door and then suffer a bad commute on weekdays, or reverse that equation. I would probably make do with living in Fremont and entertaining in the Southbay while I am there 'substantially'.

This is a good point, and as more people continue to move here traffic will only get worse. As someone who used to have to drive 1-1.5 hrs each way to get home every day, I highly suggest living somewhere central to your working locations.