johnwoo

P.S. If someone is considering moving here they should be aware of the downside. The degradation and despair of your fellow citizens must be of some concern?

Giantaxe

A fellow citizen.

Also note that the OP is from north London, hardly an uncrowded area itself.

johnwoo

Maybe that's why he wants to move away from London. If I were to ever move back it certainly would not be London, and I'm originally from there.

Perhaps you can tell me if any of the points I've made are invalid? and if you and he aren't bothered by them, then that's fine.

Giantaxe

I don't see anything in what he posted that suggests that. London - what a wonderful cosmopolitan city it is.

It's more the unrelenting negativity of your posts about the Bay Area that I notice. Yes, there are significant problems here - traffic and cost being two of them - but (i) for me, at least, there are significant upsides of being here as well - for example, I've never lived anywhere with such a plethora of hiking opportunities; and (ii) if I felt as negative about where I was living as you seem to, I would do something about it.

johnwoo

You shouldn't presume that I am not, and in case you haven't noticed several other BE posters from the Bay Area are also considering moving away for much the same reasons.
It is OK to have a different perspective on things isn't? I'm not asking you anyone else to agree with me. I've lived here for 47 years and quality of life here has deteriorated in the last decade. Just a my opinion don't take it so personally.

Giantaxe

I don't. Of course San Luis Obispo is getting more expensive and crowded too...

johnwoo

Quite my son lives there so I know it well. Nowhere within 50 miles of the coast is cheap in California. On the plus side I am quite property rich having bought my house many years ago. Maybe I'll stay and let my children benefit from it,

I don't want an adversarial with you I generally agree with you on most issues.

md95065

So, you're basically saying that it has all been downhill since the mid 1950's ...

md95065

I have only been here for 30 years but I agree that a lot has changed over that time, particularly in the last 20 years or so and much of it has not been for the better but, that being said, things have changed a lot pretty much *everywhere* over that period. I lived in London 35 years ago and, if I went back to live there now I would probably find a lot to complain about there as well.

So, no, the Bay Area isn't perfect, it has lots of problems and it certainly isn't for everybody but I don't regret moving here and I don't regret still being here and I wouldn't discourage someone from coming here provided that they had a realistic set of expectations.

Moses2013

I don't think he meant downhill the way you see it but downhill in terms of quality of life for himself. Unfortunately there are many places that have lost their vibe and the world is becoming smaller and smaller.


Just like some people in Mallorca wish it was the island it used to be or the people who knew Benidorm as a quaint fishing village. Of course we all have to move on and adapt but most people wouldn't want a motorway in their back garden if the reason they moved to a place was the peaceful back garden etc.

md95065

Actually, that's exactly what I thought that he meant
.

vikingsail

Imho the Bay area remains a wonderful area but I think posts here are very fair in the interests of truly providing a 'picture' of what it has become in the last 20-25 years. Like many places it is now overcrowded and over priced. I've lived in the city, south of the city, Marin and the East Bay. Now I would not move back there for less than 200-250K p.a. to maintain current lifestyle. As a newcomer to the area it will hit anyone like a ton of bricks house prices and rents are terrible, commuting is a nightmare. As an example in Walnut Creek I was offered a house in 1991 for $150, same house now between 1-1.5 million.

Just use the techie's favorite real estate website to see what you are coming to for prices and rent:

https://www.redfin.com/

The Bay area is a beautiful place to visit but not so to live and work if you have to commute god help you. And do consider that the reason hiring is taking place from out of the area is that many many people are trying their damndest to get out!

Pulaski

At that price in 1991 I'd have snapped up a dozen of them!

Giantaxe

Hiring, especially in high tech, has taken place from outside the area for the last half century. The consequent growth in population is the major reason for the area's cost and traffic woes.

md95065

Indeed - and for everyone who is trying to get "out" of the area there are many more hopefuls trying to get "in" ...