30 something professional single female moving to Bay Area - where to live (San Jose: apartments, rent)

[calisnuffy]

Originally Posted by butterpaws75

Chrisnyce and Calisnuffy, thanks for your suggest of checking it out and deciding after. I have actually visited the area but I don't think I can really know how life will pan out until I'ved lived there. Further, I am not comparing it with NY as NY is on its own level. I'm not a native NY-er, but I've lived in many major cities around the world (London, Shanghai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, etc etc) and it's mostly what I know.

However, I've also lived in Houston - slower, not pretty at all and arts offering is limited. Even though friends sustained me, I had to get out after a few years. The Bay Area / SV is greatly different from Houston altogether, and certainly more up my alley with its range of intellectual / artsy / outdoor offerings I just need to know what and how to prepare for, coming from a city like NY.

Mysticaltyger, thanks for the tip on flakiness and smile. That's too funny, but I guess it does go with the more laid back culture of Cali?? I may scare folks away being high energy, always multi-tasking and needing stimulation, LOL!

This is one of the hardest decisions I'll have to make. Sigh!

I think you would have no problem finding like minded, high drive , type a personalities to mingle with. It's a tough move, but taking risks can pay off.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

people in California can be flaky about keeping appointments, especially if a group is involved. She tells me that's a big taboo in New York, but it isn't so much in CA, as long as you don't do it all the time.

We're fashionably late. Out here, we chill.

[Jaylyne]

I live in Mtn.View and work in SJ. The Pennisula is VERY suburban. It would be a wonderful place to raise kids, but as a single person it is horrible. I am a teacher so don't have any opportunities to be around a mix of people unfortunately. Being single and in my mid 30s all of my single friends live in SF and love it. They are always doing fun activities during the week, but having to be at work at 7:30 am I can't drive up to join them. I do spend every weekend in SF and love it. I am an artist so that is very hard living here as well since there is no art scene. It is very lonely living in the South Bay as a single person. I highly recommend, if possible, moving as close to SF if not into SF as you can. Good luck.

[Jaylyne]

I am 30 something and single living in Mtn.View and working in Cupertino. Trust me you will be bored out of your mind. I am!!!!!! I am a city girl too and an artist and yeah....NOT the best place. Live in SF if possible and commute because this area can be VERY boring if you prefer the city life.

[Jaylyne]

Whatever decision you make will be just fine. I do like downtown Mtn. View. I think downtown PA has much more of a "city" feeling, but coming from NY I think you would like SF the best. The train system here is great so you can commute easily.

[imcurious]

Trust your gut. Don't force a decision. The Bay Area is not for everyone.

[AllenSJC]

Yeah the Penisula is really suburban, as was said before. The west part of Silicon Valley (Sunnyvale, Los Altos, Mountain View, Cupertino, Saratoga) isn't much better. Good place to raise a family, not so good as a single person.

[Nell Plotts]

I would never say that the business climate is 'laid back'. It isn't the frenetic behavior you see in NYC but let me assure you the expectation of sustained superior performance & creativity permeates the culture.

Live close to work for now because you will not know what social activities catch your interest.

[oldtrader]

One thing you need to consider is the difference in cost of Living in the Silicon Valley of California. It will cost you about 50% more to live there than New York City for the same standard of living.

If you are earning about $80,000, then you will be about on an equal standard of living at $121,000. If you are earning much more you will be taking a cut in pay to move to the Silicon Valley. If you are currently earning less than $75,000 you will be getting a rise in pay, living at the same standard of living you are now living under.

Not taking this into consideration, is the one thing that really shocks people when they move there.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by Jaylyne

Whatever decision you make will be just fine. I do like downtown Mtn. View. I think downtown PA has much more of a "city" feeling, but coming from NY I think you would like SF the best. The train system here is great so you can commute easily.

I don't think the train system, whether CalTrain or BART, has as much frequency of service as you might expect in NYC, so you will have to scale your expectations accordingly (I've lived in NYC, Washington DC so I do have a basis for comparison). You'll likely do more driving here.