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I'm recently single and looking to start over in a state I've always loved. SF seems to get great reviews across the board, but I have a few questions for you locals.
1) I'm without a job (I had a company with my ex which we sold so I'm starting fresh with a little in savings, and a ton of ambition and experience.) What is the job market like?
2) I have persistent allergies/asthma, and my research shows that this is a good area for someone like me. Is it??
3) I have no friends or family in the area, they all live in Philly, and I am NOT moving back there. I'm social and I meet people quickly, but is SF safe?
I'm single, no kids, very artistic and I have another start up company in the making. What is everyone's realistic opinion on weather I'm ready to move there or not. I'd really appreciate any advice. Thanks for reading!
Many people (not all) with bad allergies find they do better out here. For example, there's not much ragweed out here if that's something that gets you in the fall.
But there's other stuff out here to contend with: cedar, mulberry, etc. Other weeds, etc. An allergist I consulted with, though, told me that the effects of weeds in the bay area are minimal to those found "back east".
Also, the pollination season is longer here (spring at least, not sure about fall) than a typical 4 season climate's, but with lower maximum pollen count threshold's throughout the pollination season (don't see those huge spikes of pollen being released).
For me- so far after only 1.5 yrs- all of this has translated into much milder allergies in both spring and fall. Still have 'em but they are not nearly as debilitating.
I know of only one other person who claimed allergies have gotten worse out here- said he had to get shots for a couple of years and his allergies improved. He moved here from Boston.
Have heard many others say their allergies improved when moving here.
Also have read from locals on this board that people's allergies worsen as they move farther east from the bay. Just something to keep in mind if you aren't planning to move to SF proper.
One last thing- the humidity factor. I know the thick humidity of Chicago's summers had a neg effect on my asthma and I imagine Philly to be similar in this regard. Out here I haven't ever felt that type of humidity, and as a result my asthma's been non-existent.
Will be interesting to see what others say about their experiences.
1. The living expenses are similar to NYC, make sure you have enough saved to survive at least 6 months without a job.
2. It's a concrete jungle, so people with allergies do pretty well there most of the year. My cousin also has bad allergies and she complained about them maybe twice a year in SF.
3. It's safe for a large city, it depends on the specific district. If you are worried about crime, don't live in the Mission or Tenderloin.
3. It's safe for a large city, it depends on the specific district. If you are worried about crime, don't live in the Mission or Tenderloin.
There are more high crime hoods in SF then just the Mission and TL.
If you want to blanket an entire city with one definition in regards to it's crime rate, SF would be moderate. Not "safe", not "dangerous". A place like Honolulu, San Diego, San Jose, Seattle, San Antonio, or Austin, on the other hand, could be considered "safe."
Out of all cities in the US with 250k residents or more, 40 have lower violent crime rates than SF as of 2007 (some cities notorious for crime, such as Newark, LA and Long Beach are among those lower than SF), and 30 have higher violent crime rates than SF. If you make it cities with 500k or more residents, there are 17 cities with lower violent crime rates than SF, and 16 with higher ones. In regards to the robbery rate, SF is the 20th highest out of the 71 cities with 250k or more residents, placing above Nashville, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh, and just below Stockton, Houston, and Columbus. It's the 21st highest out of 71 for it's murder rate, tied with Indianapolis, Phoenix, and Tulsa, just below Mobile and Jacksonville, and just above Minneapolis and Nashville. Our aggravated assault and especially rape rates tend to be on the lower side though. Also, SF is much denser and tightly packed than those cities i mentioned. Columbus had almost the exact same violent crime rate as SF in 2007...yet it's crime is dispersed throughout an area of 210.3 square miles, whereas SF's is all condensed into just 46.7 square miles. This would make the exposure to violence by non-victims much, much higher in SF overall than in Columbus (you know, stuff such as witnessing a fight or a shooting, hearing gunfire, etc, etc.).
But really, it comes down to neighborhoods more than anything in most places. Any big city has it's nice areas, and it's not so nice areas too.
I will take a different approach, first it depends on what you are alergic to: our son has severe alergies to many things and asthma..We were advised, by his alergist to leave the bay area or move far east, because the dampness holds the alergins (spelling down in the air) he also was the one who said, after Mitch was tested that the most important thing was what a person is alergic to. If you are alergic to cactus you wouldn't move to AZ, so I am not sure if living in the SF would or wouldn't work for you. If it were me I would ask my doctor. I have never knowingly been alergic to anything until about 5 years ago. We lived in ABQ, I was fine the first couple of years, then everything that blooms in early spring started bothering me. I litterly would spend nights without more than 2 hours sleep because of the juniper. After I accepted taking medication I was fine and luckily only a few things really bothered me so I was fine 10 months out of the year. Here I have the same problems, different alergies.
It sounds like the bay area would work great for you as far as what you are looking for culturally, financually it might be a different story. The desirable areas for living are extremely pricey. Even though you have a start up business or are about to have one, it sounds like you need to find employment. No place in California right now would be a place to attempt this. Heck there are people on here trying to get hired as wait people and they can't find jobs. Even having your own business, you will need several thousand $$s as it will take time to get it going. Of course I am sure you know that. Right now most new businesses are probably going to have a heck of a rough time making it. When the economy turns, it will be different.
Probably the best thing for you right now, would be to visit S.F for a week or so, check out some rentals in person so you can judge the cost of housing for yourself and get a feel for the area. Then you can decide if this is a good time to make such a move.
Thanks for the replies, especially about the allergies. I'm from the burbs of Philly and my allergies were through-the-roof Bad there. I couldn't even work, which is why I had a start-up company. My air conditioned home was my only "safe-haven". I'm currently residing in Miami, and my allergies are pretty much nonexistent here. I love Miami, but it's not the right place for me, and oddly, I like the colder weather, but like I said, Philly is not a place I can comfortably live. I'm mainly allergic to ragweed and mold, along with a TON of trees. Even though humid, being close to the ocean seems to have done wonders for me. If anyone is reading this and knows of a great place to live for allergies/asthma, let me know. I'm open to all opinions, I'm literally starting over in my life and there is nothing like first-hand accounts to help guide my way. Thanks everyone.
I'm recently single and looking to start over in a state I've always loved. SF seems to get great reviews across the board, but I have a few questions for you locals.
1) I'm without a job (I had a company with my ex which we sold so I'm starting fresh with a little in savings, and a ton of ambition and experience.) What is the job market like?
2) I have persistent allergies/asthma, and my research shows that this is a good area for someone like me. Is it??
3) I have no friends or family in the area, they all live in Philly, and I am NOT moving back there. I'm social and I meet people quickly, but is SF safe?
I'm single, no kids, very artistic and I have another start up company in the making. What is everyone's realistic opinion on weather I'm ready to move there or not. I'd really appreciate any advice. Thanks for reading!
1) Not having a job first before coming out is problematic..There just aren't any jobs (that will allow you to afford San Francisco rents) unless you are highly specialized with tons of experience in your field. I'm guessing that for every one high level position, there are about 20 cream of the crop applicants. I'd tell you to have at least 60k in the bank before making the leap..rents are very high and you just can't predict that you'll find a decent job in the next year. Also keep in mind that landlords will probably want some proof of employment so this might be a big issue.
2) Allergies to ragweed/trees/pollen etc are pretty nonexistent in the City. It's the only place where I'm not miserable in the Springtime. The mold/mildew however, can be pretty bad here. It used to really aggravate my asthma. In most older apt buildings the mildew is horrible. My clothes used to come out of the closet smelling like a thrift store and every few months you'll need to wipe those dark areas with bleach to get rid of it.
3) Socially, you'll do fine! This is a young, singles, City!
I suffered with allergies all my life. I was on prescription medication to manage it. When I moved to SF, my allergies went away entirely and I became medication free. Then we moved to Walnut creek, which is in the east bay, and my allergies came back, but not as bad as they were before moving to the bay area. Now I take a zirtec most evenings.
Many people (not all) with bad allergies find they do better out here. For example, there's not much ragweed out here if that's something that gets you in the fall.
But there's other stuff out here to contend with: cedar, mulberry, etc. Other weeds, etc. An allergist I consulted with, though, told me that the effects of weeds in the bay area are minimal to those found "back east".
Also, the pollination season is longer here (spring at least, not sure about fall) than a typical 4 season climate's, but with lower maximum pollen count threshold's throughout the pollination season (don't see those huge spikes of pollen being released).
For me- so far after only 1.5 yrs- all of this has translated into much milder allergies in both spring and fall. Still have 'em but they are not nearly as debilitating.
I know of only one other person who claimed allergies have gotten worse out here- said he had to get shots for a couple of years and his allergies improved. He moved here from Boston.
Have heard many others say their allergies improved when moving here.
Also have read from locals on this board that people's allergies worsen as they move farther east from the bay. Just something to keep in mind if you aren't planning to move to SF proper.
One last thing- the humidity factor. I know the thick humidity of Chicago's summers had a neg effect on my asthma and I imagine Philly to be similar in this regard. Out here I haven't ever felt that type of humidity, and as a result my asthma's been non-existent.
Will be interesting to see what others say about their experiences.
Pollen is around year round here, peaking after the heaviest rains in Feb (but never goes away).
I suffer due to some species of chaparral and possibly the semi native oat grass, in April and May.
My wife suffers year round.
In some ways, this may be the worst place for allergies, based on all the things that could possibly affect a sufferer year round.
If you are allergic to mold or mildew than I would imagine that San Francisco would be very rough. I've heard of more kids having horrible eczema and all kinds of things because of the mold here than anywhere I've been.
During the winter the sidewalks turn green from the dampness and growth and it is a constant battle to keep the mold at bay.
The farther east or south you go this should be better, but then you start running into more trees and shrubs I would imagine.
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Thanks everyone...
