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

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[quote=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. [/quote]

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