Considering a move to the Bay Area? Am I making a big mistake

[Anonymous]

Just make sure you understand the culture difference.

As just one example, intelligence is really valued in the bay area. There were some idiots on DCUM arguing several days ago that Elon Musk wasn't that impressive, didn't do much, "just" did this or that, is a fraud, etc. Those types of fools wouldn't last long in California. (And in case it doesn't go without saying, absolutely nobody in California would care that you went to "an ivy". )

If you're smart, not a lawyer or someone in "policy" or politics etc, then you'll probably like it.

It's true about the wildfire risk though, and associated issues.

[Anonymous]

I'm from the Bay Area and have found it impossible to move back, I'm just not willing to reduce my quality of life that much to be near family and in good weather. The recent wildfires also really scared me, that had not been a Bay Area issue very often when I was a kid. But there are a lot of things I miss and if you can make it work you should. Can you go out there for 2 weeks and "practice" living on the East Bay?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure you understand the culture difference.

As just one example, intelligence is really valued in the bay area. There were some idiots on DCUM arguing several days ago that Elon Musk wasn't that impressive, didn't do much, "just" did this or that, is a fraud, etc. Those types of fools wouldn't last long in California. (And in case it doesn't go without saying, absolutely nobody in California would care that you went to "an ivy". )

If you're smart, not a lawyer or someone in "policy" or politics etc, then you'll probably like it.

It's true about the wildfire risk though, and associated issues.

Glad to hear some brogrammer likes it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

A/C is not as ubiquitous in San Francisco (where it rarely gets very hot) as it is in DC but it is in most of the East Bay, including the areas OP is considering. Also, it cools down much more significantly in the evening there than it does in DC. Even when in the middle of the summer when it gets brutally hot during the day, it often cools down enough by the evening that you can quite comfortably go for a walk or run outside before it gets dark & even open your windows & just use a ceiling fan instead of running the A/C while you sleep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure you understand the culture difference.

As just one example, intelligence is really valued in the bay area. There were some idiots on DCUM arguing several days ago that Elon Musk wasn't that impressive, didn't do much, "just" did this or that, is a fraud, etc. Those types of fools wouldn't last long in California. (And in case it doesn't go without saying, absolutely nobody in California would care that you went to "an ivy". )

If you're smart, not a lawyer or someone in "policy" or politics etc, then you'll probably like it.

It's true about the wildfire risk though, and associated issues.

Oh, and by the way, no. MONEY is valued in Bay Area. HBOs Silicon Valley is spot on.

What is sad is that there are plenty of very intelligent people, but so many are working really hard to sell us ads and steal our private information or give us conveniences our mom used to handle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just make sure you understand the culture difference.

As just one example, intelligence is really valued in the bay area. There were some idiots on DCUM arguing several days ago that Elon Musk wasn't that impressive, didn't do much, "just" did this or that, is a fraud, etc. Those types of fools wouldn't last long in California. (And in case it doesn't go without saying, absolutely nobody in California would care that you went to "an ivy". )

If you're smart, not a lawyer or someone in "policy" or politics etc, then you'll probably like it.

It's true about the wildfire risk though, and associated issues.

Oh, and by the way, no. MONEY is valued in Bay Area. HBOs Silicon Valley is spot on.

What is sad is that there are plenty of very intelligent people, but so many are working really hard to sell us ads and steal our private information or give us conveniences our mom used to handle.

Spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

A/C is not as ubiquitous in San Francisco (where it rarely gets very hot) as it is in DC but it is in most of the East Bay, including the areas OP is considering. Also, it cools down much more significantly in the evening there than it does in DC. Even when in the middle of the summer when it gets brutally hot during the day, it often cools down enough by the evening that you can quite comfortably go for a walk or run outside before it gets dark & even open your windows & just use a ceiling fan instead of running the A/C while you sleep.

You are bringing up memories of those old days, when fans helped and electricity was on during heat storms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

A/C is not as ubiquitous in San Francisco (where it rarely gets very hot) as it is in DC but it is in most of the East Bay, including the areas OP is considering. Also, it cools down much more significantly in the evening there than it does in DC. Even when in the middle of the summer when it gets brutally hot during the day, it often cools down enough by the evening that you can quite comfortably go for a walk or run outside before it gets dark & even open your windows & just use a ceiling fan instead of running the A/C while you sleep.

You are bringing up memories of those old days, when fans helped and electricity was on during heat storms.

What does this mean? Are electrical outages commons during heat waves?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

A/C is not as ubiquitous in San Francisco (where it rarely gets very hot) as it is in DC but it is in most of the East Bay, including the areas OP is considering. Also, it cools down much more significantly in the evening there than it does in DC. Even when in the middle of the summer when it gets brutally hot during the day, it often cools down enough by the evening that you can quite comfortably go for a walk or run outside before it gets dark & even open your windows & just use a ceiling fan instead of running the A/C while you sleep.

You are bringing up memories of those old days, when fans helped and electricity was on during heat storms.

What does this mean? Are electrical outages commons during heat waves?

Old grid, more people, higher load, transformers blow. Solar with a battery back up is what is becoming popular, Tesla system under $10,000 should be enough for the house size that one can afford on $180k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

A/C is not as ubiquitous in San Francisco (where it rarely gets very hot) as it is in DC but it is in most of the East Bay, including the areas OP is considering. Also, it cools down much more significantly in the evening there than it does in DC. Even when in the middle of the summer when it gets brutally hot during the day, it often cools down enough by the evening that you can quite comfortably go for a walk or run outside before it gets dark & even open your windows & just use a ceiling fan instead of running the A/C while you sleep.

You are bringing up memories of those old days, when fans helped and electricity was on during heat storms.

What does this mean? Are electrical outages commons during heat waves?

Not in the Bay Area, but maybe in DC? Not sure what memories the PP was referencing.

Power outages are not uncommon in CA during the crazy winter wind/rain storms, though. But no worse than East Coast outages during winter storms, inasmuch as I can tell. A/C is common in houses in the parts of the East Bay where it routinely gets into the 90s/100s. In the inner East Bay (Oakland/Berkeley), it's uncommon, but is also only needed a few days a year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

A/C is not as ubiquitous in San Francisco (where it rarely gets very hot) as it is in DC but it is in most of the East Bay, including the areas OP is considering. Also, it cools down much more significantly in the evening there than it does in DC. Even when in the middle of the summer when it gets brutally hot during the day, it often cools down enough by the evening that you can quite comfortably go for a walk or run outside before it gets dark & even open your windows & just use a ceiling fan instead of running the A/C while you sleep.

You are bringing up memories of those old days, when fans helped and electricity was on during heat storms.

What does this mean? Are electrical outages commons during heat waves?

Not in the Bay Area, but maybe in DC? Not sure what memories the PP was referencing.

Power outages are not uncommon in CA during the crazy winter wind/rain storms, though. But no worse than East Coast outages during winter storms, inasmuch as I can tell. A/C is common in houses in the parts of the East Bay where it routinely gets into the 90s/100s. In the inner East Bay (Oakland/Berkeley), it's uncommon, but is also only needed a few days a year.

The last summer had more than a few day, much more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would move for the family and the weather, but East Bay has its own issues; it’s crazy crazy hot in summer and wildfires are growing risk (poor air quality for weeks).

The salary is a step down, so if happy with townhouses and living more ‘outside’ It’s a good trade off.

I would not call 90 degree weather crazy crazy hot. We get that here plus humidity.

This summer, for several weeks it was 110 in Contra Costa county, which is likely where OP will end up on his budget with school age kids and a SAHM. That is crazy hot. Its not as uncomfortable as here, but A/C is much ubiquitous here and more capable.

A/C is not as ubiquitous in San Francisco (where it rarely gets very hot) as it is in DC but it is in most of the East Bay, including the areas OP is considering. Also, it cools down much more significantly in the evening there than it does in DC. Even when in the middle of the summer when it gets brutally hot during the day, it often cools down enough by the evening that you can quite comfortably go for a walk or run outside before it gets dark & even open your windows & just use a ceiling fan instead of running the A/C while you sleep.

You are bringing up memories of those old days, when fans helped and electricity was on during heat storms.

What does this mean? Are electrical outages commons during heat waves?

Not in the Bay Area, but maybe in DC? Not sure what memories the PP was referencing.

Power outages are not uncommon in CA during the crazy winter wind/rain storms, though. But no worse than East Coast outages during winter storms, inasmuch as I can tell. A/C is common in houses in the parts of the East Bay where it routinely gets into the 90s/100s. In the inner East Bay (Oakland/Berkeley), it's uncommon, but is also only needed a few days a year.

The last summer had more than a few day, much more.

I stand corrected, there were seven days last year where it broke 90. Still, we have never felt the need for A/C; it typically cools off when the sun goes down, unlike the East Coast, and it's far less humid so it feels quite different than 90 in DC on a summer evening does.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the Bay Area and have found it impossible to move back, I'm just not willing to reduce my quality of life that much to be near family and in good weather. The recent wildfires also really scared me, that had not been a Bay Area issue very often when I was a kid. But there are a lot of things I miss and if you can make it work you should. Can you go out there for 2 weeks and "practice" living on the East Bay?

?!? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oakland_firestorm_of_1991