Growing up in SF BAY AREA (San Francisco, Sacramento: car insurance, lofts, mortgage)

[Taboo2]

I am waying the pro's and con's of moving my children away frrom the area. We could have a much bigger house, and perhaps even in a safer neighborhood. Gas would likely be cheaper, as would food. Schools better? Perhaps.
They would lack the culture oppurtunity of interacting with other nationalities from EVERYWHERE and all the fun stuff we had growing up around here to do.

Great America
Bonfante Gardens
Discovery Museum
Safari West
Pier 39/Cable Cars/Presidio/Cliff House (Course the penny arcade has moved)
Marin Headlands
Marine World
Fairyland
SF Zoo
The Boardwalk
Half Moon Bay's Pumpkin Festival
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Coyote Point
Lindsay Museum
Tilden Park
Kennedy Park
and much much more.

[elcapitan]

But could you handle the humiliation when you can no longer say "I live in San Francisco." This is assuming you are actually talking about the city and not the Bay Area in general.

Just remember that if you don't live within San Francisco city limits, there is a 97% chance your offspring will grow up to be a pack of slack-jawed philistines.

[shannybannany]

I just left the SF Bay area (7 years in SF and 4 years in Morgan Hill). I suppose it's different for me because I am not from there so moving some place else has not been a big deal.

It's all what matters to you, personally. I no longer have a huge mortgage (I bought a house for cash), I moved to a Blue-Ribbon school district and I am within striking distance of Philadelphia BUT....I live in the state with the highest property taxes and car insurance in the nation.

At the end of the day...it was what is most important to you.

Good luck but after re-reading your post...you don't look as if you're going anywhere.

Shanny

[gizmo980]

Shanny's right - it's all about personal priorities and preferences! I've lived here on & off since age 6, so it's simply HOME to me. But if you don't have any roots or family here, I'm sure there are other places you could be perfectly happy... do what my dad always told me, and write out a "PRO/CON" chart & financial breakdown, and compare the totals. He's such a math geek, LOL. But really, all the numbers and charts aren't going to help if your heart is here.

[NorthernCalifornia]

where you live is less important than what you provide your children.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by NorthernCalifornia

where you live is less important than what you provide your children.

But isn't location a huge part of providing for your children?? We (my siblings & I) were all very happy growing up in the SF area, and have talked about how our lives would be different if we grew up elsewhere... my parents almost moved us to Dallas instead of SF, and I bet that would've changed a lot! Not to say it would have been worse, but there are things we experienced here that I wouldn't change for the world - for instance the diversity (knowing people of ALL types), cultural experiences and opportunities, recreation, vacation spots, etc. Can't get the same things in every city/town, can you?

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by Taboo2

I am waying the pro's and con's of moving my children away frrom the area. We could have a much bigger house, and perhaps even in a safer neighborhood. Gas would likely be cheaper, as would food. Schools better? Perhaps.
They would lack the culture oppurtunity of interacting with other nationalities from EVERYWHERE and all the fun stuff we had growing up around here to do.

Great America
Bonfante Gardens
Discovery Museum
Safari West
Pier 39/Cable Cars/Presidio/Cliff House (Course the penny arcade has moved)
Marin Headlands
Marine World
Fairyland
SF Zoo
The Boardwalk
Half Moon Bay's Pumpkin Festival
Monterey Bay Aquarium
Coyote Point
Lindsay Museum
Tilden Park
Kennedy Park
and much much more.

I don't have kids, but I was raised in an all white area. I have to say the emphasis on "diversity" is far less important than *your* attitude towards it. Both hubby and I were raised in very undiverse areas and we are about as liberal as anyone.

And that's thanks to our parents.

Just as I've run into some incredibly racist people that were born and raised here -- that's thanks to their parents.

As for other stuff -- while it won't seem as such at first -- there's tons of kid friendly things to do other places. And if you and your spouse get to be home more with them because of hte lower cost of living that's even better for the kids.

Not to mention taking them back to, say, East Podunk PA will be just as eye opening for them -- they may find friends that have horses, go on trail rides, learn farm stuff.... and that's stuff they haven't been exposed to. Heck -- I'm 48 and most of the people I meet my age haven't played in haylofts, or made their own butter with the fresh drawn cream, watched an uncle hand milk the cows and shoot milk at the barn kitties.

But in all honestly, with your attitude of pro-diversity, I wouldn't worry about them not getting that....

[clongirl]

I think the whole "diversity" thing is really overrated. I moved my kids out of the country entirely from San Francisco and lived among an all white, Catholic, populace. From what I observed and from learning much from my Irish husband is that there was far less racism among communities that have very- if any, diversity. I think the attitudes of the parents are what matters the most. I can't speak, of course for other parts of the US- haven't ventured outside of California to live, however! I have lived ALL over the Bay Area/Sacramento, however so I'm sort of a nomad.

Outside of the vast choice in food and fabulous restaurants in the Bay Area due to the diverse nature, I wouldn't necessarily think that it's necessarily superior for kids to grow up in a less multicultural town overall.

You just need to weigh the pros and cons- what's important to YOUR family. Jobs are a huge factor in this decision. From my experiences of moving my kids from place to place, I can tell you for sure, that they are FAR more resilient than the parents!

[18Montclair]

Originally Posted by elcapitan

Just remember that if you don't live within San Francisco city limits, there is a 97% chance your offspring will grow up to be a pack of slack-jawed philistines.

Not a problem. Just get sterilized.

[bigdave01]

I just think that having kids grow up in a multi-cultural area gives them a more global sense. When you grow up in a white middle class suburb, that is all you know.