It is wonderful. Both my DH and I are from there and our families are still there. We are both products of the UC system (though mine was much better than his -- yeah, you can tell him I said that). We love, love, love it and would never, never, never move back.

The budget crisis is real there. Our parents are all teachers/retired teachers and the education system is really taking a hit in the budge crisis. While both sets are lucky because of Prop 13 -- that thing has been a huge problem for the state. I the ramifications of what they need to do to get their budget in order is going to live on for a long time.

Unless you have a very secure job with a huge paycheck I would stay far away. This ship won't be able to turn around quickly.

Anonymous wrote:Lots to like about California, but what people are saying about budget cuts is true. For instance, most students attending state schools (whether UC, Cal State or community college) are not graduating on time because required classes are full to the brim and only offered once a year. There's a term called "swirling" which means a college student is enrolled at multiple state universities at one time to get required classes. Tuition and fees rise every year. I would never encourage anyone to attend a UC school.

There's trash everywhere because cities and towns can't afford workers to pick it up (and Californians won't stop littering). State parks are closing. DMV is not open Fridays. Gas is more than $4 a gallon, and you must drive everywhere. Air is polluted. Drinking water is polluted. Unemployment is more than 15% in some counties.

The only certain industry in California these days is state prisons. If I could get a job with the state prisons, I'd return in a heartbeat.

Oh, puh-leeze.

Lots to like about California, but what people are saying about budget cuts is true. For instance, most students attending state schools (whether UC, Cal State or community college) are not graduating on time because required classes are full to the brim and only offered once a year. There's a term called "swirling" which means a college student is enrolled at multiple state universities at one time to get required classes. Tuition and fees rise every year. I would never encourage anyone to attend a UC school.

There's trash everywhere because cities and towns can't afford workers to pick it up (and Californians won't stop littering). State parks are closing. DMV is not open Fridays. Gas is more than $4 a gallon, and you must drive everywhere. Air is polluted. Drinking water is polluted. Unemployment is more than 15% in some counties.

The only certain industry in California these days is state prisons. If I could get a job with the state prisons, I'd return in a heartbeat.

OP, you need to be more specific. Northern California is a vast area with very different topographies, climates, and cultures? Do you want to live on the coast or inland? Big city, small town?

You can find good schools just about anywhere in California. It's no different from here.

I don't think anything outside of SF is truly walkable, or rather, accessible without a car (I am a PP from SF Bay area). I am not a great driver so it upsets me. Yes, there is Caltrain (about once an hour except rush hours), and some buses but it's challenging.
Taxi is expensive outside of SF since everything is pretty spread out.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thanks for the helpful posts!

We are not sure yet. I like that the people sound like they are not totally jaded like here. The quality of life sounds so much better (which isn't difficult, but you get what I mean).

Where would you find the better schools? Is the cost of living similar to here? Is there a good site for this information? Of course, I don't want certain people to follow suit, as we are escaping that nonsense - haha! FWIW, I am from NE, but we like what we have seen. It seems liberal, artsy, educated and clean with out being full of itself or just plain pissed off - get what I mean? We are accustomed to pleasant, accomplished people (what a concept)! So it sounds like it might be for us. We are not trying to social climb (again sound familiar? -DONE!!!) We like people who have their own interests without being in others business for no reason (other than their own pissed-offedness...is that a term?)

Hmmmmm.....tell me more about walkability and anything else you might think is pertinent. Thanks!

OP - you need to get more specific. Some neighborhoods are totally walkable, some are not. Same with schools - some are great, some are not. Are you looking for a more urban or suburban environment? Cost of living is, in general, significantly higher. i.e. in most neighborhoods, you will pay 1.33 - 1.5x more for houses, and they will be smaller. Check out Berkeley Parents Network. Your stereotypes about the bay area being liberal, artsy, and educated are mostly true...

OP here. Thanks for the helpful posts!

We are not sure yet. I like that the people sound like they are not totally jaded like here. The quality of life sounds so much better (which isn't difficult, but you get what I mean).

Where would you find the better schools? Is the cost of living similar to here? Is there a good site for this information? Of course, I don't want certain people to follow suit, as we are escaping that nonsense - haha! FWIW, I am from NE, but we like what we have seen. It seems liberal, artsy, educated and clean with out being full of itself or just plain pissed off - get what I mean? We are accustomed to pleasant, accomplished people (what a concept)! So it sounds like it might be for us. We are not trying to social climb (again sound familiar? -DONE!!!) We like people who have their own interests without being in others business for no reason (other than their own pissed-offedness...is that a term?)

Hmmmmm.....tell me more about walkability and anything else you might think is pertinent. Thanks!

"Northern Cali" is a big place, OP. Where in particular are you thinking of?

For example, I grew up on the Peninsula. My dad now lives in the Sierra Foothills. Both could be described as "northern Cali". Very, very different.

FWIW, I think you can have an awesome lifestyle if you have the money. But the 3-BR house I grew up in is currently on the market for something north of $2M .... I would need to win the lottery to move back, at least to that community.

Lived in SF for 4 years, then lived in Redwood City for another four years with DH since we were both working in Palo Alto.

LOVED SF, HATED the Peninsula. We did have fun in Menlo Park, Los Gatos, Half Moon Bay, etc, but found it very suburban. Could live in SF forever, but hard to do with a family unless you have buckets of money. You can have a wonderful lifestyle if you can afford it.

Pros - NoCal is gorgeous. Great food, great places for day trips, cool vibe. We found the people to be incredibly friendly and relaxed. People enjoy their lives. (broad generalization, I know)

Cons - Expensive. I mean insanely expensive. Since it was just the two of us at the time, it didn't matter so much. Now we are a family of five and live back on the East Coast, where we are very happy. More options here for families in terms of living arrangements, schools, etc. But every time I go to SF I wonder why we don't live there anymore...

Have friends and family in Chico and Davis and SACTO and they love it, but I don't think I could live up there.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think the correct term for SF is Frisco.

Sorry, false. Only tourists call it that. Mostly called "the city."

I grew up in the Bay Area - I left because I have a crazy family and a bit of the wanderlust. Cons are mostly high cost of living. And forget about buying a house for under 600K. But it is a beautiful place with great food, arts, culture, and outdoor activities. And lots of very smart, interesting people.

There are so many different communities like PPs said - San Francisco is way different than Berkeley or Walnut Creek or San Jose. And that is just the Bay Area. Don't get me started about Sac or the Central Valley.

As a fellow Californian, I am confident that PP was being tyongue in cheek. "Frisco" is the worst abbreviation ever.

Amazing area! Grew up there and moved to East Coast after college. You really can't go wrong imo. If you are used to DC cost of living you won't have any problem adjusting to prices there. And while SF is pricey there are lots more affordable options that are still nice (Sacramento, for example). Good luck!

I lived all over the Bay Area (South Bay, East Bay, SF) for many years. I think people are in general friendly, but often the friendliness is completely superficial or insincere.

The food is amazing. You never realize what a difference an abundance of fresh, seasonal produce makes until you go there. Fruits and vegetables are so incredibly delicious, year-round.

I think the schools are not good. Even the "good" schools. The state's budget is a disaster, and public schools (ES, MS, HS, and the beloved UC system) are being gutted.

I think traffic is bad here but horrific there. Traffic there is heavy even early Sunday mornings, which is not something I usually encounter here.

I do love Northern California dearly, but it is not utopia.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My sister lives in Redwood City, 2 towns over from Palo Alto. We are from MD and she hates it! She stays b/c she is divorced and has 2 teenage daughters and joint custody. California is SOOO different from the east coast.

Sooo much better.

Or not. I don't like it at all. I stated that my sister HATES it! The job opportunities are limited. People are not as friendly and dating sucks (at least if you are black).

Anonymous wrote:I think the correct term for SF is Frisco.

Sorry, false. Only tourists call it that. Mostly called "the city."

I grew up in the Bay Area - I left because I have a crazy family and a bit of the wanderlust. Cons are mostly high cost of living. And forget about buying a house for under 600K. But it is a beautiful place with great food, arts, culture, and outdoor activities. And lots of very smart, interesting people.

There are so many different communities like PPs said - San Francisco is way different than Berkeley or Walnut Creek or San Jose. And that is just the Bay Area. Don't get me started about Sac or the Central Valley.

I found San Francisco a singularly unfriendly place. But then, I lived there during the dot con boom. The fact that I had married a native did not help; I was still an interloper.

But it is beautiful. The food, climate, natural beauty are all astounding. Be prepared to drive a lot, however. People think nothing of going 50 miles for dinner, and the traffic can be even more insane than it is here.