Living in San Francisco - the good, the bad, everything. Tell me how it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lived in SF in my mid-20s for three years and had THE TIME OF MY LIFE.

Pros
- Absolutely amazing in almost every way
- Very diverse culture
- You're in a whole other world politically, culturally (this can be good or bad!)
- At parties, people start conversations around what you're passionate about, what you like to do for fun (vs. what do you do?)
- You're soooo close to wine country!
- Very very very liberal

Cons
- Expensive
- Family and friends will come out of the woodwork to come visit you
- Very very very liberal

Things You'll Get Used to
- The homeless (they're everywhere and the can be aggressive). But you learn how to deal.
- Weather: In the city (the actual peninsula), you'll be wearing a winter coat in July/Aug/Sept. The fog comes into the city and it's freezing. However, if you're cold, just leave the peninsula and you'll be in 90+ degree weather.
- It's a "Live and let live" atmosphere. You'll see/hear crazy stuff, have encounters with the oddest people in the oddest circumstances. Sometimes this is good/eye-opening and sometimes it's just too bizarre. People will offer to sell you weed on a public bus. You'll see people having sex in the park in the middle of the day (not trying to hide a thing!). People will roller skate naked down the street right by you like it's no big deal. You'll come across homeless people masturbating in the middle of the street. You become immune to these things but they're definitely shocking (and sometimes scary) at first.

My advice? Go there first before you make up your mind but...you should totally go for it! It's an amazing place that will teach you so much and open your eyes to so very much. In your 20s is the perfect time. You'll learn so much about yourself. And most people there are transient so everyone is always looking to make friends.

I should add...I had a great time while I was there and am so glad I did it. But I'm also glad I left and know I couldn't live there now (married w/kids).

[Anonymous]

Seems to me that your 20s would be an excellent time to live there! I'm kind of jealous of your opportunity, so I say go for it!

[Anonymous]

I am from the East Coast and have lived in SF for 15 years.

Weather: The weather is "wrong" for the seasons. My body has not acclimated, so I internally laugh at the people wearing a ski jacket when it's 68 degrees out (obviously they're native Californians). Most homes are not air-conditioned. Office buildings and movie theatres are. I have not worn a jacket in months - I wear a sleeveless or shortsleeve top, and a light sweater that I generally don't use. I've lived in the same apartment for 7 or 8 years and never once turned on the heat.

Homeless and human poop: It exists. The city is trying different things to help it/stop it. I won't debate about it. Watch where you step. I have never stepped in poop and I live in SoMa, one of the areas known for having lots of homeless people and suspicious stains. I give the homeless people a lot of physical space - on the bus, on the sidewalk, etc. Only twice have I gotten off the bus because the stench was so bad. There are areas with more homeless people than others. Not all homeless people stink, not all are dangerous.

Schools: The schools are worse here academically. DD is in public charter. However, schools are more nature-based here than on the East Coast. So they went on hikes in GG Park for example. She had gardening club in elementary school for years. However. There is a confidence SF kids have that the East Coast kids don't. The EC kids are haughty and boastful and faux confident based on being rich or what their parents do for a living. The SF kids are confident because ... they are. So for example, a very poor kid here whose clothes don't fit right and are all from Goodwill CAN be the most popular kid. It fascinates me.

Food: It's much easier to be healthy here. A lot of produce is grown in CA, so there are farmers markets everywhere, and not just on weekends. Actually I'm going to the one in the Castro today after work. Even without trying to eat healthier, within a year of moving here, I was. It's just a way of life here. My office has fruit delivered every Wednesday, for example.

Weed: Speaking strictly for the city, because it's so obviously everywhere, teens aren't sneaking around doing it. If they want to, they ask. DD and I have had several talks about brain development and why I asked her to wait until she's 24-25, but if she's insistent, to let me know so I can get her clean product. It is totally normal to be at a party and see a few people step out onto the balcony to share a joint. There is zero pressure to join.

Attitude: People are MUCH more kind here. They're not insecure and judging your cuticles here. If there's something weird about you, that's okay here. Nobody will assume you're poor because you don't wear jewelry. People are supportive of others here. It's normal to see a partner of the firm talking about movies with the receptionist. Less elitism here.

Housing: I rent in a shitty apartment building and have rent control. I miss having a bathtub and wish I had a balcony. But I love my location. You can't buy unless you're rich. But someone like me can totally be friends with someone living in a 1.5 million condo/house and it's not considered weird.

[Anonymous]

http://www.ktvu.com/news/san-francisco-to-deploy-new-6-person-poop-patrol-

[Anonymous]

For grad school? Go.

For adulting? Nope.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The food is great.
It is a city full of really smart people.
It is crazy expensive. And crowded.
If you are single, be prepared to deal with techbros.

Smart people ...like yourself? Techbros is sexist....you need to smarten up!

[Anonymous]

I've been there pretty much every other month for work. The city is OK, but I wouldn't consider it one of the best cities in the country. Everyone mentioned the homeless issues and all that which is very true. Was out there a few weeks ago and it was in the mid-50's in the middle of July WTF.

I would very much avoid going to grad school there without free housing. Its just not worth it to take out loans to pay for the obscene housing costs. Especially considering the schools in the city are not that impressive.

[Anonymous]

I have lived in many cities. I would jump at the chance to live in SF if you can afford it. I’ll give you a compare and contrast of 2 cities:

LA vs SF
LA traffic sucks and a car is a requirement, SF walkable and no car needed
LA air quality is awful...
LA is pretentious and fake ...SF down to earth and real
LA has aggressive panhandlers/homeless throughout...SF concentrated in mainly the downtown area...I never had an issue with the homeless and think the hype is ridiculous

NYC vs SF
The weather??? NYC is F’ing freezing in the winter and requires 2 showers a day in the humid summers. SF is 58-68 year round...summer is late Sept to Oct with mid 70s. I have been to pool parties in January.

The food...SF has far better produce and fruit for cheaper.

The activities..,Napa/Sonoma...Tahoe so much more accessible and easier to get to then say...the Hamptons.

The living...NYC Apts are dinky and the kitchens non-existent...SF much more space and CA kitchens

[Anonymous]

Agreed with most of what's posted here. For grad school in your mid-20s--totally do it! (Assuming you have access to some sort of subsidized university housing, that is.)

It's harder for actual life, though we are making do. But I covet friends' homes with two bathrooms or big backyards, which we'll never have here, even as an upper middle income household--that's sort of insane (and wasn't true even a decade ago). Still, it's an incredible region overall and well worth exploring over a short term stint here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The food is great.
It is a city full of really smart people.
It is crazy expensive. And crowded.
If you are single, be prepared to deal with techbros.

Smart people ...like yourself? Techbros is sexist....you need to smarten up!

Not the PP, but techbros are very much a thing to be aware of, sadly, even if it isn't fair to generalize and assume every man working in tech is part of that culture. It's still pretty dominant.

[Anonymous]

I don’t think SF is that crowded or dense of a city outside of a few neighborhoods along the BART line. In fact most of the city is pretty residential with big open parks. It’s not even as overrun with homeless people in the Richmond/Sunset or other perfectly nice places to live. It’s just hard to get to the quieter parts without a car and not necessarily where you would end up for business or tourism. I do like the sort of neighborhood-y feel with local restaurants/bars/grocery stores in the residential neighborhoods.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was just in SF last month. I think NYC is cleaner if that says anything to you.

+1

Just got back from SF (probably my 3rd or 4th visit). I kept thinking I was missing something after my previous visits, but this visit pretty much solidified that I hate it. It's cold and there are homeless people on every block except for the ones with 3M+ homes.