Reply to Tell me about living in the SF Bay area vs. Arlington/DC

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[quote=Anonymous]I grew up on the Peninsula, spent and number of years in DC, then lived in SF proper (Cow Hollow) for 16 years then Palo Alto for another 2.  We moved to DC area (Chevy Chase MD) because my wife is from here and wanted ti raise our kids closer to her family.   Here’s the way I look at it

DC is MUCH more affordable and it’s really not even close.  So it’s go that going for it.  The suburbs are generally nice and you get a pretty good variety.   With a few exceptions though you have to be okay with post war brick boxes.   If you are from here the weather is probably fine for you.  It’s fine for me too for the most part but the summers I’ve found to be brutal with the heat and humidity.  Downtown DC is fine but clearly not without its problems, like most major cities.  The food scene has a long long way to go compared to the Bay Area and other metro areas, but it’s improved a ton and is absolutely on the upswing.   As for the people, I’ve found people are people.  There’s a holes everywhere.  In DC I’ve found it’s the people that put on airs and take themselves very seriously.   Insufferable.  In SF it’s the wannabe techies that are self-styled “visionaries”.  Insufferable.   Behind those two groups you get all kinds in both places.  I’ve found that in the Bay Area people tend to “sweat the small stuff” way less than DC but that might be my own bias.   Much much more to do if you’re outdoorsy in the Bay Area.  Sierras, ocean, desert all right there.  From a physical beauty perspective the bay area and the DMV are hard to compare.  I find MoCo to be pretty if I squint hard enough.   The Chesapeake is wonderful though and I do love it.

The weather is all microclimates in the Bay Area.  If you live in SF you will find the summers foggy and cold a lot.  If you drive an hour south to Palo Alto you will find a beautiful day that very same day.   The weather on the peninsula and in parts of Marin and east bay is tough to beat.

As for a lot of the scuttle about downtown SF being a cesspool:  in some parts of the city such as the tenderloin that comment is merited.  Other places can have their rough moments as well.  But it’s not gangs or that type of violence, it’s the druggies and crazies.   MOST of the city though is just fine.  Those who make blanket statements either have not spent real time there, are being politically provocative, or are (insert adjective) whose comments don’t warrant reading.

Bottom line:  both great places, both different cultures with strong streaks of similarity.   Bay Area is leaps and bounds more expensive though.

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